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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7006-h.zip b/7006-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f17523d --- /dev/null +++ b/7006-h.zip diff --git a/7006-h/7006-h.htm b/7006-h/7006-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b7143ea --- /dev/null +++ b/7006-h/7006-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12738 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> +<title>Bonnie Prince Charlie</title> +</head> + + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bonnie Prince Charlie, by G. A. Henty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bonnie Prince Charlie + A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Posting Date: June 1, 2012 [EBook #7006] +Release Date: December, 2004 +First Posted: February 21, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + +</pre> + + +<center> +<h1>Bonnie Prince Charlie</h1><br><br> +<h2>A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden</h2><br><br> +<h3>by G. A. Henty</h3><br><br> +</center> + +<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I_The_Return_of_a_Prodigal_">CHAPTER I: The +Return of a Prodigal.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II_The_Jacobite_Agent_">CHAPTER II: The +Jacobite Agent.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III_Free_">CHAPTER III: Free.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV_In_France_">CHAPTER IV: In +France.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V_Dettingen_">CHAPTER V: +Dettingen.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI_The_Convent_of_Our_Lady_">CHAPTER VI: +The Convent of Our Lady.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII_Mother_">CHAPTER VII: Mother!</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII_Hidden_Foes_">CHAPTER VIII: Hidden +Foes.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX_Fontenoy_">CHAPTER IX: +Fontenoy.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X_A_Perilous_Journey_">CHAPTER X: A +Perilous Journey.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI_Free_">CHAPTER XI: Free.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII_The_End_of_the_Quarrel_">CHAPTER XII: +The End of the Quarrel.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII_Prince_Charles_">CHAPTER XIII: Prince +Charles.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV_Prestonpans_">CHAPTER XIV: +Prestonpans.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XV_A_Mission_">CHAPTER XV: A +Mission.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI_The_March_to_Derby_">CHAPTER XVI: The +March to Derby.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII_A_Baffled_Plot_">CHAPTER XVII: A +Baffled Plot.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII_Culloden_">CHAPTER XVIII: +Culloden.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX_Fugitives_">CHAPTER XIX: +Fugitives.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XX_Happy_Days_">CHAPTER XX: Happy +Days.</a></h3> + +</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_I_The_Return_of_a_Prodigal_"></a>CHAPTER I: The Return +of a Prodigal.</h1> + +<p>It was a dull evening in the month of September, 1728. The +apprentices had closed and barred the shutters and the day's work +was over. Supper was laid in the long room over the shop, the +viands were on the table, and round it were standing Bailie +Anderson and his wife, his foreman John Gillespie, and his two +apprentices. The latter were furtively eying the eatables, and +wondering how much longer the grace which their master was +delivering would be. Suddenly there was a knock at the door +below. No one stirred until the bailie had finished his grace, +before which time the knock had been twice repeated.</p> + +<p>"Elspeth, woman," the bailie said when he had brought the +grace to an end, "go down below and see who knocks so +impatiently; look through the grille before you open the door; +these are nor times when one opens to the first stranger who +knocks."</p> + +<p>The old servant, who had been standing behind her mistress, +went downstairs. The door was opened, and they heard an +exclamation of surprise at the answer to her question, "Who is it +that's knocking as if the house belonged to him?"</p> + +<p>Those gathered up stairs heard the bolts withdrawn. There was +a confused sound of talking and then a heavy step was heard +ascending the stairs, and without introduction a tall man, +wrapped in a cloak and carrying a child of some two years old, +strode into the room. He threw his hat on to a settle and +advanced straight towards the bailie, who looked in surprise at +this unceremonious entry.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know me, Andrew?"</p> + +<p>"Heaven preserve us," the bailie exclaimed, "why it's +Malcolm!"</p> + +<p>"Malcolm himself," the visitor repeated, "sound in wind and +limb."</p> + +<p>"The Lord be praised!" the bailie exclaimed as he grasped the +other's hand and wrung it warmly. "I had thought you dead years +and years ago. Janet, this is my brother Malcolm of whom you have +often heard me speak."</p> + +<p>"And of whom you can have heard little good, mistress, if my +brother has spoken the truth concerning me. I was ever a ne'er do +well, while Andrew struck hard and fast to our father's +trade."</p> + +<p>"My husband has ever spoken with affection of you," Janet +Anderson said. "The bailie is not given to speak ill of any, much +less of his own flesh and blood."</p> + +<p>"And now sit down, Malcolm. Supper is waiting, and you are, I +doubt not, ready for it. It is ill talking to a fasting man. When +you have done you shall tell me what you have been doing for the +last fifteen years, and how it comes that you thus suddenly come +back among us with your boy."</p> + +<p>"He is no boy of mine," Malcolm said; "but I will tell you all +about it presently. First let me lay him down on that settle, for +the poor little chap is fast asleep and dead tired out. Elspeth, +roll up my cloak and make a pillow for him. That's right, he will +do nicely now. You are changed less than any of us, Elspeth. Just +as hard to look at, and, I doubt not, just as soft at heart as +you used to be when you tried to shield me when I got into +scrapes. And now to supper."</p> + +<p>Little was said during the meal; fortunately the table was +bounteously spread, for the newcomer's appetite was prodigious; +but at last he was satisfied, and after a long drink at the horn +beside him, which Elspeth had kept filled with ale, he said:</p> + +<p>"There's nothing like a Scottish meal after all, Andrew. +French living is well enough for a time, but one tires of it; and +many a time when I have been lying down supperless on the sod, +after marching and fighting the whole day, I have longed for a +bowl of porridge and a platter well filled with oatmeal +cakes."</p> + +<p>Supper over, John and the apprentices retired. Elspeth went +off to prepare the guest's chamber and to make up a little bed +for the child.</p> + +<p>"Now, brother, let us hear your story; but, first of all, +perhaps you want to light your pipe?"</p> + +<p>"That do I," Malcolm replied, "if Mistress Janet has no +objection thereto."</p> + +<p>"She is accustomed to it," the bailie said, answering for her. +"I smoke myself; I deem that tobacco, like other things, was +given for our use, and methinks that with a pipe between the lips +men's brains work more easily and that it leadeth to pleasant +converse."</p> + +<p>Janet went to a cupboard, brought out two long pipes and a jar +of tobacco, placed two tumblers, a flat bottle, and a jug of +water on the table.</p> + +<p>"That is right," the bailie said. "I do not often touch strong +waters. The habit, as I see too plainly, is a harmful one, and in +this good city of Glasgow there are many, even of those so placed +that they should be an example to their fellows, who are given +nightly to drink more than is good for them; but on an occasion +like the present I deem it no harm to take a glass."</p> + +<p>"I should think not," Malcolm said heartily; "it is long since +I tasted a glass of real Scotch spirit, and I never need an +excuse for taking a glass of whatever it be that comes in my way. +Not, Mistress Janet, that I am a toper. I don't say that at the +sack of a town, or at times when liquor is running, so to speak, +to waste, I am more backward than the rest; but my hand wouldn't +be as steady as it is if I had been one of those who are never so +happy as when they are filling themselves with liquor. And now, +Andrew, to my story. You know that when I saw you last--just +when the troubles in '15 began--in spite of all your warnings +to the contrary, I must needs throw myself into the thick of +them. You, like a wise man, stuck to your shop, and here you are +now a bailie of Glasgow; while I, who have been wandering over +the face of the earth fighting for the cause of France and +risking my life a thousand times in a matter which concerned me +in no way, have returned just as penniless as I set out."</p> + +<p>"It is said, brother Malcolm," Janet said mildly, "that a +rolling stone gathers no moss."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," Malcolm assented; "and yet do you know +there are few rolling stones who, if their time were to come over +again, would remain fixed in their bed. Of course we have not the +pleasures of home, of wives and children; but the life of +adventure has its own joys, which I, for one, would not change +for the others. However, brother, as you know, I threw myself +heart and soul into that business.</p> + +<p>"The last time I saw you was just as I was starting with a +score of others to make our way to join the Earl of Mar's army at +Perth. I have seen many an army since, but never did I see +sixteen thousand finer fighting men than were there assembled. +The Laird of Mackintosh brought five hundred clansmen from +Inverness shire, the Marquis of Huntly had five hundred horse and +two thousand foot, and the Earl Marischal had a thousand men. The +Laird of Glenlyon brought five hundred Campbells, and the Marquis +of Tullibardine fourteen hundred, and a score of other chiefs of +less power were there with their clansmen. There were enough men +there to have done anything had they been properly armed and led; +but though arms and ammunition had been promised from France, +none came, and the Earl of Mar had so little decision that he +would have wrecked the finest army that ever marched.</p> + +<p>"The army lay doing nothing for weeks, and just before we were +expecting a movement, the company I belonged to was sent with a +force of Highlanders under Mackintosh to join the army under the +Lords Derwentwater, Kenmure, and Nithsdale. Lord Derwentwater had +risen with a number of other gentlemen, and with their attendants +and friends had marched against Newcastle. They had done nothing +there but remained idle near Hexham till, joined by a force +raised in the Lowlands of Scotland by the Earls of Nithsdale, +Carnwath, and Wintoun, the united army marched north again to +Kelso, where we joined them.</p> + +<p>"We Scots soon saw that we had gained nothing by the change of +commanders. Lord Derwentwater was ignorant of military affairs, +and he was greatly swayed by a Mr. Forster, who was somehow at +the head of the business, and who was not only incompetent, but +proved to be a coward, if not, as most folks believed, a traitor. +So dissension soon broke out, and four hundred Highlanders +marched away north. After a long delay it was resolved to move +south, where, it was said, we should be joined by great numbers +in Lancashire; but by this time all had greatly lost spirit and +hope in the enterprise. We crossed the border and marched down +through Penrith, Appleby, and Kendal to Lancaster, and then on to +Preston.</p> + +<p>"I was little more than a lad, Andrew, but even to me it +seemed madness thus to march into England with only two thousand +men. Of these twelve hundred were foot, commanded by Brigadier +Mackintosh; the others were horse. There were two troops of +Stanhope's dragoons quartered in Preston, but these retired when +we neared the town, and we entered without opposition. Next day, +which was, I remember, the 10th of November, the Chevalier was +proclaimed king, and some country gentlemen with their tenants +came in and joined us.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it would have come to the same thing in the end, +but never were things so badly managed as they were by Mr. +Forster.</p> + +<p>"Preston was a strong natural position; an enemy coming from +the south could only reach it by crossing a narrow bridge over +the river Ribble a mile and a half away, and this could have been +held by a company against an army. From the bridge to the town +the road was so narrow that in several places two men could not +ride abreast. It ran between two high and steep banks, and it was +here that Cromwell was nearly killed when he attacked Charles's +troops.</p> + +<p>"Well, all these places, where we might certainly have +defended ourselves, were neglected, and we were all kept in the +town, where we formed four main posts. One was in the churchyard, +and this was commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh. In support of +this was the volunteer horse under Derwentwater and the three +other lords. Lord Charles Murray was in command at a barricade at +a little distance from the churchyard. Colonel Mackintosh had +charge of a post at a windmill; and the fourth was in the centre +of the town.</p> + +<p>"Lord Derwentwater was a poor general, but he was a brave man. +He and his two brothers, the Ratcliffs, rode about everywhere, +setting an example of coolness, animating the soldiers, and +seeing to the work on the barriers. Two days after we reached the +town we heard that General Wilde was approaching. Colonel +Farquharson was sent forward with a portion of Mackintosh's +battalion to hold the bridge and the pass; but Mr. Forster, who +went out on horseback, no sooner saw the enemy approaching than +he gave orders to Farquharson and his men to retreat to the town. +If I had been in Farquharson's place I would have put a bullet +through the coward's head, and would have defended the bridge +till the last.</p> + +<p>"After that everything was confusion; the Highlanders came +back into the town furious and disheartened. The garrison +prepared to receive the enemy. Mr. Forster was seen no more, and +in fact he went straight back to the house where he was lodging +and took his bed, where he remained till all was over. The enemy +came on slowly. They could not understand why strong posts should +be left undefended, and feared falling in an ambuscade. I was at +the post commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh. I had joined a +company commanded by Leslie of Glenlyon, who had brought with him +some twenty men, and had made up his company with men who, like +myself, came up without a leader. His company was attached to +Mackintosh's regiment.</p> + +<p>"Presently the English came in sight, and as soon as they +ascertained that we were still there, which they had begun to +doubt, they attacked us. We beat them back handsomely, and +Derwentwater with his cavalry charged their dragoons so fiercely +that he drove them out of the town. It was late in the afternoon +when the fight began, and all night the struggle went on. At each +of our posts we beat them back over and over again. The town was +on fire in half a dozen places, but luckily the night was still +and the flames did not spread. We knew that it was a hopeless +fight we were making; for, from some prisoners, we learned that +three regiments of dragoons were also coming up against us, and +had already arrived at Clitheroe. From some inhabitants, I +suppose, the enemy learned that the street leading to Wigan had +nor been barricaded, and Lord Forrester brought up Preston's +regiment by this way, and suddenly fell on the flank of our +barrier. It was a tough fight, but we held our own till the news +came that Forster had agreed to capitulate.</p> + +<p>"I don't say that our case wasn't hopeless. We were +outnumbered and had no leader; sooner or later we must have been +overpowered. Still, no capitulation should have been made except +on the terms of mercy to all concerned. But Forster no doubt felt +safe about himself, and that was all he cared for; and the end +showed that he knew what he was about, for while all the brave +young noblemen, and numbers of others, were either executed or +punished in other ways, Forster, who had been the leading spirit +who had persuaded them to rise, and led them into this strait, +was after a short imprisonment suffered to go free. I tell you, +brother Andrew, if I were to meet him now, even if it were in a +church, I would drive my dagger into his heart.</p> + +<p>"However, there we were. So furious were we that it was with +difficulty the officers could prevent us from sallying out sword +in hand and trying to cut our way through the enemy. As to +Forster, if he had appeared in the streets he would have been +hewn to pieces. However, it was useless to resist now; the +English troops marched in and we laid down our arms, and our +battalions marched into a church and were guarded as prisoners. +It was not a great army they had taken, for there were but one +thousand four hundred and ninety captured, including noblemen, +gentlemen, and officers.</p> + +<p>"Many of us were wounded more or less. I had got a slice on +the shoulder from a dragoon's sword. This I gained when rushing +out to rescue Leslie, who had been knocked down, and would have +been slain by three dragoons had I not stood over him till some +of our men rushed out and carried him in. He was not badly hurt, +the sword having turned as it cut through his bonnet. My action +won his regard, and from that time until a month since we have +never been separated. Under a strong escort of soldiers we were +marched south. In most places the country people mocked us as we +passed; but here and there we saw among the crowds who gathered +in the streets of the towns through which we passed, faces which +we passed, faces which expressed pity and sympathy</p> + +<p>"We were not badly treated on the march by our guard, and had +little to complain of. When we reached Barnet we fell out as +usual when the march was over, and I went up to the door of a +house and asked a woman, who looked pityingly at us, for a drink +of water. She brought me some, and while I drank she said:</p> + +<p>"'We are Catholics and well wishers of the Chevalier; if you +can manage to slip in here after it is dark we will furnish you +with a disguise, and will direct you to friends who will pass you +on until you can escape.</p> + +<p>"'Can you give me disguises for two?' I asked. 'I will not go +without my captain.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' she said, 'for two, but no more.'</p> + +<p>"'I will steal away after dark,' I said as I gave her back the +jug.</p> + +<p>"I told Leslie what had happened, and he agreed to join me in +time to escape, for there was no saying what fate might befall us +in London; and, indeed, the very next morning severities +commenced, the whole of the troops being obliged to suffer the +indignity of having their arms tied behind them, and so being +marched into London.</p> + +<p>"After it was dark Leslie and I managed to steal away from our +guards, who were not very watchful, for our uniform would at once +have betrayed us, and the country people would have seized and +handed us over. The woman was on the watch, and as soon as we +neared the door she opened it. Her husband was with her and +received us kindly. He at once furnished us with the attire of +two countrymen, and, letting us out by a back way, started with +us across the country.</p> + +<p>"After walking twenty miles he brought us to the house of +another adherent of the Chevalier, where we remained all day. So +we were passed on until we reached the coast, where we lay hid +for some days until an arrangement was made with the captain of a +fishing boat to take us to sea, and either to land us at Calais +or to put us on board a French fishing boat. So we got over +without trouble.</p> + +<p>"Long before that, as you know, the business had virtually +come to an end here. The Earl of Mar's army lay week after week +at Perth, till at last it met the enemy under Argyle at +Sheriffmuir.</p> + +<p>"You know how that went. The Highland clans in the right and +centre carried all before them, and drove the enemy from the +field, but on the left they beat us badly. So both parties +claimed the victory. But, victory or defeat, it was fatal to the +cause of the Chevalier. Half the Highland clans went off to their +homes that night, and Mar had to fall back to Perth.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was really the end of it. The Chevalier landed, +and for a while our hopes rose. He did nothing, and our hopes +fell. At last he took ship and went away, and the affair was +over, except for the hangings and slaughterings.</p> + +<p>"Leslie, like most of the Scottish gentlemen who succeeded in +reaching France, took service with the French king, and, of +course, I did the same. It would have done your heart good to see +how the Scottish regiments fought on many a field; the very best +troops of France were never before us, and many a tough field was +decided by our charge. Leslie was a cornet. He was about my age; +and you know I was but twenty when Sheriffmuir was fought. He +rose to be a colonel, and would have given me a pair of colours +over and over again if I would have taken them; but I felt more +comfortable among our troopers than I should have done among the +officers, who were almost all men of good Highland family; so I +remained Leslie's right hand.</p> + +<p>"A braver soldier never swung a leg over saddle; but he was +always in some love affair or another. Why he didn't marry I +couldn't make out. I suppose he could never stick long enough to +one woman. However, some four years ago he got into an affair +more serious than any he had been in before, and this time he +stuck to it in right earnest. Of course she was precisely one of +the women he oughtn't to have fallen in love with, though I for +one couldn't blame him, for a prettier creature wasn't to be +found in France. Unfortunately she was the only daughter of the +Marquis de Recambours, one of the wealthiest and most powerful of +French nobles, and there was no more chance of his giving his +consent to her throwing herself away upon a Scottish soldier of +fortune than to her going into a nunnery; less, in fact. However, +she was as much in love with Leslie as he was with her, and so +they got secretly married. Two years ago this child was born, but +she managed somehow to keep it from her father, who was all this +time urging her to marry the Duke de Chateaurouge.</p> + +<p>"At last, as ill luck would have it, he shut her up in a +convent just a week before she had arranged to fly with Leslie to +Germany, where he intended to take service until her father came +round. Leslie would have got her out somehow; but his regiment +was ordered to the frontier, and it was eighteen months before we +returned to Paris, where the child had been in keeping with some +people with whom he had placed it. The very evening of his return +I was cleaning his arms when he rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>"'All is discovered,' he said; 'here is my signet ring, go at +once and get the child, and make your way with it to Scotland; +take all the money in the escritoire, quick!'</p> + +<p>"I heard feet approaching, and dashed to the bureau, and +transferred the bag of louis there to my pocket. An official with +two followers entered.</p> + +<p>"'Colonel Leslie,' he said, 'it is my duty to arrest you by +order of his gracious majesty;' and he held out an order signed +by the king.</p> + +<p>"'I am unconscious of having done any wrong, sir, to his +majesty, whom I have served for the last sixteen years. However, +it is not for me to dispute his orders;' thereupon he unbuckled +his sword and handed it to the officers. 'You will look after the +things till I return, Malcolm. As I am sure I can clear myself of +any charge that may be brought against me, I trust to be speedily +back again.</p> + +<p>"'Your trooper need not trouble himself,' the officer said; +'the official with me will take charge of everything, and will at +once affix my seal to all your effects.'</p> + +<p>"I went down stairs and saw the colonel enter a carriage with +the two officials, then I went straight to the major. 'Colonel +Leslie has been arrested, sir, on what charge I know not. He has +intrusted a commission to me. Therefore, if you find I am absent +from parade in the morning you will understand I am carrying out +his orders.'</p> + +<p>"The major was thunderstruck at the news, but told me to do as +the colonel had ordered me, whatever it might be. I mounted the +colonel's horse at once and rode to the house where the child was +in keeping. The people knew me well, as I had often been there +with messages from the colonel. When I showed them the signet +ring, and told them that I had orders to take the child to his +father, they made no opposition. I said I would return for him as +soon as it was dusk. I then went and purchased a suit of civilian +clothes, and returning to the house attired myself in these, and +taking the child on the saddle before me, rode for the +frontier.</p> + +<p>"Following unfrequented roads, travelling only at night, and +passing a day in a wood, I passed the frontier unmolested, and +made my way to Ostend, where I sold the horse and took passage in +the first ship sailing for Leith. I arrived there two days ago, +and have walked here, with an occasional lift in a cart; and here +I am, brother Andrew, to ask you for hospitality for a while for +myself and Leslie's boy. I have a hundred louis, but these, of +course, belong to the child. As for myself, I confess I have +nothing; saving has never been in my line."</p> + +<p>"You are heartily welcome, Malcolm, as long as you choose to +stop; but I trust that ere long you will hear of Colonel +Leslie."</p> + +<p>"I trust so," Malcolm said; "but if you knew the court of +France as well as I do you would not feel very sanguine about it. +It is easier to get into a prison than out of one."</p> + +<p>"But the colonel has committed no crime!" the bailie said.</p> + +<p>"His chance would be a great deal better if he had," Malcolm +laughed. "A colonel of one of his majesty's Scottish regiments +can do a good deal in the way of crime without much harm +befalling him; but when it comes to marrying the daughter of a +nobleman who is a great personage at court, without his consent, +it is a different affair altogether, I can tell you. Leslie has +powerful friends, and his brother officers will do what they can +for him; but I can tell you services at the court of France go +for very little. Influence is everything, and as the nobleman the +marquis intended to be the husband of his daughter is also a +great personage at court and a friend of Louis's, there is no +saying how serious a matter they may make of it. Men have been +kept prisoners for life for a far less serious business than +this."</p> + +<p>"But supposing he is released, does he know where to +communicate with you?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid he doesn't," Malcolm said ruefully. "He knows +that I come from Glasgow, but that is all. Still, when he is +freed, no doubt he will come over himself to look for his son, +and I am sure to hear of his being here."</p> + +<p>"You might do, and you might not," the bailie said. "Still, we +must hope for the best, Malcolm. At any rate I am in no haste for +the colonel to come. Now I have got you home again after all +these years, I do not wish to lose you again in a hurry."</p> + +<p>Malcolm only remained for a few weeks at his brother's house. +The restraint of life at the bailie's was too much for him. +Andrew's was a well ordered household. The bailie was methodical +and regular, a leading figure in the kirk, far stricter than were +most men of his time as to undue consumption of liquor, strong in +exhortation in season and out of season. His wife was kindly but +precise, and as outspoken as Andrew himself. For the first day or +two the real affection which Andrew had for his younger brother, +and the pleasure he felt at his return, shielded Malcolm from +comment or rebuke; but after the very first day the bailie's wife +had declared to herself that it was impossible that Malcolm could +long remain an inmate of the house. She was not inhospitable, and +would have made great sacrifices in some directions for the long +missing brother of her husband; but his conduct outraged all the +best feelings of a good Scotch housewife.</p> + +<p>Even on that first day he did not come punctually to his +meals. He was away about the town looking up old acquaintance, +came in at dinner and again at supper after the meal had already +begun, and dropped into his place and began to eat without saying +a word of grace. He stamped about the house as if he had cavalry +spurs still on his heels; talked in a voice that could be heard +from attic to basement; used French and Flemish oaths which +horrified the good lady, although she did not understand them; +smoked at all hours of the day, whereas Andrew always confined +himself to his after supper pipe, and, in spite of his assertions +on the previous evening, consumed an amount of liquor which +horrified the good woman.</p> + +<p>At his meals he talked loudly, kept the two apprentices in a +titter with his stories of campaigning, spoke slightingly of the +city authorities, and joked the bailie with a freedom and +roughness which scandalized her. Andrew was slow to notice the +incongruity of his brother's demeanour and bearing with the +atmosphere of the house, although he soon became dimly conscious +that there was a jarring element in the air. At the end of a week +Malcolm broached the subject to him.</p> + +<p>"Andrew," he said, "you are a good fellow, though you are a +bailie and an elder of the kirk, and I thank you for the hearty +welcome you have given me, and for your invitation to stay for a +long time with you; but it will not do. Janet is a good woman and +a kindly, but I can see that I keep her perpetually on thorns. In +good truth, fifteen years of campaigning are but an indifferent +preparation for a man as an inmate of a respectable household. I +did not quite know myself how thoroughly I had become a devil may +care trooper until I came back to my old life here. The ways of +your house would soon be as intolerable to me as my ways are to +your good wife, and therefore it is better by far that before any +words have passed between you and me, and while we are as good +friends as on the evening when I returned, I should get out of +this. I met an old friend today, one of the lads who went with me +from Glasgow to join the Earl of Mar at Perth. He is well to do +now, and trades in cattle, taking them in droves down into +England. For the sake of old times he has offered me employment, +and methinks it will suit me as well as any other."</p> + +<p>"But you cannot surely be going as a drover, Malcolm!"</p> + +<p>"Why not? The life is as good as any other. I would not sit +down, after these years of roving, to an indoor life. I must +either do that or cross the water again and take service abroad. +I am only six and thirty yet, and am good for another fifteen +years of soldiering, and right gladly would I go back if Leslie +were again at the head of his regiment, but I have been spoiled +by him. He ever treated me as a companion and as a friend rather +than as a trooper in his regiment, and I should miss him sorely +did I enter any other service. Then, too, I would fain be here to +be ready to join him again if he sends for me or comes, and I +should wish to keep an eye always on his boy. You will continue +to take charge of him, won't you, Andrew? He is still a little +strange, but he takes to Elspeth, and will give little trouble +when he once learns the language."</p> + +<p>"I don't like it at all, Malcolm," the bailie said.</p> + +<p>"No, Andrew, but you must feel it is best. I doubt not that +ere this your wife has told you her troubles concerning me."</p> + +<p>As the bailie on the preceding night had listened to a long +string of complaints and remonstrances on the part of his wife as +to his brother's general conduct he could not deny the truth of +Malcolm's supposition.</p> + +<p>"Just so, Andrew," Malcolm went on; "I knew that it must be +so. Mistress Janet has kept her lips closed firm to me, but I +could see how difficult it was for her sometimes to do so. It +could not be otherwise. I am as much out of place here as a wolf +in a sheepfold. As to the droving, I shall not mention to all I +meet that I am brother to one of the bailies of Glasgow. I shall +like the life. The rough pony I shall ride will differ in his +paces from my old charger, but at least it will be life in the +saddle. I shall be earning an honest living; if I take more than +is good for me I may get a broken head and none be the wiser, +whereas if I remain here and fall foul of the city watch it would +be grief and pain for you."</p> + +<p>The bailie was silenced. He had already begun to perceive that +Malcolm's ways and manners were incompatible with the peace and +quiet of a respectable household, and that Janet's complaints +were not altogether unreasonable. He had seen many of his +acquaintances lift their eyebrows in disapprobation at the +roystering talk of his brother, and had foreseen that it was +probable trouble would come.</p> + +<p>At the same rime he felt a repugnance to the thought that +after so many years of absence his brother should so soon quit +his house. It seemed a reflection alike on his affection and +hospitality.</p> + +<p>"You will take charge of the child, won't you?" Malcolm +pleaded. "There is a purse of a hundred louis, which will, I +should say, pay for any expense to which he may put you for some +years."</p> + +<p>"As if I would take the bairn's money!" Andrew exclaimed +angrily. "What do you take me for, Malcolm? Assuredly I will take +the child. Janet and I have no bairn of our own, and it's good +for a house to have a child in it. I look upon it as if it were +yours, for it is like enough you will never hear of its father +again. It will have a hearty welcome. It is a bright little +fellow, and in time I doubt not that Janet will take greatly to +it. The charge of a child is a serious matter, and we cannot hope +that we shall not have trouble with it, but there is trouble in +all things. At any rate, Malcolm, we will do our best, and if at +the end of a year I find that Janet has not taken to it we will +see about some other arrangement. And, Malcolm, I do trust that +you will stay with us for another week or two. It would seem to +me as if I had turned you out of my house were you to leave me so +soon."</p> + +<p>So Malcolm made a three weeks' stay at his brother's, and then +started upon his new occupation of driving Highland cattle down +into Lancashire. Once every two or three months he came to +Glasgow for a week or two between his trips. In spite of Andrew's +entreaties he refused on these occasions to take up his abode +with him, but took a lodging not far off, coming in the evening +for an hour to smoke a pipe with his brother, and never failing +of a morning to come in and take the child for a long walk with +him, carrying him upon his shoulder, and keeping up a steady talk +with him in his native French, which he was anxious that the boy +should nor forget, as at some time or other he might again return +to France.</p> + +<p>Some weeks after Malcolm's return to Scotland, he wrote to +Colonel Leslie, briefly giving his address at Glasgow; but making +no allusion to the child, as, if the colonel were still in +prison, the letter would be sure to be opened by the authorities. +He also wrote to the major, giving him his address, and begging +him to communicate it to Colonel Leslie whenever he should see +him; that done, there was nothing for it but to wait quietly. The +post was so uncertain in those days that he had but slight hope +that either of his letters would ever reach their destination. No +answer came to either of his letters.</p> + +<p>Four years later Malcolm went over to Paris, and cautiously +made inquiries; but no one had heard anything of Colonel Leslie +from the day he had been arrested. The regiment was away fighting +in the Low Countries, and the only thing Malcolm could do was to +call upon the people who had had charge of the child, to give +them his address in case the colonel should ever appear to +inquire of them. He found, however, the house tenanted by other +people. He learned that the last occupants had left years before. +The neighbors remembered that one morning early some officers of +the law had come to the house, and the man had been seized and +carried away. He had been released some months later, only to +find that his wife had died of grief and anxiety, and he had then +sold off his goods and gone no one knew whither. Malcolm, +therefore, returned to Glasgow, with the feeling that he had +gained nothing by his journey.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_II_The_Jacobite_Agent_"></a>CHAPTER II: The Jacobite +Agent.</h1> + +<p>So twelve years passed. Ronald Leslie grew up a sturdy lad, +full of fun and mischief in spite of the sober atmosphere of the +bailie's house; and neither flogging at school nor lecturing at +home appeared to have the slightest effect in reducing him to +that state of sober tranquillity which was in Mrs. Anderson's +eyes the thing to be most desired in boys. Andrew was less deeply +shocked than his wife at the discovery of Ronald's various +delinquencies, but his sense of order and punctuality was +constantly outraged. He was, however, really fond of the lad; and +even Mrs. Anderson, greatly as the boy's ways constantly +disturbed and ruffled her, was at heart as fond of him as was her +husband. She considered, and not altogether wrongly, that his +wilderness, as she called it, was in no slight degree due to his +association with her husband's brother.</p> + +<p>Ronald looked forward to the periodical visits of the drover +with intense longing. He was sure of a sympathetic listener in +Malcolm, who listened with approval to the tales of the various +scrapes into which he had got since his last visit; of how, +instead of going to school, he had played truant and with another +boy his own age had embarked in a fisherman's boat and gone down +the river and had not been able to get back until next day; how +he had played tricks upon his dominie, and had conquered in +single combat the son of Councillor Duff, the butcher, who had +spoken scoffing words at the Stuarts. Malcolm was, in fact, +delighted to find, that in spite of repression and lectures his +young charge was growing up a lad of spirit. He still hoped that +some day Leslie might return, and he knew how horrified he would +be were he to find that his son was becoming a smug and well +conducted citizen. No small portion of his time on each of his +visits to Glasgow Malcolm spent in training the boy in the use of +arms.</p> + +<p>"Your father was a gentleman," he would say to him, "and it is +fitting that you should know how to handle a gentleman's arms. +Clubs are well enough for citizens' apprentices, but I would have +you handle rapier and broadsword as well as any of the young +lairds. When you get old enough, Ronald, you and I will cross the +seas, and together we will try and get to the bottom of the +mystery of your father's fate, and if we find that the worst has +come to the worst, we will seek our your mother. She will most +likely have married again. They will be sure to have forced her +into it; but even if she dare not acknowledge you as her son, her +influence may obtain for you a commission in one of the king's +regiments, and even if they think I'm too old for a trooper I +will go as your follower. There are plenty of occasions at the +court of France when a sharp sword and a stout arm, even if it be +somewhat stiffened by age, can do good service."</p> + +<p>The lessons began as soon as Ronald was old enough to hold a +light blade, and as between the pauses of exercise Malcolm was +always ready to tell stories of his adventures in the wars of +France, the days were full of delight to Ronald. When the latter +reached the age of fourteen Malcolm was not satisfied with the +amount of proficiency which the lad was able to gain during his +occasional visits, and therefore took him for further instruction +to a comrade who had, like himself, served in France, and had +returned and settled down in Glasgow, where he opened a fencing +school, having been a maitre d'armes among the Scotch +regiments.</p> + +<p>The arrangement was, however, kept a profound secret from +Andrew and his wife; but on half holidays, and on any other days +when he could manage to slip away for an hour, Ronald went to his +instructor and worked hard and steadily with the rapier. Had Mrs. +Anderson had an idea of the manner in which he spent his time she +would have been horrified, and would certainly have spared her +encomiums on his improved conduct and the absence of the +unsatisfactory reports which had before been so common.</p> + +<p>The cloud of uncertainty which hung over his father's fate +could not but have an influence upon the boy's character, and the +happy carelessness and gaiety which were its natural +characteristics were modified by the thought that his father +might be languishing in a dungeon. Sometimes he would refuse to +accompany his school fellows on their rambles or fishing +expeditions, and would sit for hours thinking over all sorts of +wild plans by which he might penetrate to him and aid him to +escape. He was never tired of questioning Malcolm Anderson as to +the prisons in which, if still alive, his father would be likely +to be confined. He would ask as to their appearance, the height +of their walls, whether they were moated or not, and whether +other houses abutted closely upon them. One day Malcolm asked him +the reason of these questions, and he replied, "Of course I want +to see how it will be possible to get my father out." And +although Malcolm tried to impress upon him that it would be an +almost impossible task even to discover in which prison his +father was kept, he would not allow himself to be +discouraged.</p> + +<p>"There must be some way of finding out, Malcolm. You tell me +that prisoners are not even known by their name to the warders, +but only under a number. Still someone must know--there must be +lists kept of those in prison, and I shall trust to my mother to +find out for me. A great lady as she is must be able to get at +people if she sets about it, and as certainly she must have loved +my father very very much, or she never would have married him +secretly, and got into such trouble for it. I am sure she will do +her best when she finds that you and I have come over to get him +out. When we know that, I think we ought to be able to manage. +You could get employment as a warder, or I could go disguised as +a woman, or as a priest, or somehow. I feel sure we shall succeed +if we do but find out that he is alive and where he is."</p> + +<p>Malcolm knew too much about the strong and well guarded +prisons of France to share in the boy's sanguine hopes, but he +did not try to discourage him. He thought that with such an +object in life before him the boy would devote himself all the +more eagerly to exercises which would strengthen his arm, +increase his skill with weapons, and render him a brave and +gallant officer, and in this he was right. As the time went on +Ronald became more and more serious. He took no part whatever in +the school boy games and frolics in which he had been once a +leader. He worked hard at his school tasks the sooner to be done +with them, and above all devoted himself to acquiring a mastery +of the sword with a perseverance and enthusiasm which quite +surprised his instructor.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Malcolm, man," he said one day to his old +comrade, after Ronald had been for upwards of two years his +pupil, "if I had known, when you first asked me to teach the lad +to handle a sword, how much of my time he was going to occupy, I +should have laughed in your face, for ten times the sum you +agreed to pay me would not have been enough; but, having begun it +for your sake, I have gone on for the lad's. It has been a +pleasure to teach him, so eager was he to learn--so ready to +work heart and soul to improve. The boy's wrist is as strong as +mine and his eye as quick. I have long since taught him all I +know, and it is practice now, and not teaching, that we have +every day. I tell you I have work to hold my own with him; he +knows every trick and turn as well as I do, and is quicker with +his lunge and riposte. Were it not that I have my extra length of +arm in my favour I could not hold my own. As you know, I have +many of the officers of the garrison among my pupils, and some of +them have learned in good schools, but there is not one of them +could defend himself for a minute against that boy. If it were +not that the matter has to be kept secret I would set him in +front of some of them, and you would see what short work he would +make of them. Have you heard the rumours, Malcolm, that the young +Chevalier is likely to follow the example of his father, thirty +years back, and to make a landing in Scotland?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard some such rumours," Malcolm replied, "though +whether there be aught in them I know not. I hope that if he does +so he will at any rate follow the example of his father no +further. As you know, I hold to the Stuarts, but I must own they +are but poor hands at fighting. Charles the First ruined his +cause; James the Second threw away the crown of Ireland by +galloping away from the battle of the Boyne; the Chevalier showed +here in '15 that he was no leader of men; and unless this lad is +made of very different stuff to his forefathers he had best stay +in France."</p> + +<p>"But if he should come, Malcolm, I suppose you will join him? +I am afraid I shall be fool enough to do so, even with my fifty +years on my head. And you?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I shall be a fool too," Malcolm said. "The Stuarts +are Scotch, you see, and with all their faults I would rather a +thousand times have a Scottish king than these Germans who govern +us from London. If the English like them let them keep them, and +let us have a king of our own. However, nought may come of it; it +may be but a rumour. It is a card which Louis has threatened to +play a score of times, whenever he wishes to annoy England. It is +more than likely that it will come to nought, as it has so often +done before."</p> + +<p>"But they tell me that there are agents travelling about among +the Highland clans, and that this time something is really to be +done."</p> + +<p>"They have said so over and over again, and nothing has come +of it. For my part, I don't care which way it goes. After the +muddle that was made of it thirty years ago it does not seem to +me more likely that we shall get rid of the Hanoverians now. +Besides, the hangings and slaughterings then, would, I should +think, make the nobles and the heads of clans think twice ere +they risked everything again."</p> + +<p>"That is true, but when men's blood is up they do not count +the cost; besides, the Highland clans are always ready to fight. +If Prince Charles comes you will see there will not be much +hanging back whatever the consequences may be. Well, you and I +have not much to lose, except our lives."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough, old friend; and I would rather die that +way than any other. Still, to tell you the truth, I would rather +keep my head on my shoulders for a few years if I can."</p> + +<p>"Well, nothing may come of it; but if it does I shall strike a +blow again for the old cause."</p> + +<p>At home Ronald heard nothing but expressions of loyalty to the +crown. The mere fact that the Highlanders espoused the cause of +the Stuarts was sufficient in itself to make the Lowlanders take +the opposite side. The religious feeling, which had always +counted for so much in the Lowlands, and had caused Scotland to +side with the Parliament against King Charles, had not lost its +force. The leanings of the Stuarts were, it was known, still +strongly in favour of the Catholic religion, and although Prince +Charles Edward was reported to be more Protestant in feelings +than the rest of his race, this was not sufficient to +counterbalance the effect of the hereditary Catholic tendency. +Otherwise there was no feeling of active loyalty towards the +reigning king in Scotland. The first and second Georges had none +of the attributes which attract loyal affection. The first could +with difficulty speak the language of the people over whom he +ruled. Their feelings and sympathies were Hanoverian rather than +English, and all court favours were bestowed as fast as possible +upon their countrymen. They had neither the bearing nor manner +which men associate with royalty, nor the graces and power of +attraction which distinguished the Stuarts. Commonplace and +homely in manner, in figure, and in bearing, they were not men +whom their fellows could look up to or respect; their very vices +were coarse, and the Hanoverian men and women they gathered round +them were hated by the English people.</p> + +<p>Thus neither in England nor Scotland was there any warm +feeling of loyalty for the reigning house; and though it was +possible that but few would adventure life and property in the +cause of the Stuarts, it was equally certain that outside the +army there were still fewer who would draw sword for the +Hanoverian king. Among the people of the Lowland cities of +Scotland the loyalty which existed was religious rather than +civil, and rested upon the fact that their forefathers had fought +against the Stuarts, while the Highlanders had always supported +their cause. Thus, although in the household and in kirk Ronald +had heard King George prayed for regularly, he had heard no word +concerning him calculated to waken a boyish feeling of loyalty, +still less of enthusiasm. Upon the other hand he knew that his +father had fought and suffered for the Stuarts and was an exile +in their cause, and that Hanoverians had handed over the estate +of which he himself would now be the heir to one of their +adherents.</p> + +<p>"It is no use talking of these matters to Andrew," Malcolm +impressed upon him; "it would do no good. When he was a young man +he took the side of the Hanoverians, and he won't change now; +while, did Mistress Janet guess that your heart was with the +Stuarts, she would say that I was ruining you, and should bring +you to a gallows. She is not fond of me now, though she does her +best to be civil to her husband's brother; but did she know that +you had become a Jacobite, like enough she would move Andrew to +put a stop to your being with me, and there would be all sorts of +trouble."</p> + +<p>"But they could nor prevent my being with you," Ronald said +indignantly. "My father gave me into your charge, not into +theirs."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough, laddie; but it is they who have cared for +you and brought you up. When you are a man you can no doubt go +which way it pleases you; but till then you owe your duty and +respect to them, and not to me, who have done nought for you but +just carry you over here in my cloak."</p> + +<p>"I know they have done everything for me," Ronald said +penitently. "They have been very good and kind, and I love them +both; but for all that it is only natural that my father should +be first, and that my heart should be in the cause that he fought +for."</p> + +<p>"That is right enough, Ronald, and I would not have it +otherwise, and I have striven to do my best to make you as he +would like to see you. Did he never come back again I should be +sorry indeed to see Colonel Leslie's son growing up a Glasgow +tradesman, as my brother no doubt intends you to be, for I know +he has long since given up any thought of hearing from your +father; but in that you and I will have a say when the time +comes. Until then you must treat Andrew as your natural guardian, +and there is no need to anger him by letting him know that your +heart is with the king over the water, any more than that you can +wield a sword like a gentleman. Let us have peace as long as we +can. You are getting on for sixteen now; another two years and we +will think about going to Paris together. I am off again +tomorrow, Ronald; it will not be a long trip this time, but maybe +before I get back we shall have news from France which will set +the land on fire."</p> + +<p>A short time after this conversation, as Ronald on his return +from college (for he was now entered at the university) passed +through the shop, the bailie was in conversation with one of the +city magistrates, and Ronald caught the words:</p> + +<p>"He is somewhere in the city. He came down from the Highlands, +where he has been going to and fro, two days since. I have a +warrant out against him, and the constables are on the lookout. I +hope to have him in jail before tonight. These pestilent rogues +are a curse to the land, though I cannot think the clans would be +fools enough to rise again, even though Charles Stuart did +come."</p> + +<p>Ronald went straight up to his room, and for a few minutes sat +in thought. The man of whom they spoke was doubtless an emissary +of Prince Charles, and his arrest might have serious +consequences, perhaps bring ruin on all with whom he had been in +communication. Who he was or what he was like Ronald knew not; +but he determined at any rate to endeavour to defeat the +intentions of the magistrate to lay hands on him. Accordingly a +few minutes later, while the magistrate was still talking with +Andrew, he again went out.</p> + +<p>Ronald waited about outside the door till he left, and then +followed him at a short distance. The magistrate spoke to several +acquaintances on the way, and then went to the council chamber. +Waiting outside, Ronald saw two or three of the magistrates +enter. An hour later the magistrate he was watching came out; but +he had gone but a few paces when a man hurrying up approached +him. They talked earnestly for a minute or two. The magistrate +then re-entered the building, remained there a few minutes, and +then joined the man who was waiting outside. Ronald had stolen up +and taken his stand close by.</p> + +<p>"It is all arranged," the magistrate said; "as soon as night +has fallen a party will go down, surround the house, and arrest +him. It is better not to do it in daylight. I shall lead the +party, which will come round to my house, so if the men you have +left on watch bring you news that he has changed his hiding +place, let me know at once.</p> + +<p>The magistrate walked on. Ronald stood irresolute. He had +obtained no clue as to the residence of the person of whom they +were in search, and after a moment's thought he determined to +keep an eye upon the constable, who would most likely join his +comrade on the watch. This, however, he did not do immediately. +He had probably been for some time at work, and now took the +opportunity of going home for a meal, for he at once made his way +to a quiet part of the city, and entered a small house.</p> + +<p>It was half an hour before he came out again, and Ronald +fidgeted with impatience, for it was already growing dusk. When +he issued out Ronald saw that he was armed with a heavy cudgel. +He walked quickly now, and Ronald, following at a distance, +passed nearly across the town, and down a quiet street which +terminated against the old wall running from the Castle Port to a +small tower. When he got near the bottom of the street a man came +out from an archway, and the two spoke together. From their +gestures Ronald felt sure that it was the last house on the left +hand side of the street that was being watched. He had not +ventured to follow far down the street, for as there was no +thoroughfare he would at once be regarded with suspicion. The +question now was how to warn the man of his danger. He knew +several men were on the watch, and as only one was in the street, +doubtless the others were behind the house. If anything was to be +done there was no time to be lost, for the darkness was fast +closing in.</p> + +<p>After a minute's thought he went quickly up the street, and +then started at a run, and then came down upon a place where he +could ascend the wall, which was at many points in bad repair. +With some difficulty he climbed up, and found that he was exactly +opposite the house he wished to reach. It was dark now. Even in +the principal streets the town was only lit by oil lamps here and +there, and there was no attempt at illumination in the quiet +quarters, persons who went abroad after nightfall always carrying +a lantern with them. There was still sufficient light to show +Ronald that the house stood at a distance of some fourteen feet +from the wall. The roof sloped too steeply for him to maintain +his holding upon it; but halfway along the house was a dormer +window about three feet above the gutter. It was unglazed, and +doubtless gave light to a granary or store room.</p> + +<p>Ronald saw that his only chance was to alight on the roof +close enough to this window to be able to grasp the woodwork. At +any other moment he would have hesitated before attempting such a +leap. The wall was only a few feet wide, and he could therefore +get but little run for a spring. His blood was, however, up, and +having taken his resolution he did not hesitate. Drawing back as +far as he could he took three steps, and then sprang for the +window. Its sill was some three feet higher than the edge of the +wall from which he sprang.</p> + +<p>The leap was successful; his feet struck just upon the gutter, +and the impetus threw forward his body, and his hands grasped the +woodwork of the window. In a moment he had dragged himself +inside. It was quite dark within the room. He moved carefully, +for the floor was piled with disused furniture, boxes, sacking, +and rubbish. He was some time finding the door, but although he +moved as carefully as he could he knocked over a heavy chest +which was placed on a rickety chair, the two falling with a crash +on the floor. At last he found the door and opened it. As he did +so a light met his eyes, and he saw ascending the staircase a man +with a drawn sword, and a woman holding a light above her head +following closely. The man uttered an exclamation on seeing +Ronald appear.</p> + +<p>"A thief!" he said. "Surrender, or I will run you through at +once."</p> + +<p>"I am no thief," Ronald replied. "My name is Ronald Leslie, +and I am a student at the university. I have come here to warn +someone, whom I know not, in this house that it is watched, and +that in a few minutes at the outside a band of the city watch +will be here to capture him."</p> + +<p>The man dropped the point of his sword, and taking the light +from the woman held it closer to Ronald's face.</p> + +<p>"How came you here?" he asked. "How did you learn this +news?"</p> + +<p>"The house is watched both sides below," Ronald said, "and I +leapt from the wall through the dormer window. I heard a +magistrate arranging with one of the constables for a capture, +and gathered that he of whom they were in search was a Jacobite, +and as I come of a stock which has always been faithful to the +Stuarts, I hastened to warn him."</p> + +<p>The woman uttered a cry of alarm.</p> + +<p>"I thank you with all my heart, young sir. I am he for whom +they are in search, and if I get free you will render a service +indeed to our cause; but there is no time to talk now, if what +you tell me be true. You say the house is watched from both +sides?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; there are two men in the lane below, one or more, I know +not how many, behind."</p> + +<p>"There is no escape behind," the man said; "the walls are +high, and other houses abut upon them. I will sally out and fight +through the men in front."</p> + +<p>"I can handle the sword," Ronald put in; "and if you will +provide me with a weapon I will do my best by your side."</p> + +<p>"You are a brave lad," the man said, "and I accept your +aid."</p> + +<p>He led the way down stairs and entered a room, took down a +sword from over the fireplace, and gave it to Ronald.</p> + +<p>As he took it in his hand there was a loud knocking at the +door.</p> + +<p>"Too late!" the man exclaimed. "Quick, the light, Mary! At any +rate I must burn my papers."</p> + +<p>He drew some letters from his pocket, lit them at the lamp, +and threw them on the hearth; then opening a cabinet he drew +forth a number of other papers and crumpling them up added them +to the blaze.</p> + +<p>"Thank God that is safe!" he said; "the worst evil is +averted."</p> + +<p>"Can you not escape by the way by which I came hither?" Ronald +said. "The distance is too great to leap; but if you have got a +plank, or can pull up a board from the floor, you could put it +across to the wall and make your escape that way. I will try to +hold the stairs till you are away."</p> + +<p>"I will try at least," the man said. "Mary, bring the light, +and aid me while our brave friend does his best to give us +time."</p> + +<p>So saying he sprang upstairs, while Ronald made his way down +to the door.</p> + +<p>"Who is making such a noise at the door of a quiet house at +this time of night?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Open in the king's name," was the reply; "we have a warrant +to arrest one who is concealed here."</p> + +<p>"There is no one concealed here," Ronald replied, "and I doubt +that you are, as you say, officers of the peace; but if so, pass +your warrant through the grill, and if it be signed and in due +form I will open to you."</p> + +<p>"I will show my warrant when need be," the voice answered. +"Once more, open the door or we will break it in."</p> + +<p>"Do it at your peril," Ronald replied. "How can I tell you are +not thieves who seek to ransack the house, and that your warrant +is a pretence? I warn you that the first who enters I will run +him through the body."</p> + +<p>The reply was a shower of blows on the door, and a similar +attack was begun by a party behind the house. The door was +strong, and after a minute or two the hammering ceased, and then +there was a creaking, straining noise, and Ronald knew they were +applying a crowbar to force it open. He retreated to a landing +halfway up the stairs, placed a lamp behind him so that it would +show its light full on the faces of those ascending the stairs, +and waited. A minute later there was a crash; the lock had +yielded, but the bar still held the door in its place. Then the +blows redoubled, mingled with the crashing of wood; then there +was the sound of a heavy fall, and a body of men burst in.</p> + +<p>There was a rush at the stairs, but the foremost halted at the +sight of Ronald with his drawn sword.</p> + +<p>"Keep back," he shouted, "or beware! The watch will be here in +a few minutes, and then you will all be laid by the heels."</p> + +<p>"Fools! We are the watch," one of the men exclaimed, and, +dashing up the stairs, aimed a blow at Ronald. He guarded it and +ran the man through the shoulder. He dropped his sword and fell +back with a curse.</p> + +<p>At this moment the woman ran down stairs from above and nodded +to Ronald to signify that the fugitive had escaped.</p> + +<p>"You see I hold to my word," Ronald said in a loud voice. "If +ye be the watch, which I doubt, show me the warrant, or if ye +have one in authority with you let him proclaim himself."</p> + +<p>"Here is the warrant, and here am I, James M'Whirtle, a +magistrate of this city."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not say so before?" Ronald exclaimed, lowering +his sword. "If it be truly the worshipful Mr. M'Whirtle let him +show himself, for surely I know him well, having seen him often +in the house of my guardian, Bailie Anderson."</p> + +<p>Mr. M'Whirtle, who had been keeping well in the rear, now came +forward.</p> + +<p>"It is himself." Ronald said. "Why did you not say you were +here at once, Mr. M'Whirtle, instead of setting your men to break +down the door, as if they were Highland caterans on a foray?"</p> + +<p>"We bade you open in the king's name," the magistrate said, +"and you withstood us, and it will be hanging matter for you, for +you have aided the king's enemies."</p> + +<p>"The king's enemies!" Ronald said in a tone of surprise. "How +can there be any enemies of the king here, seeing there are only +myself and the good woman up stairs? You will find no +others."</p> + +<p>"Search the house," the magistrate said furiously, "and take +this malapert lad into custody on the charge of assisting the +king's enemies, of impeding the course of justice, of +withstanding by force of arms the issue of a lawful writ, and +with grievously wounding one of the city watch."</p> + +<p>Ronald laughed.</p> + +<p>"It is a grievous list, worshipful sir; but mark you, as soon +as you showed your warrant and declared yourself I gave way to +you. I only resisted so long as it seemed to me you were +evildoers breaking into a peaceful house."</p> + +<p>Two of the watch remained as guard over Ronald; one of the +others searched the house from top to bottom. No signs of the +fugitive were discovered.</p> + +<p>"He must be here somewhere," the magistrate said, "since he +was seen to enter, and the house has been closely watched ever +since. See, there are a pile of ashes on the hearth as if papers +had been recently burned. Sound the floors and the walls."</p> + +<p>The investigation was particularly sharp in the attic, for a +board was here found to be loose, and there were signs of its +being recently wrenched out of its place, but as the room below +was unceiled this discovery led to nothing. At last the +magistrate was convinced that the fugitive was not concealed in +the house, and, after placing his seals on the doors of all the +rooms and leaving four men in charge, he left the place, Ronald, +under the charge of four men, accompanying him.</p> + +<p>On the arrival at the city Tolbooth Ronald was thrust into a +cell and there left until morning. He was then brought before Mr. +M'Whirtle and two other of the city magistrates. Andrew Anderson +was in attendance, having been notified the night before of what +had befallen Ronald. The bailie and his wife had at first been +unable to credit the news, and were convinced that some mistake +had been made. Andrew had tried to obtain his release on his +promise to bring him up in the morning, but Mr. M'Whirtle and his +colleagues, who had been hastily summoned together, would not +hear of it.</p> + +<p>"It's a case of treason, man. Treason against his gracious +majesty; aiding and abetting one of the king's enemies, to say +nought of brawling and assaulting the city watch."</p> + +<p>The woman found in the house had also been brought up, but no +precise charge was made against her. The court was crowded, for +Andrew, in his wrath at being unable to obtain Ronald's release, +had not been backward in publishing his grievance, and many of +his neighbours were present to hear this strange charge against +Ronald Leslie.</p> + +<p>The wounded constable and another first gave their +evidence.</p> + +<p>"I myself can confirm what has been said," Mr. M'Whirtle +remarked, "seeing that I was present with the watch to see the +arrest of a person against whom a warrant had been issued."</p> + +<p>"Who is that person?" Ronald asked. "Seeing that I am charged +with aiding and abetting his escape it seems to me that I have a +right to know who he is."</p> + +<p>The magistrates looked astounded at the effrontery of the +question, but after a moment's consultation together Mr. +M'Whirtle said that in the interest of justice it was unadvisable +at the present moment to state the name of the person +concerned.</p> + +<p>"What have you to say, prisoner, to the charge made against +you? In consideration of our good friend Bailie Anderson, known +to be a worthy citizen and loyal subject of his majesty, we would +be glad to hear what you have to say anent this charge."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say," Ronald replied quietly. "Being in the +house when it was attacked, with as much noise as if a band of +Border ruffians were at the gate, I stood on the defence. I +demanded to see what warrant they had for forcing an entry, and +as they would show me none, I did my best to protect the house; +but the moment Mr. M'Whirtle proclaimed who he was I lowered my +sword and gave them passage."</p> + +<p>There was a smile in the court at the boy's coolness.</p> + +<p>"But how came ye there, young sir? How came ye to be in the +house at all, if ye were there for a good motive?"</p> + +<p>"That I decline to say," Ronald answered. "It seems to me that +any one may be in a house by the consent of its owners, without +having to give his reasons therefor."</p> + +<p>"It will be the worse for you if you defy the court. I ask you +again how came you there?"</p> + +<p>"I have no objection to tell you how I came there," Ronald +said. "I was walking on the old wall, which, as you know, runs +close by the house, when I saw an ill looking loon hiding himself +as if watching the house, looking behind I saw another ruffianly +looking man there." Two gasps of indignation were heard from the +porch at the back of the court. "Thinking that there was mischief +on hand I leapt from the wall to the dormer window to warn the +people of the house that there were ill doers who had designs +upon the place, and then remained to see what came of it. That is +the simple fact."</p> + +<p>There was an exclamation of incredulity from the +magistrates.</p> + +<p>"If you doubt me," Ronald said, "you can send a man to the +wall. I felt my feet loosen a tile and it slid down into the +gutter."</p> + +<p>One of the magistrates gave an order, and two of the watch +left the court.</p> + +<p>"And who did you find in the house?"</p> + +<p>"I found this good woman, and sorely frightened she was when I +told her what kind of folk were lurking outside."</p> + +<p>"And was there anyone else there?"</p> + +<p>"There was a man there," Ronald said quietly, "and he seemed +alarmed too."</p> + +<p>"What became of him?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot say for certain," Ronald replied; "but if you ask my +opinion I should say, that having no stomach for meeting people +outside, he just went out the way I came in, especially as I +heard the worshipful magistrate say that a board in the attic had +been lifted."</p> + +<p>The magistrates looked at each other in astonishment; the mode +of escape had not occurred to any, and the disappearance of the +fugitive was now explained.</p> + +<p>"I never heard such a tale," one of the magistrates said after +a pause. "It passes belief that a lad, belonging to the family of +a worthy and respectable citizen, a bailie of the city and one +who stands well with his fellow townsmen, should take a desperate +leap from the wall through a window of a house where a traitor +was in hiding, warn him that the house was watched, and give him +time to escape while he defended the stairs. Such a tale, sure, +was never told in a court. What say you, bailie?"</p> + +<p>"I can say nought," Andrew said. "The boy is a good boy and a +quiet one; given to mischief like other boys of his age, +doubtless, but always amenable. What can have possessed him to +behave in such a wild manner I cannot conceive, but it seems to +me that it was but a boy's freak."</p> + +<p>"It was no freak when he ran his sword through Peter Muir's +shoulder," Mr. M'Whirtle said. "Ye will allow that, neighbour +Anderson."</p> + +<p>"The man must have run against the sword," the bailie said, +"seeing the boy scarce knows one end of a weapon from +another."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong there, bailie," one of the constables said; +"for I have seen him many a time going into the school of James +Macklewain, and I have heard a comrade say, who knows James, that +the lad can handle a sword with the best of them."</p> + +<p>"I will admit at once," Ronald said, "that I have gone to +Macklewain's school and learned fencing of him. My father, +Colonel Leslie of Glenlyon, was a gentleman, and it was right +that I should wield a sword, and James Macklewain, who had fought +in the French wars and knew my father, was good enough to teach +me. I may say that my guardian knew nothing of this."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," Andrew said. "I never so much as dreamt of it. +If I had done so he and I would have talked together to a +purpose."</p> + +<p>"Leslie of Glenlyon was concerned in the '15, was he not?" Mr. +M'Whirtle said; "and had to fly the country; and his son seems to +be treading in his steps, bailie. I doubt ye have been nourishing +a viper in your bosom."</p> + +<p>At this moment the two constables returned, and reported that +certainly a tile was loose as the prisoner had described, and +there were scratches as if of the feet of someone entering the +window, but the leap was one that very few men would +undertake.</p> + +<p>"Your story is so far confirmed, prisoner; but it does not +seem to us that even had you seen two men watching a house it +would be reasonable that you would risk your neck in this way +without cause. Clearly you have aided and abetted a traitor to +escape justice, and you will be remanded. I hope, before you are +brought before us again, you will make up your mind to make a +clean breast of it, and throw yourself on the king's mercy."</p> + +<p>Ronald was accordingly led back to the cell, the bailie being +too much overwhelmed with surprise at what he had heard to utter +any remonstrance.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_III_Free_"></a>CHAPTER III: +Free.</h1> + +<p>After Ronald had been removed from the court the woman was +questioned. She asserted that her master was away, and was, she +believed, in France, and that in his absence she often let +lodgings to strangers. That two days before, a man whom she knew +not came and hired a room for a few days. That on the evening +before, hearing a noise in the attic, she went up with him, and +met Ronald coming down stairs. That when Ronald said there were +strange men outside the house, and when immediately afterwards +there was a great knocking at the door, the man drew his sword +and ordered her to come up stairs with him. That he then made her +assist him to pull up a plank, and thrust it from the attic to +the wall, and ordered her to replace it when he had gone. She +supposed he was a thief flying from justice, but was afraid to +refuse to do his bidding.</p> + +<p>"And why did you not tell us all this, woman, when we came +in?" Mr. M'Whirtle asked sternly. "Had ye told us we might have +overtaken him."</p> + +<p>"I was too much frightened," the woman answered. "There were +swords out and blood running, and men using words contrary both +to the law and Scripture. I was frighted enough before, and I +just put my apron over my head and sat down till the hubbub was +over. And then as no one asked me any questions, and I feared I +might have done wrong in aiding a thief to escape, I just held my +tongue."</p> + +<p>No cross questioning could elicit anything further from the +woman, who indeed seemed frightened almost out of her senses, and +the magistrate at last ordered her to return to the house and +remain there under the supervision of the constable until again +sent for.</p> + +<p>Andrew Anderson returned home sorely disturbed in his mind. +Hitherto he had told none, even of his intimates, that the boy +living in his house was the son of Colonel Leslie, but had spoken +of him as the child of an old acquaintance who had left him to +his care. The open announcement of Ronald that he was the son of +one of the leaders in the last rebellion, coming just as it did +when the air was thick with rumours of another rising, troubled +him greatly; and there was the fact that the boy had, unknown to +him, been learning fencing; and lastly this interference, which +had enabled a notorious emissary of the Pretender to escape +arrest.</p> + +<p>"The boy's story may be true as far as it goes," he said to +his wife when relating to her the circumstances, "for I have +never known him to tell a lie; but I cannot think it was all the +truth. A boy does not take such a dreadful leap as that, and risk +breaking his neck, simply because he sees two men near the house. +He must somehow have known that man was there, and went to give +him warning. Now I think of it, he passed through the shop when +Peter M'Whirtle was talking to me about it, though, indeed, he +did not know then where the loon was in hiding. The boy went out +soon afterwards, and must somehow have learned, if indeed he did +not know before. Janet, I fear that you and I have been like two +blind owls with regard to the boy, and I dread sorely that my +brother Malcolm is at the bottom of all this mischief."</p> + +<p>This Mrs. Anderson was ready enough to credit, but she was too +much bewildered and horrified to do more than to shake her head +and weep.</p> + +<p>"Will they cut off his head, Andrew?" she asked at last.</p> + +<p>"No, there's no fear of that; but they may imprison him for a +bit, and perhaps give him a good flogging--the young rascal. +But there, don't fret over it, Janet. I will do all I can for +him. And in truth I think Malcolm is more to blame than he is; +and we have been to blame too for letting the lad be so much with +him, seeing that we might be sure he would put all sorts of +notions in the boy's head."</p> + +<p>"But what is to be done, Andrew? We cannot let the poor lad +remain in prison."</p> + +<p>"We have no choice in the matter, Janet. In prison he is, and +in prison he has to remain until he is let out, and I see no +chance of that. If it had only been a brawl with the watch it +could have been got over easily enough; but this is an affair of +high treason--aiding and abetting the king's enemies, and the +rest of it. If it were in the old times they would put the thumb +screws on him to find out all he knew about it, for they will +never believe he risked his life in the plot; and the fact that +his father before him was in arms for the Chevalier tells that +way. I should not be surprised if an order comes for him to be +sent to London to be examined by the king's councillors; but I +will go round now and ask the justices what they think of the +matter."</p> + +<p>His tidings when he returned were not encouraging; the general +opinion of the magistrates being that Ronald was certainly mixed +up in the Jacobite plot, that the matter was altogether too +serious to be disposed of by them, being of the nature of high +treason, and that nothing could be done until instructions were +received from London. No clue had been obtained as to the +whereabouts of the man who had escaped, and it was thought +probable that he had at once dropped beyond the walls and made +for the west.</p> + +<p>Malcolm arrived ten days later from a journey in Lancashire, +and there was a serious quarrel between him and Andrew on his +presenting himself at the house.</p> + +<p>"It is not only that you led the lad into mischief, Malcolm, +but that you taught him to do it behind my back."</p> + +<p>"You may look at it in that way if you will, Andrew, and it's +natural enough from your point of view; but I take no blame to +myself. You treated the boy as if he had been your son, and I +thank you with all my heart for your kindness to him; but I could +not forget Leslie of Glenlyon, and I do not blame myself that I +have kept the same alive in his mind also. It was my duty to see +that the young eagle was not turned into a barn door fowl; but I +never thought he was going to use his beak and his claws so +soon."</p> + +<p>"A nice thing you will have to tell his father, that owing to +your teachings his son is a prisoner in the Tower, maybe for +life. But there--there's no fear of that. You will never have +to render that account, for there's no more chance of your ever +hearing more of him than there is of my becoming king of +Scotland. It's bad enough that you have always been a ne'er do +well yourself without training that unfortunate boy to his +ruin."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Andrew, I will not argue with you, and I don't +blame you at being sore and angry over the matter; nor do I deny +what you have said about myself; it's true enough, and you might +say worse things against me without my quarreling with ye over +it. However, the less said the better. I will take myself off and +think over what's to be done."</p> + +<p>"You had better come up and have your supper with us," Andrew +said, mollified by his brother's humility.</p> + +<p>"Not for twenty golden guineas, Andrew, would I face Mistress +Janet. She has borne with me well, though I know in her heart she +disapproves of me altogether; but after this scrape into which I +have got the boy I daren't face her. She might not say much, but +to eat with her eye upon me would choke me."</p> + +<p>Malcolm proceeded at once to the establishment of his friend +Macklewain.</p> + +<p>"This is a nice kettle of fish, Malcolm, about young Leslie. I +have had the justices down here, asking me all sorts of +questions, and they have got into their minds that I taught him +not only swordplay but treason, and they have been threatening to +put me in the stocks as a vagabond; but I snapped my fingers in +their faces, saying I earned my money as honestly as they did, +and that I concern myself in no way in politics, but teach +English officers and the sons of Glasgow tradesmen as well as +those of Highland gentlemen. They were nicely put out, I can tell +you; but I didn't care for that, for I knew I was in the right of +it. But what on earth made the young cock meddle in this matter? +How came he to be mixed up in a Jacobite plot? Have you got your +finger in it?"</p> + +<p>"Not I, James; and how it happens that he is concerned in it +is more than I can guess. I know, of course, his heart is with +the king over the water; but how he came to get his hand into the +pie is altogether beyond me."</p> + +<p>"The people here are well nigh mad about it. I know not who +the gallant who has escaped is; but it is certain that his +capture was considered a very important one, and that the +justices here expected to have gained no small credit by his +arrest, whereas now they will be regarded as fools for letting +him slip through their fingers."</p> + +<p>"I cannot for the life of me make out how he came to be mixed +up in such a matter. No one but you and I could have known that +he was a lad of mettle, who might be trusted in such a business. +It can hardly be that they would have confided any secrets to +him; still, the fact that he was in the house with the man they +are in search of, and that he drew and risked his life and +certain imprisonment to secure his escape, shows that he must +have been heart and soul in the plot."</p> + +<p>"And what do you think of doing, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I shall get him out somehow. I can lay hands on a score or +two or more of our old comrades here in Glasgow, and I doubt not +that they will all strike a blow with me for Leslie's son, to say +nothing of his being a follower of the Stuarts."</p> + +<p>"You are not thinking, man, of attacking the jail! That would +be a serious matter. The doors are strong, and you would have the +soldiers, to say nought of the town guard and the citizens, upon +you before you had reached him."</p> + +<p>"No, no, James, I am thinking of no such foolishness. I guess +that they will not be trying him for withstanding the watch, +that's but a small matter; they will be sending him south for the +king's ministers to get out of him what he knows about the +Jacobite plot and the names of all concerned, and it's upon the +road that we must get him out of their hands. Like enough they +will only send four troopers with him, and we can easily master +them somewhere in the dales."</p> + +<p>"It's more like, Malcolm, they will send him by ship. They +will know well enough that if the lad knows aught there will be +plenty whose interest it is to get him out of their hands. I +think they will take the safer way of putting him on board +ship."</p> + +<p>"Like enough they will," Malcolm agreed, "and in that case it +will be a harder job than I deemed it. But at any rate I mean to +try. Ronald's not the lad to turn traitor; he will say nothing +whatever they do to him, you may be sure, and he may lie for +years in an English prison if we do not get him out of their +hands before he gets there. At any rate what we have got to do +now is to mark every ship in the port sailing for London, and to +find out whether passages are taken for a prisoner and his guard +in any of them. I will make that my business, and between times +get a score of trusty fellows together in readiness to start if +they should send him by land; but I doubt not that you are right, +and that he will be taken off by ship."</p> + +<p>The days of waiting passed slowly to Ronald, and Andrew +Anderson once or twice obtained permission to see him. The bailie +wisely abstained from any reproaches, and sought only to persuade +him to make a clean breast of the business, and to tell all he +knew about a plot which could but end in failure and ruin to all +concerned. Although his belief in Ronald's truthfulness was great +he could not credit that the story which he had told contained +all the facts of the matter. To the bailie it seemed incredible +that merely from an abstract feeling in favour of the Stuarts +Ronald would have risked his life and liberty in aiding the +escape of a Jacobite agent, unless he was in some way deeply +involved in the plot; and he regarded Ronald's assurances to the +contrary as the outcome of what he considered an entirely +mistaken sense of loyalty to the Stuart cause.</p> + +<p>"It's all very well, Ronald," he said, shaking his head sadly; +"but when they get you to London they will find means to make you +open your mouth. They have done away with the thumb screws and +the rack, but there are other ways of making a prisoner speak, +and it would be far better for you to make a clean breast of it +at once. Janet is grieving for you as if you were her own son, +and I cannot myself attend to my business. Who would have thought +that so young a lad should have got himself mixed up in such sair +trouble!"</p> + +<p>"I have really told you all, bailie, though you will not +believe me, and I am sorry indeed for the trouble I have brought +upon you and my aunt"--for Ronald had from the first been +taught to address the bailie and his wife as if Malcolm Anderson +had been his real father; "anyhow I wish they would settle it. I +would rather know the worst than go on from day to day expecting +something that never happens."</p> + +<p>"You have to wait, Ronald, till word comes from London. If +they write from there that your case can be dealt with merely for +the assault upon the watch I can promise you that a few weeks in +jail are all that you are like to have; but I fear that there is +little chance of that. They are sure to send for you to London, +and whether you will ever come back alive the gude Lord only +knows. We know what came of treason thirty years ago, and like +enough they will be even more severe now, seeing that they will +hold that folks have all the less right to try and disturb +matters so long settled."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Malcolm?" Ronald asked, to change the +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Ay, lad, I have seen him, and the meeting was not altogether +a pleasant one for either of us."</p> + +<p>"I hope you have not quarrelled with him on my account!" +Ronald said eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We have not exactly quarrelled, but we have had words. I +could not but tell him my opinion as to his learning you to take +such courses, but we parted friends; but I doubt it will be long +before Janet can see him with patience."</p> + +<p>The jailer, who was present at the interview, here notified +that the bailie's time was up.</p> + +<p>"I shall see you again, Ronald, before they take you south. I +would that I could do more to help you besides just coming to see +you."</p> + +<p>"I know you cannot, uncle. I have got into the scrape and must +take the consequences; but if I were placed in the same position +I should do it again."</p> + +<p>A few days afterwards, as he was eating his ration of prison +bread, Ronald found in it a small pellet of paper, and on opening +it read the words: "Keep up your courage, friends are at work for +you. You will hear more yet of M. A."</p> + +<p>Ronald was glad to know that his old friend was thinking of +him, but, knowing how strong was the prison, he had little hopes +that Malcolm would be able to effect anything to help him. Still +the note gave him comfort.</p> + +<p>Three days later Andrew called again to bid him goodbye, +telling him that orders had been received from London that he was +to be sent thither by ship.</p> + +<p>"I should like to have seen Malcolm before I went, if I +could," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"I have not seen him for several days," the bailie said. "I +have sent down several times to the house where he lodges, but he +is always away; but, whether or no, there would be no chance of +your seeing him. I myself had difficulty in getting leave to see +you, though a bailie and known to be a loyal citizen. But Malcolm +knows that there would be no chance of one with such a character +as his getting to see you, and that it would draw attention to +him even to ask such a thing, which, if he has a hand in this mad +brain plot, he would not wish."</p> + +<p>"Malcolm would not mind a straw whether they kept a watch on +him or not," Ronald said. "Will you tell him, when you see him +next, that I got his message?"</p> + +<p>"What message? I have given you no message that I know +of."</p> + +<p>"He will know what I mean. Tell him, whether aught comes of it +or not I thank him, and for all his kindness to me, as I do you +and Aunt Janet."</p> + +<p>At the same time with the order that Ronald should be sent to +London the authorities of Glasgow received an intimation that the +ministers felt great surprise at the lukewarmness which had been +shown in allowing so notorious and important an enemy of his +majesty to escape, and that the king himself had expressed marked +displeasure at the conduct of the city authorities in the matter. +Greatly mortified at the upshot of an affair from which they had +hoped to obtain much credit from government, and believing it +certain that there were many greatly interested in getting Ronald +out of the hands of his captors, the authorities took every +precaution to prevent it. He was taken down to the river side +under a strong escort, and in addition to the four warders who +were to be in charge of the prisoner as far as London, they put +on board twelve men of the city guard. These were to remain with +the ship until she was well out at sea, and then to return in a +boat which the vessel was to tow behind her.</p> + +<p>Ronald could not but smile when he saw all these formidable +preparations for his safety. At the same time he felt that any +hope he had entertained that Malcolm might, as the message +hinted, make an attempt at rescue were blighted. The vessel +dropped down with the tide. The orders of the justices had been +so strict and urgent that the whole of the men placed on board +kept a vigilant watch.</p> + +<p>Just as they were abreast of Dumbarton the sound of oars was +heard, and presently a boat was seen approaching. As it got +nearer two men were seen to be rowing, and two others seated in +the stern; but as the craft was a large one there was room for +others to be lying in the bottom. The constable in charge shouted +to the boat to keep them off.</p> + +<p>"Stop rowing," he cried, "and come no nearer. If you do we +fire, and as I don't want to shed your blood I warn you that I +have sixteen armed men here."</p> + +<p>As his words were emphasized by the row of men, who with +levelled muskets ranged themselves along at the side of the ship, +the boat ceased rowing.</p> + +<p>"What are you afraid of?" one of the men in the stern shouted. +"Cannot a fisherman's boat row out without being threatened with +shooting? What are you and your sixteen armed men doing on board? +Are you expecting a French fleet off the coast? And do you think +you will beat them off if they board you? How long have the +Glasgow traders taken to man their ships with fighting men?"</p> + +<p>Ronald was in the cabin under the poop; it opened on to the +waist, and received its light from an opening in the door, at +which two armed men had stationed themselves when the boat was +heard approaching. Had the cabin possessed a porthole through +which he could have squeezed himself he would long before have +jumped overboard and tried to make his escape by swimming under +cover of the darkness. He now strove to force the door open, for +he recognized Malcolm's voice, and doubted not that his friend +had spoken in order to let him know that he was there, that he +might if possible leap over and swim to the boat; but it was +fastened strongly without, and the guards outside shouted that +they would fire unless he remained quiet.</p> + +<p>No reply was made to the taunts of the man in the boat, and +slowly, for the wind was but just filling her sails, the vessel +dropped down the river, and the boat was presently lost sight +of.</p> + +<p>In the morning the breeze freshened. It was not till the ship +was eight miles beyond the mouth of the river that the boat was +pulled up alongside, and the guard, taking their places on board, +hoisted sail and started on their return to Glasgow.</p> + +<p>Once fairly at sea Ronald was allowed to leave his cabin. Now +that he was enjoying the fresh air his spirits soon recovered the +tone which they had lost somewhat during his three weeks' +confinement in prison, and he thoroughly enjoyed his voyage. The +man who was in charge of the guard had at first wished to place +some restriction on his going about on board as he chose; but the +crew sided with the young prisoner, and threw such ridicule on +the idea that four warders and a head constable were afraid, even +for a moment, to lose sight of a boy on board a ship at sea, that +he gave way, and allowed Ronald free liberty of action, although +he warned his subordinates that they must nor relax their caution +for a moment.</p> + +<p>"The crew are all with him. They think it a shame that a lad +like this should be hauled to London as a prisoner charged with +treasonable practices; and sailors, when they once get an idea +into their head, are as obstinate as Highland cattle. I have told +them that he drew a sword and held the staircase against us all +while a noted traitor made his escape, and that he ran one of us +through the shoulder, and they only shouted with laughter, and +said he was a brave young cock. Like as not, if they had a +chance, these men would aid him to escape, and then we should +have to answer for it, and heavily too; loss of place and +imprisonment would be the least of what we might expect; so +though, while at sea and in full daylight he can do as he +pleases, we must be doubly vigilant at night, or in port if the +vessel should have to put in."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, to the great disgust of the sailors the watch by +turns stood sentry outside Ronald's door at night, thereby +defeating a plan which the sailors had formed of lowering a boat +the first night they passed near land, and letting Ronald make +his escape to shore.</p> + +<p>The wind was favourable until the vessel rounded the Land's +End. After that it became baffling and fickle, and it was more +than three weeks after the date of her sailing from Glasgow that +the vessel entered the mouth of the Thames. By this time Ronald's +boyish spirits had allayed all suspicion on the part of his +guards. He joked with the sailors, climbed about the rigging like +a cat, and was so little affected by his position that the guards +were convinced that he was free from the burden of any state +secret, and that no apprehension of any serious consequence to +himself was weighing upon him.</p> + +<p>"Poor lad!" the head warder said; "he will need all his +spirits. He will have hard work to make the king's council +believe that he interfered in such a matter as this from pure +love of adventure. He will have many a weary month to pass in +prison before they free him, I reckon. It goes against my heart +to hand over such a mere laddie as a prisoner; still it is no +matter of mine. I have my duty to do, and it's not for me to +question the orders I have received, or to argue whether a +prisoner is innocent or guilty."</p> + +<p>As the vessel anchored off Gravesend to wait for the turn of +the tide to take her up, a boat rowed by a waterman, and with a +man sitting in the stern, passed close by the ship. The head +warder had now redoubled his vigilance, and one of the guards +with loaded musket was standing on the deck not far from Ronald, +who was standing on the taffrail. As the boat passed some twenty +yards astern of the ship the man who was not rowing turned round +for a moment and looked up at Ronald. It was but a momentary +glance that the lad caught of his face, and he suppressed with +difficulty a cry of surprise, for he recognized Malcolm Anderson. +The rower continued steadily to ply his oars, and continued his +course towards another ship anchored lower down the river. Ronald +stood watching the boat, and saw that after making a wide sweep +it was rowed back again to Gravesend.</p> + +<p>Ronald had no doubt that Malcolm had come south in hopes of +effecting his escape, and guessed that he had taken up his post +at Gravesend with the intention of examining every ship as she +passed up until the one in which he knew he had sailed made its +appearance. What his next step would be he could not tell; but he +determined to keep a vigilant lookout, and to avail himself +instantly of any opportunity which might offer.</p> + +<p>As the captain did nor care about proceeding up the river +after dark it was not until the tide turned, just as morning +broke, that the anchor was weighed. There was a light breeze +which just sufficed to give the vessel steerage way, and a mist +hung on the water. Ronald took his favourite seat on the +taffrail, and kept a vigilant watch upon every craft which seemed +likely to come near the vessel.</p> + +<p>Greenwich was passed, and the vessel presently approached the +crowded part of the Pool. It was near high tide now, and the +captain was congratulating himself that he should just reach a +berth opposite the Tower before it turned. Presently a boat with +two rowers shot out from behind a tier of vessels and passed +close under the stern of the Glasgow Lass. A man was steering +whom Ronald instantly recognized.</p> + +<p>"Jump!" he cried, and Ronald without a moment's hesitation +leaped from the taffrail.</p> + +<p>He came up close to the boat, and was instantly hauled on +board by Malcolm. Just at that moment the guard, who had stood +stupefied by Ronald's sudden action, gave a shout of alarm and +discharged his piece. The ball struck the boat close to Ronald. +It was already in motion; the men bent to their oars, and the +boat glided towards the Surrey side of the river. Loud shouts +arose from on board the vessel, and four bullets cut the water +round the boat; but before the muskets could be reloaded Malcolm +had steered the boat through a tier of vessels, whose crews, +attracted by the firing, cheered the fugitives lustily.</p> + +<p>A minute later they had reached some landing steps. Malcolm +tossed some money to the rowers, and then sprang ashore with +Ronald, and handed the latter a long coat which would reach to +his heels and conceal the drenched state of his clothing from +notice.</p> + +<p>"We have tricked them nicely, dear boy," he said; "we are safe +now. Long before they can lower a boat and get here we shall be +safe in shelter, and our five Glasgow bodies will have something +to do to look for us here."</p> + +<p>Moderating his pace so as to avoid attracting attention, +Malcolm proceeded along several streets and lanes, and presently +stopped at the door of a little shop.</p> + +<p>"I am lodging here," he said, "and have told the people of the +house that I am expecting a nephew back from a cruise in the +Mediterranean."</p> + +<p>As he passed through the shop he said to the woman behind the +counter:</p> + +<p>"Here he is safe and sound. He's been some days longer than I +expected, but I was nor so very far wrong in my calculations. The +young scamp has had enough of the sea, and has agreed to go back +again with me to his own people."</p> + +<p>"That's right," the woman said. "My own boy ran away two years +ago, and I hope he will have come to his senses by the time he +gets back again."</p> + +<p>When they were together in their room up stairs Malcolm threw +his arms round Ronald's neck.</p> + +<p>"Thank God, my dear boy, I have got you out of the clutches of +the law! You do not know how I have been fretting since I heard +you were caught, and thought that if ill came to you it would be +all my fault. And now tell me how you got into this scrape, for +it has been puzzling me ever since I heard it. Surely when I saw +you last you knew nothing about any Jacobite goings on?"</p> + +<p>Ronald related the whole particulars of his adventure, and +said that even now he was absolutely ignorant who was the man +whom he had aided to escape.</p> + +<p>"I know no more than you do, Ronald, but they must have +thought his capture an important one by the fuss they made over +his escape. And now, to think that you have slipped out of their +hands too!" and Malcolm broke into a loud laugh. "I would give a +month's earnings to see the faces of the guard as they make their +report that they have arrived empty handed. I was right glad when +I saw you. I was afraid you might have given them the slip on the +way, and then there would have been no saying when we might have +found each other again."</p> + +<p>"The sailors would have lowered a boat at night and let me +make for the land," Ronald said, "but there was a good guard kept +over me. The door was locked and a sentry always on watch, and I +had quite given up all hope until I saw you at Gravesend. And +now, what do you intend to do? Make our way back to +Scotland?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, lad, that would never do. There will be a hue and cry +after you, and all the northern routes will be watched. No, I +shall make a bargain with some Dutch skipper to take us across +the water, and then we will make our way to Paris."</p> + +<p>"But have you got money, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I have got your purse, lad. I went to Andrew and said that I +wanted it for you, but that he was to ask no questions, so that +whatever came of it he could say that he knew nothing. He gave it +me at once, saying only:</p> + +<p>"'Remember, Malcolm, you have done the boy some harm already +with your teaching, see that you do him no further harm. I guess +you are bent on some hare brained plan, but whatever it be I wish +you success.'"</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_IV_In_France_"></a>CHAPTER +IV: In France.</h1> + +<p>The next day Malcolm went out alone, and on his return told +Ronald that there were placards on the walls offering a reward of +a hundred pounds for his apprehension.</p> + +<p>"You don't think the people below have any suspicion, +Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Not they," Malcolm replied. "I was telling them last night +after you had gone to bed all about the places you have been +voyaging to, and how anxious your father, a snug farmer near +Newcastle, was to have you back again. I had spoken to them +before so as to prepare them for your coming, and the old woman +takes quite an interest in you, because her son at sea is a lad +just about your age. I have brought you in a suit of sailor +clothes; we will go down and have a chat with them after the shop +is closed of a night. You will remember Newcastle and the farm, +and can tell them of your escape from Greek pirates, and how +nearly you were taken by a French frigate near the straits."</p> + +<p>The consternation of the watch at Ronald's escape was extreme. +The shot which the man on guard had fired was their first +intimation of the event, and seizing their muskets they had +hastily discharged them in the direction of the fugitive, and had +then shouted for a boat to be lowered. But never was a boat +longer getting into the water than was that of the Glasgow Lass +upon this occasion. The captain gave his orders in a leisurely +way, and the crew were even slower in executing them. Then +somehow the fall stuck and the boat wouldn't lower. When at last +she was in the water it was found that the thole pins were +missing; these being found she was rowed across the river, the +five constables undergoing a running fire of jokes and hilarity +from the sailors of the ships they passed near. In answer to +their inquiries where the fugitives landed, some of the sailors +shouted that she had pulled up the river behind the tier of +vessels, others insisted that she had sunk with all hands close +by.</p> + +<p>Completely bewildered, the chief of the party told the sailors +to put them ashore at the first landing. When the party gained +the streets they inquired eagerly of all they met whether they +had seen aught of the fugitives. Few of those they questioned +understood the broad Scotch in which the question was asked, +others laughed in their faces and asked how they were to know the +man and boy they wanted from any others; and after vainly looking +about for some time they returned to the stairs, only to find +that the boat had returned to the ship.</p> + +<p>A waterman's boat was now hired, and the rower, who had heard +what had happened, demanded a sum for putting them on board which +horrified them; but at last, after much bargaining, they were +conveyed back to the ship. An hour later the chief of the party +went ashore, and repairing to the Tower, where he had been +ordered to conduct the prisoner, reported his escape. He was at +once taken into custody on the charge of permitting the escape of +his prisoner, and it was not until three days later, upon the +evidence of his men and of the captain and officers of the ship, +that he was released.</p> + +<p>His four men were put on board a ship returning to Glasgow +next day, while he himself was kept to identify the fugitive +should he be caught.</p> + +<p>A week later Malcolm told Ronald that he had made arrangements +with the captain of a Dutch vessel to take them over to +Holland.</p> + +<p>"We are to go on board at Gravesend," he said, "for they are +searching all ships bound for foreign ports. It is not for you +especially, but there are supposed to be many Jacobites going to +and fro, and they will lay hands on anyone who cannot give a +satisfactory account of himself. So it is just as well for us to +avoid questioning."</p> + +<p>Accordingly the next day they walked down to Gravesend, and +taking boat there boarded the Dutch vessel when she came along on +the following day. The Dutch captain received them civilly; he +had been told by Malcolm that they wished to leave the country +privately, and guessed that they were in some way fugitives from +the law, but as he was to be well paid this gave him no concern. +There were no other passengers, and a roomy cabin was placed at +their disposal. They passed down the river without impediment, +and anchored that night off Sheerness.</p> + +<p>"These Dutch traders are but slow craft," Malcolm said as he +walked impatiently up and down the deck next morning, watching +the slow progress which they made past the shore. "I wish we +could have got a passage direct to France, but of course that is +impossible now the two nations are at war."</p> + +<p>"What is the war about, Malcolm? I heard at home that they +were fighting, but yet that somehow the two countries were not at +war."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't know how that comes about," Malcolm said. +"England has a minister still at Paris; but for all that King +George is at the head of a number of British troops in Germany +fighting against the French there."</p> + +<p>"But what is it about, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it is a matter which concerns Hanover more than +England; in fact England has no interest in the matter at all as +far as I can see, except that as France takes one side she takes +the other, because she is afraid of France getting too strong. +However, it is a German business, and England is mixed up in it +only because her present king is a Hanoverian and not an +Englishman. This is the matter as far as I can make it out. +Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, died in October, 1740. It had +been arranged by a sort of general agreement called the Pragmatic +Sanction--"</p> + +<p>"What an extraordinary name, Malcolm! What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the least idea in the world, lad. However, that is +what it is called. It was signed by a lot of powers, of whom +England was one, and by it all parties agreed that Charles's +daughter Maria Theresa was to become Empress of Austria. However, +when the emperor was dead the Elector of Bavaria claimed to be +emperor, and he was supported by France, by Spain, and by +Frederick of Prussia, and they marched to Vienna, enthroned the +elector as Duke of Austria, and drove Maria Theresa to take +refuge in Hungary, where she was warmly supported.</p> + +<p>"The English parliament voted a large sum to enable the +empress to carry on the war, and last year sixteen thousand men +under the Earl of Stair crossed the seas to cooperate with the +Dutch, who were warm supporters of the empress, and were joined +by six thousand Hessians and sixteen thousand Hanoverians in +British pay; but after all nothing was done last year, for as in +the last war the Dutch were not ready to begin, and the English +army were in consequence kept idle."</p> + +<p>"Then it seems that everyone was against the empress except +England and these three little states."</p> + +<p>"That is pretty nearly so," Malcolm said; "but at present the +empress has bought off the Prussians, whose king joined in the +affair solely for his own advantage, by giving him the province +of Silesia, so that in fact at present it is England and Hanover, +which is all the same thing, with the Dutch and Hessians, against +France and Bavaria, for I don't think that at present Spain has +sent any troops."</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems to me a downright shame," Ronald said +indignantly; "and though I have no great love for the English, +and hate their Hanoverian George and his people, I shouldn't like +to fight with one of the Scotch regiments in the French service +in such a quarrel."</p> + +<p>Malcolm laughed.</p> + +<p>"My dear lad, if every soldier were to discuss the merits of +the quarrel in which he is ordered to fight there would be an end +of all discipline."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see that," Ronald agreed; "if one is once a soldier he +has only to obey orders. But one need not become a soldier just +at the time when he would be called upon to fight for a cause +which he considers unjust."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Ronald, and it's fortunate, if your feelings are +in favour of Maria Theresa, that we are not thinking of enlisting +just at present, for you would be puzzled which side to take. If +you fought for her you would have to fight under the Hanoverian; +if you fight against the Hanoverian you are fighting against +Maria Theresa."</p> + +<p>"Well, we don't want to fight at all," Ronald said. "What we +want to do is to find out something about my father. I wish the +voyage was at an end, and that we had our faces towards +Paris."</p> + +<p>"It will not be so easy to cross from Holland into France," +Malcolm said. "I wish our voyage was at an end for another +reason, for unless I mistake there is a storm brewing up."</p> + +<p>Malcolm's prediction as to the weather was speedily verified. +The wind rose rapidly, ragged clouds hurried across the sky, and +the waves got up fast, and by nightfall the sea had become really +heavy, dashing in sheets high in the air every time the bluff +bowed craft plunged into it. Long before this Ronald had gone +below prostrate with seasickness.</p> + +<p>"It's just like the obstinacy of these Dutchmen," Malcolm +muttered to himself as he held on by a shroud and watched the +labouring ship. "It must have been clear to anyone before we were +well out of the river that we were going to have a gale, and as +the wind then was nearly due south, we could have run back again +and anchored in shelter till it was over. Now it has backed round +nearly into our teeth, with every sign of its getting into the +north, and then we shall have the French coast on our lee. It's +not very serious yet, but if the wind goes on rising as it has +done for the last four or five hours we shall have a gale to +remember before the morning."</p> + +<p>Before the daylight, indeed, a tremendous sea was running, and +the wind was blowing with terrible force from the north. Although +under but a rag of canvas the brig was pressed down gunwale deep, +and each wave as it struck her broadside seemed to heave her +bodily to leeward. Malcolm on coming on deck made his way aft and +glanced at the compass, and then took a long look over the +foaming water towards where he knew the French coast must lie. +The wind was two or three points east of north, and as the clumsy +craft would not sail within several points of the wind she was +heading nearly east.</p> + +<p>"She is making a foot to leeward for every one she forges +ahead," he said to himself. "If she has been at this work all +night we cannot be far from the coast."</p> + +<p>So the Dutch skipper appeared to think, for a few minutes +afterwards he gave orders to bring her about on the other tack. +Three times they tried and failed; each time the vessel slowly +came up into the wind, but the heavy waves forced her head off +again before the headsails filled. Then the skipper gave orders +to wear her. Her head payed off to the wind until she was nearly +before it. Two or three great seas struck her stern and buried +her head deeply, but at last the boom swung over and her head +came up on the other tack. During the course of these manoeuvres +she had made fully two miles leeway, and when she was fairly +under sail with her head to the west Malcolm took another long +look towards the south.</p> + +<p>"Just as I thought," he said. "There is white water there and +a dark line behind it. That is the French coast, sure +enough."</p> + +<p>It would have been useless to speak, but he touched the arm of +the skipper and pointed to leeward. The skipper looked in this +direction for a minute and then gave the order for more sail to +be put on the ship, to endeavour to beat out in the teeth of the +gale. But even when pressed to the utmost it was evident to +Malcolm that the force of the waves was driving her faster +towards the coast than she could make off it, and he went below +and told Ronald to come on deck.</p> + +<p>"I would rather lie here," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, lad! The wind and spray will soon knock the +sickness out of you; and you will want all your wits about you, +for it won't be many hours before we are bumping on the sands, +and stoutly built as the craft is she won't hold together long in +such a sea as this."</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it, Malcolm, or are you only trying to get +me on deck?"</p> + +<p>"I mean it, lad. We are drifting fast upon the French coast, +and there is no hope of her clawing off in the teeth of such a +gale as this."</p> + +<p>The news aroused Ronald effectually. He had not suffered at +all on the voyage down from Glasgow, and he was already beginning +to feel better when Malcolm went down to call him. He was soon on +deck holding on by the bulwark.</p> + +<p>"There it is, that long low black line; it looks a long way +off because the air is full of spray and the coast is low, but +it's not more than three or four miles; look at that broad belt +of foam."</p> + +<p>For some hours the Dutch skipper did his best to beat to +windward, but in vain, the vessel drove nearer and nearer towards +the shore; the anchors were got in readiness, and when within a +quarter of a mile of the line of breakers the vessel's head was +brought up into the wind, and the lashings of the two anchors cut +simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"Will they hold her, do you think?" Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a chance of it, Ronald. Of course the captain is right to +try; but no cables were ever made would hold such a bluff bowed +craft as this in the teeth of such a wind and sea."</p> + +<p>The cables ran out to the bitts. Just as they tightened a +great sea rolled in on the bow. Two dull reports were heard, and +then her head payed off. The jib was run up instantly to help her +round, and under this sail the brig was headed directly towards +the shore. The sea was breaking round them now; but the brig was +almost flat bottomed and drew but little water. All on board hung +on to the shrouds and bulwarks, momentarily expecting a crash, +but she drove on through the surf until within a hundred yards of +the shore. Then as she went down in the trough of a wave there +was a mighty crash. The next wave swept her forward her own +length.</p> + +<p>Then there was another crash even more tremendous than the +first, and her masts simultaneously went over the side. The next +wave moved her but a few feet; the one which followed, finding +her immovable, piled itself higher over her, and swept in a +cataract down her sloping deck. Her stern had swung round after +the first shot, and she now lay broadside to the waves. The Dutch +skipper and his crew behaved with the greatest calmness; the ship +lay over at such an angle that it was impossible to stand on the +deck; but the captain managed to get on the upper rail, and +although frequently almost washed off by the seas, contrived to +cut the shrouds and ropes that still attached the masts to the +ship there. Then he joined the crew, who were standing breast +high in the water on the lee side, the floating masts were pulled +in until within a few yards of the vessel, and such of the crew +as could swim made towards them.</p> + +<p>The skipper cut the last rope that bound them, and then +plunged in and joined his men. The distance was little over fifty +yards to the shore, and the wreck formed a partial shelter. A +crowd of people were assembled at the edge of the beach with +ropes in readiness to give any assistance in their power. Malcolm +and Ronald were among those who had swum to the masts, but when +within a short distance of the shore the former shouted in the +latter's ear:</p> + +<p>"Swim off, lad, the masts might crush us."</p> + +<p>As soon as they neared the shore a number of ropes were +thrown. Most of the sailors, seeing the danger of being crushed, +followed the example of Malcolm, and left the masts. Malcolm and +Ronald swam just outside the point where the waves broke until a +line fell in the water close to them. They grasped it at +once.</p> + +<p>"Give it a twist round your arm," Malcolm shouted, "or the +backwash will tear you from it."</p> + +<p>The sailors on shore watched their opportunity, and the +instant a wave passed beneath the two swimmers ran up the beach +at full speed with the rope. There was a crash. Ronald felt +himself shot forward with great rapidity, then as he touched the +ground with his feet they were swept from under him, and so great +was the strain that he felt as if his arm was being pulled from +the socket. A few seconds later he was lying at full length upon +the sands, and before the next wave reached him a dozen men had +rushed down and seized him and Malcolm, and carried them beyond +its influence. For a minute or two Ronald felt too bruised and +out of breath to move. Then he heard Malcolm's voice:</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"No; I think not, Malcolm," he replied, making an effort to +sit up. "Are you?"</p> + +<p>"No, lad; bruised a bit, but no worse."</p> + +<p>One by one the sailors were brought ashore, one with both legs +broken from the force with which he was dashed down by the surf, +and one man who stuck to the mast was crushed to death as it was +rolled over and over on to the beach. The captain and three +sailors were, like Malcolm and Ronald, unhurt. There still +remained four men on the wreck. Fortunately she had struck just +at high tide, and so stoutly was she built that she held together +in spite of the tremendous seas, and in an hour the four sailors +were able to wade breast high to the shore.</p> + +<p>They found that the spot where the vessel had struck was half +a mile west of Gravelines. They were taken to the town, and were +hospitably entertained. A small body of soldiers were quartered +there, and the officer in command told the Dutch skipper, that as +the two nations were at war he and his crew must be detained +until he received orders respecting them. On learning from +Malcolm that he and Ronald were passengers, and were Scotsmen +making their way from England to escape imprisonment as friends +of the Stuarts, and that he had for twelve years served in one of +the Scotch regiments of Louis, and was now bound for Paris, the +officer said that they were free to continue their journey at +once.</p> + +<p>It was two or three days before they started, for they found +the next morning that they were both too severely bruised to set +out at once on the journey. As Malcolm had taken care to keep the +purse containing Ronald's money securely fastened to a belt under +his clothes they had no lack of funds; but as time was no object +they started for Paris on foot. Ronald greatly enjoyed the +journey. Bright weather had set in after the storm. It was now +the middle of May, all nature was bright and cheerful, the +dresses of the peasantry, the style of architecture so different +to that to which he was accustomed in Scotland, and everything +else were new and strange to him. Malcolm spoke French as +fluently as his own language, and they had therefore no +difficulty or trouble on the way.</p> + +<p>They arrived at Paris without any adventure. Malcolm went to a +cabaret which had at the time when he was in the French service +been much frequented by Scotch soldiers, being kept by a +countryman of their own, an ex-sergeant in one of the Scottish +regiments.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Sandy Macgregor," Malcolm exclaimed as the proprietor of +the place approached to take their order. "So you are still in +the flesh, man! Right glad am I to see you again.</p> + +<p>"I know your face," Sandy replied; "but I canna just say what +your name might be."</p> + +<p>"Malcolm Anderson, of Leslie's Scotch regiment. It's fourteen +years since I left them now; but I was here again four years +later, if you can remember, when I came over to try and find out +if aught had been heard of the colonel."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," Sandy said, grasping Malcolm's outstretched hand +warmly. "It all comes back to me now. Right glad am I to see you. +And who is the lad ye have brought with you? A Scot by his face +and bearing, I will be bound, but young yet for the service if +that be what he is thinking of."</p> + +<p>"He is the colonel's son, Sandy. You will remember I told you +I had carried him back to Scotland with me; but I need not tell +ye that this is betwixt ourselves, for those who have so badly +treated his father might well have a grudge against the son, and +all the more that he is the rightful heir to many a broad acre +here in France."</p> + +<p>"I give you a hearty welcome, young sir," Sandy said. "Many a +time I have seen your brave father riding at the head of his +regiment, and have spoken to him too, for he and his officers +would drop in here and crack a cup together in a room I keep +upstairs for the quality. Well, well, and to think that you are +his son! But what Malcolm said is true, and it were best that +none knew who ye are, for they have an unco quick way here of +putting inconvenient people out of the way."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever heard aught of my father since?" Ronald asked +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Not a word," Sandy replied. "I have heard it talked over +scores of times by men who were in the regiment that was once +his, and none doubted that if he were still alive he was lying in +the Bastille, or Vincennes, or one of the other cages where they +keep those whose presence the king or his favourites find +inconvenient. It's just a stroke of the pen, without question or +trial, and they are gone, and even their best friends darena ask +a question concerning them. In most cases none know why they have +been put away; but there is no doubt why Leslie was seized. Three +or four of his fellow officers were in the secret of his +marriage, and when he had disappeared these talked loudly about +it, and there was sair grief and anger among the Scottish +regiment at Leslie's seizure. But what was to be done? It was +just the king's pleasure, and that is enough in France. Leslie +had committed the grave offence of thwarting the wishes of two of +the king's favourites, great nobles, too, with broad lands and +grand connections. What were the likings of a Scottish soldier of +fortune and a headstrong girl in comparison! In Scotland in the +old times a gallant who had carried off a daughter of a Douglas +or one of our powerful nobles would have made his wife a widow +ere many weeks were over, and it is the same thing here now. It +wouldna have been an easy thing for his enemies to kill Leslie +with his regiment at his back, and so they got an order from the +king, and as surely got rid of him as if they had taken his +life."</p> + +<p>"You have never heard whether my mother has married again?" +Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"I have never heard her name mentioned. Her father is still at +court, but his daughter has never been seen since, or I should +have heard of it; but more than that I cannot say."</p> + +<p>"That gives me hopes that my father is still alive," Ronald +said. "Had he been dead they might have forced her into some +other marriage."</p> + +<p>"They might so; but she was plainly a lassie who had a will of +her own and may have held out."</p> + +<p>"But why did they not kill him instead of putting him in +prison if he was in their way?"</p> + +<p>"They might, as I said, have done it at once; but once in +prison he was beyond their reach. The king may grant a lettre de +cachet, as these orders are called, to a favourite; but even in +France men are not put to death without some sort of trial, and +even Chateaurouge and De Recambours could not ask Louis to have a +man murdered in prison to gratify their private spite, especially +when that man was a brave Scottish officer whose fate had already +excited much discontent among his compatriots in the king's +service. Then again much would depend upon who was the governor +of the prison. These men differ like others. Some of them are +honourable gentlemen, to whom even Louis himself would not +venture to hint that he wanted a prisoner put out of the way; but +there are others who, to gratify a powerful nobleman, would think +nothing of telling a jailer to forget a fortnight to give food to +a prisoner. So you see we cannot judge from this. And now what +are you thinking of doing, Malcolm, and why are you over +here?"</p> + +<p>"In the first place we are over here because young Leslie took +after his father and aided a Jacobite, whom George's men were in +search of, to escape, and drew his sword on a worshipful justice +of Glasgow and the city watch."</p> + +<p>"He has begun early," Sandy said, laughing; "and how did he +get away?"</p> + +<p>"They brought him down a prisoner to London, to interrogate +him as to the plot. I had a boat in the Thames and he jumped over +and swam for it; so here we are. There are rumours in Scotland +that King Louis is helping Prince Charlie, and that an army is +soon going to sail for Scotland."</p> + +<p>"It is talked of here, but so far nothing is settled; but as +King George is interfering in Louis's affairs, and is fighting +him in Germany, I think it more than likely that King Louis is +going to stir up a coil in Scotland to give George something to +do at home."</p> + +<p>"Then if there's nothing to be done here I shall find out the +old regiment. There will be many officers in it still who have +fought under Leslie, and some of them may know more about him +than you do, and will surely be able to tell me what has become +of the lad's mither."</p> + +<p>"That may well be so; but keep a quiet tongue, Malcolm, as to +Leslie's son, save to those on whose discretion you can rely. I +tell you, if it were known that he is alive and in France his +life would not be worth a week's purchase. They would not take +the trouble to get a lettre de cachet for him as they did for his +father; it would be just a pistol bullet or a stab on a dark +night or in a lonely place. There would be no question asked +about the fate of an unknown Scotch laddie."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful, Sandy, and silent. The first thing is to +find out where the old regiment is lying."</p> + +<p>"That I can tell you at once. It is on the frontier with the +Duc de Noailles, and they say that there is like to be a great +battle with English George and his army."</p> + +<p>"Well, as we have nothing else to do we will set out and find +them," Malcolm said; "but as time is not pressing we will stop a +few days here in Paris and I will show the lad the sights. I +suppose you can put us up."</p> + +<p>"That can I. Times are dull at present. After '15 Paris +swarmed with Scotsmen who had fled to save their heads; but of +late years but few have come over, and the Scotch regiments have +difficulty in keeping up their numbers. Since the last of them +marched for the frontier I have been looking after empty benches, +and it will be good news for me when I hear that the war is over +and they are on their way back."</p> + +<p>For some days Malcolm and Ronald wandered about the narrow +streets of Paris. Ronald was somewhat disappointed in the city of +which he had heard so much. The streets were ill paved and worse +lighted, and were narrow and winding. In the neighbourhood of the +Louvre there were signs of wealth and opulence. The rich dresses +of the nobles contrasted strongly indeed with the sombre attire +of the Glasgow citizens, and the appearance and uniform of the +royal guards filled him with admiration; but beyond the +fashionable quarter it did not appear to him that Paris possessed +many advantages over Glasgow, and the poorer class were squalid +and poverty stricken to a far greater degree than anything he had +seen in Scotland. But the chief points of attraction to him were +the prisons. The Bastille, the Chatelet, and the Temple were +points to which he was continually turning; the two former +especially, since, if he were in Paris, it was in one of these +that his father was most probably lying.</p> + +<p>The various plans he had so often thought over, by which, in +some way or other, he might communicate with his father and aid +his escape, were roughly shattered at the sight of these +buildings. He had reckoned on their resembling in some respect +the prison in Glasgow, and at the sight of these formidable +fortresses with their lofty walls and flanking towers, their +moats and vigilant sentries, his hopes fell to zero. It would, he +saw at once, be absolutely impossible to open communication with +a prisoner of whose whereabouts he was wholly ignorant and of +whose very existence he was doubtful. The narrow slits which +lighted the cell in which he was confined might look into an +inner court, or the cell itself might be below the surface of the +soil. The legend of the troubadour who discovered King Richard of +England's place of captivity by singing without the walls had +always been present in his mind, but no such plan would be +practicable here. He knew no song which his father, and his +father only, would recognize; and even did he know such a song, +the appearance of anyone loitering in the open space outside the +moat round the Bastille singing at intervals at different points +would have instantly attracted the attention of the sentries on +the walls. Nor, even did he discover that his father was lying a +prisoner in one of the cells facing outwards in the fortress, did +he see any possibility of compassing his escape. The slits were +wide enough only for the passage of a ray of light or the flight +of an arrow. No human being could squeeze himself through them, +and even if he could do so he would need a long rope to descend +into the moat.</p> + +<p>One day Ronald talked over his ideas with Malcolm, who +declared at once that they were impossible of execution.</p> + +<p>"There is scarcely a case on record," he said, "of an escape +from either the Bastille or the Chatelet, and yet there have been +scores of prisoners confined in them with friends of great +influence and abundant means. If these have been unable, by +bribing jailers or by other strategy, to free their friends, how +could a stranger, without either connection, influence, or +wealth, hope to effect the escape of a captive were he certain +that he was within the walls. Do not waste your thought on such +fancies, Ronald. If your father is still in prison it is by +influence only, and influence exerted upon the king and exceeding +that of your father's enemies, that his release can be +obtained.</p> + +<p>"Such influence there is no possibility of our exerting. Your +father's comrades and countrymen, his position and services, +availed nothing when he was first imprisoned; and in the time +which has elapsed the number of those who know him and would +venture to risk the king's displeasure by pleading his cause must +have lessened considerably. The only possibility, mind I say +possibility, of success lies in your mother.</p> + +<p>"So far it is clear that she has been powerless; but we know +not under what circumstances she has been placed. She may all +this time have been shut up a prisoner in a convent; she may be +dead; but it is possible that, if she is free, she may have +powerful connections on her mother's side, who might be induced +to take up her cause and to plead with the king for your father's +liberty. She may have been told that your father is dead. She is, +no doubt, in ignorance of what has become of you, or whether you +are still alive. If she believes you are both dead she would have +had no motive for exerting any family influence she may have, and +may be living a broken hearted woman, firm only in the resolution +to accept no other husband."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is possible," Ronald agreed. "At any rate, Malcolm, +let us lose no further time, but set out tomorrow for the +frontier and try to find out from my father's old comrades what +has become of my mother."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_V_Dettingen_"></a>CHAPTER V: +Dettingen.</h1> + +<p>After walking two or three miles Malcolm and Ronald came upon +the rear of a train of waggons which had set out from Paris an +hour earlier. Entering into conversation with one of the drivers +they found that the convoy was bound for the frontier with +ammunition and supplies for the army.</p> + +<p>"This is fortunate," Malcolm said; "for to tell you the truth, +Ronald, I have looked forward to our meeting with a good many +difficulties by the way. We have no passes or permits to travel, +and should be suspected of being either deserters or thieves. We +came down from the north easy enough; but there they are more +accustomed to the passage of travellers to or from the coast. +Going east our appearance if alone would be sure to incite +comment and suspicion. It is hard if among the soldiers with the +convoy I do not know someone who has friends in the old regiment. +At any rate we can offer to make ourselves useful in case of any +of the drivers falling ill or deserting by the way."</p> + +<p>As they walked along towards the head of the long line of +waggons Malcolm closely scrutinized the troopers who formed the +escort, but most of them were young soldiers, and he therefore +went on without accosting them until he reached the head of the +column. Here two officers were riding together, a captain and a +young lieutenant. Malcolm saluted the former.</p> + +<p>"I am an old soldier of the 2d Regiment of Scottish Calvary, +and am going with my young friend here, who has relations in the +regiment, to join them. Will you permit us, sir, to journey with +your convoy? We are ready, if needs be, to make ourselves useful +in case any of your drivers are missing, no uncommon thing, as I +know, on a long journey."</p> + +<p>The officer asked a few questions about his services, and +said: "What have you been doing since you left, as you say, +fourteen years ago?"</p> + +<p>"I have been in Scotland, sir. I took this lad, who was then +an infant, home to my people, having had enough of soldiering, +while my brother, his father, remained with the regiment. We do +not know whether he is alive or dead, but if the former the lad +wants to join as a trumpeter, and when old enough to fight in the +ranks."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the officer said. "You can march along with us, +and if any of these fellows desert you shall take their places, +and of course draw their pay."</p> + +<p>It was a short time indeed before Malcolm's services were +called into requisition, for the very first night several of the +drivers, who had been pressed into the service, managed to elude +the vigilance of the guard and slipped away.</p> + +<p>The next morning Malcolm, with Ronald as his assistant, took +charge of one of the heavy waggons, loaded with ammunition, and +drawn by twelve horses.</p> + +<p>"This is better than walking after all, Ronald. In the first +place it saves the legs, and in the second one is partly out of +the dust."</p> + +<p>"But I think we should get on faster walking, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we had no stoppages. But then, you see, as we have no +papers we might be detained for weeks by some pig headed official +in a little country town; besides, we are sure to push on as fast +as we can, for they will want the ammunition before a battle is +fought. And after all a few days won't make much difference to +us; the weather is fine, and the journey will not be +unpleasant."</p> + +<p>In fact Ronald enjoyed the next three weeks greatly as the +train of waggons made its way across the plains of Champagne, and +then on through the valleys of Lorraine and Alsace until it +reached Strasbourg. Malcolm had speedily made friends with some +of the soldiers of the escort, and of an evening when the day's +work was over he and Ronald sat with them by the fires they made +by the roadside, and Malcolm told tales of the campaigns in which +he had been engaged, and the soldiers sang songs and chatted over +the probabilities of the events of the war. None of them had +served before, having been but a few months taken from their +homes in various parts of France. But although, doubtless, many +had at first regretted bitterly being dragged away to the wars, +they were now all reconciled to their lot, and looked forward +eagerly to joining their regiment, which was at the front, when +the duty of looking after the convoy would be at an end.</p> + +<p>Little was known in Paris as to the position of the contending +armies beyond the fact that Lord Stair, who commanded the English +army, sixteen thousand strong, which had for the last year been +lying inactive in Flanders, had marched down with his Hanoverian +allies towards the Maine, and that the Duc de Noailles with sixty +thousand men was lying beyond the Rhine. But at Strasbourg they +learned that the French army had marched north to give battle to +Lord Stair, who had at present with him but twenty-eight thousand +men, and was waiting to be joined by twelve thousand Hanoverians +and Hessians who were on their way.</p> + +<p>The convoy continued its journey, pushing forward with all +speed, and on the 26th of July joined the army of De Noailles. +The French were on the south side of the river, but having +arrived on its banks before the English they had possession of +the bridges. As soon as the waggons had joined the army, Malcolm +obtained from the officer commanding the escort a discharge, +saying that he and Ronald had fulfilled their engagement as +drivers with the waggons to the front, and were now at liberty to +return to France.</p> + +<p>"Now we are our own masters again, Ronald," Malcolm said. "I +have taken part in a good many battles, but have never yet had +the opportunity of looking on at one comfortably. De Noailles +should lose no time in attacking, so as to destroy the English +before they receive their reinforcements. As he holds the bridges +he can bring on the battle when he likes, and I think that +tomorrow or next day the fight will take place."</p> + +<p>It was known in the camp that evening that the English had +established their chief magazines at Hanau, and were marching up +the river towards Aschaffenburg. In the early morning a portion +of the French troops crossed the river at that town, and took up +a strong position there. Ronald and Malcolm climbed a hill +looking down upon the river from the south side, and thence +commanded the view of the ground across which the English were +marching. On the eastern side of the river spurs of the Spessart +Mountains came down close to its bank, inclosing a narrow flat +between Aschaffenburg and Dettingen. At the latter place the +heights approached so closely to the river as to render it +difficult for an army to pass between them. While posting a +strong force at Aschaffenburg to hold the passage across a stream +running into the Maine there, De Noailles marched his main force +down the river; these movements were hidden by the nature of the +ground from the English, who were advancing unconscious of their +danger towards Dettingen.</p> + +<p>"De Noailles will have them in a trap," Malcolm said, for from +their position on the hill they could see the whole ground on the +further bank, Hanau lying some seven miles beyond Dettingen, +which was itself less than seven miles from Aschaffenburg.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"Afraid!" Malcolm repeated. "Why, you should rejoice, +Ronald."</p> + +<p>"I can't do that," Ronald replied. "I should like to see the +Stuarts instead of the Hanoverians reigning over us; but after +all, Malcolm, England and Scotland are one nation."</p> + +<p>"But there are Scotch regiments with the French army, and a +brigade of Irish."</p> + +<p>"That may be," Ronald said. "Scotchmen who have got into +political trouble at home may enter the service of France, and +may fight heartily against the Germans or the Flemings, or other +enemies of France; but I know that I should feel very reluctant +to fight against the English army, except, of course, at home for +the Stuarts."</p> + +<p>"It will benefit the Stuarts' cause if the English are +defeated here," Malcolm said.</p> + +<p>"That may be or it may not," Ronald replied. "You yourself +told me that Louis cared nothing for the Stuarts, and would only +aid them in order to cripple the English strength at home. +Therefore, if he destroys the English army here he will have less +cause to fear England and so less motive for helping the +Chevalier."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," Malcolm agreed. "You are fast becoming +a politician, Ronald. Well, I will look on as a neutral then, +because, although the English are certainly more nearly my +countrymen than are the French, you must remember that for twelve +years I fought under the French flag. However, there can be no +doubt what is going to take place. See, the dark mass of the +English army are passing through the defile of Dettingen, and the +French have begun to cross at Seligenstadt in their rear. See, +they are throwing three or four bridges across the river +there."</p> + +<p>In utter ignorance of their danger the English marched on +along the narrow plain by the river bank towards +Aschaffenburg.</p> + +<p>"Look at their cavalry scouting ahead of them," Malcolm said. +"There, the French are opening fire!" And as he spoke puffs of +musketry rose up from the line of the stream held by the +French.</p> + +<p>The English cavalry galloped back, but the columns of infantry +still advanced until within half a mile of the French position, +and were there halted, while some guns from the French lines +opened fire. The bridges at Seligenstadt were now completed, and +masses of troops could be seen pouring over. King George and the +Duke of Cumberland had joined the Earl of Stair just as the army +passed through Dettingen, and were riding at the head of the +column when the French fire opened. A short time was spent in +reconnoitring the position of the enemy in front. The English +believed that the entire French army was there opposed to them, +and that the advance of the army into Franconia, which was its +main objective was therefore barred. After a short consultation +it was resolved to fall back at once upon the magazines at Hanau, +which, from their ignorance of the near proximity of the French, +had been left but weakly guarded. Believing that as they fell +back they would be hotly pursued by the French army, the king +took the command of the rear as the post of danger, and the +columns, facing about, marched towards Dettingen.</p> + +<p>But the French had been beforehand with them. De Noailles had +sent 23,000 men under his nephew the Duke de Grammont across the +river to occupy Dettingen. He himself with his main army remained +on the south side, with his artillery placed so as to fire across +the river upon the flank of the English as they approached +Dettingen; while he could march up and cross at Aschaffenburg +should the English, after being beaten back at Dettingen, try to +retreat up the river.</p> + +<p>De Grammont's position was a very strong one behind a swamp +and a deep ravine hollowed out by a stream from the hill. There +seemed no possibility of escape for the English army, who were as +yet absolutely in ignorance of the position of the French. As the +head of the column approached Dettingen, Grammont's artillery +opened upon them in front, while that of De Noailles smote them +in flank. As soon as the king found that his retreat was cut off +he galloped from the rear of the column to its head. His horse, +alarmed by the fire of the artillery and whistling of balls, ran +away with him, and was with difficulty stopped just as he reached +the head of the column. He at once dismounted and announced his +intention of leading his troops on foot.</p> + +<p>There was a hasty council held between him, Lord Stair, and +the Duke of Cumberland, and it was agreed that the only escape +from entire destruction was by fighting their way through the +force now in front of them. This would indeed have been +impossible had De Grammont held his position; but when that +officer saw the English troops halt he believed he had only the +advanced guard in front of him, and resolving to overwhelm these +before their main body arrived, he abandoned his strong position, +led the troops across the swamp, and charged the English in +front.</p> + +<p>De Noailles, from the opposite bank, seeing the error his +nephew had made, hurried his troops towards the bridges in order +to cross the river and render him assistance; but it was too +late.</p> + +<p>The English infantry, headed by the king in person, hurled +themselves upon the troops of De Grammont.</p> + +<p>Every man felt that the only hope of escape from this trap +into which they had fallen lay in cutting their way through the +enemy, and so furiously did they fight that De Grammont's troops +were utterly overthrown, and were soon in full flight towards the +bridges in the rear, hotly pursued by the English. Before they +could reach the bridges they left behind them on the field six +thousand killed and wounded. King George, satisfied with his +success, and knowing that the French army was still greatly +superior to his own, wisely determined to get out of his +dangerous position as soon as possible, and pushed on that night +to Hanau.</p> + +<p>Although Malcolm and Ronald were too far off to witness the +incidents of the battle, they made out the tide of war rolling +away from them, and saw the black masses of troops pressing on +through Dettingen in spite of the French artillery which +thundered from the opposite bank of the river.</p> + +<p>"They have won!" Ronald said, throwing up his cap. "Hurrah, +Malcolm! Where is the utter destruction of the English now? See, +the plain beyond Dettingen is covered by a confused mass of +flying men. The English have broken out of the trap, and instead +of being crushed have won a great victory."</p> + +<p>"It looks like it certainly," Malcolm said. "I would not have +believed it if I had not seen it; their destruction seemed +certain. And now let us go round to the camp again."</p> + +<p>On their way down Malcolm said:</p> + +<p>"I think, on the whole, Ronald, that you are perhaps right, +and the French defeat will do good rather than harm to the Stuart +cause. Had they conquered, Louis would have been too intent on +pushing forward his own schemes to care much for the Stuarts. He +has no real interest in them, and only uses them as cat's paws to +injure England. If he had beaten the English and Hanoverians he +would not have needed their aid. As it is, it seems likely enough +that he will try to create a diversion, and keep the English busy +at home by aiding the Stuarts with men and money to make a +landing in Scotland."</p> + +<p>"In that case, Malcolm, we need not grieve over the defeat +today. You know my sympathies are with the brave Empress of +Austria rather than with her enemies, and this defeat should go +far towards seating her securely on the throne. Now, what will +you do, Malcolm? Shall we try and find my father's friends at +once?"</p> + +<p>"Nor for another few days," Malcolm said. "Just after a defeat +men are not in the best mood to discuss bygone matters. Let us +wait and see what is done next."</p> + +<p>The next morning a portion of the French army which had not +been engaged crossed the river and collected the French and +English wounded, for the latter had also been left behind. They +were treated by the French with the same care and kindness that +was bestowed upon their own wounded. De Noailles was about to +advance against the English at Hanau, when he received the news +that the French army in Bavaria had been beaten back by Prince +Charles, and had crossed the Rhine into Alsace. As he would now +be exposed to the whole brunt of the attack of the allies he +decided to retreat at once.</p> + +<p>The next day the retreat recommenced. Many of the drivers had +fled at the first news of the defeat, and Malcolm without +question assumed the post of driver of one of the abandoned +teams. For another week the army retired, and then crossing the +Rhine near Worms were safe from pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ronald, I will look up the old regiment, and we will see +what is to be done."</p> + +<p>The 2d Scotch Dragoons were posted in a little village a mile +distant from the main camp which had now been formed. Malcolm did +nor make any formal transfer of the waggon to the authorities, +thinking it by no means improbable that they would insist upon +his continuing his self adopted avocation as driver; but after +seeing to the horses, which were picketed with a long line of +transport animals, he and Ronald walked quietly away without any +ceremony of adieu.</p> + +<p>"We must not come back again here," he said, "for some of the +teamsters would recognize me as having been driving lately, and I +should have hard work to prove that I was not a deserter; we must +take to the old regiment now as long as we are here."</p> + +<p>On reaching the village they found the street full of +troopers, who were busy engaged in cleaning their arms, grooming +their horses, and removing all signs of weather and battle. +Ronald felt a thrill of pleasure at hearing his native language +spoken. He had now so far improved the knowledge of French as to +be able to converse without difficulty, for Malcolm had from his +childhood tried to keep up his French, and had lately always +spoken in that language to him, unless it was necessary to speak +in English in order to make him understand.</p> + +<p>These occasions had become more and more rare, and two months +of constant conversation with Malcolm and others had enabled +Ronald by this time to speak with some fluency in the French +tongue. None of the soldiers paid any attention to the newcomers, +whose dress differed in no way from that of Frenchmen, as after +the shipwreck they had, of course, been obliged to rig themselves +out afresh. Malcolm stopped before an old sergeant who was +diligently polishing his sword hilt.</p> + +<p>"And how fares it with you all these years, Angus Graeme?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant almost dropped his sword in his surprise at being +so addressed in his own tongue by one whose appearance betokened +him a Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"You don't know me, Angus," Malcolm went on with a smile; "and +yet you ought to, for if it hadn't been for me the sword of the +German hussar who carved that ugly scar across your cheek would +have followed it up by putting an end to your soldiering +altogether."</p> + +<p>"Heart alive, but it's Malcolm Anderson! Eh, man, but I am +glad to see you! I thought you were dead years ago, for I have +heard nae mair of you since the day when you disappeared from +among us like a spook, the same day that puir Colonel Leslie was +hauled off to the Bastille. A sair day was that for us a'! And +where ha' ye been all the time?"</p> + +<p>"Back at home, Angus, at least in body, for my heart's been +with the old regiment. And who, think you, is this? But you must +keep a close mouth, man, for it must nor be talked of. This is +Leslie's son. By his father's last order I took him off to +Scotland with me to be out of reach of his foes, and now I have +brought him back again to try if between us we can gain any news +of his father."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so, Malcolm! I never as much heard that the +colonel had a son, though there was some talk in the regiment +that he had married a great lady, and that it was for that that +he had been hid away in prison. And this is Leslie's boy! Only to +think, now! Well, young sir, there isn't a man in the regiment +but wad do his best for your father's son, for those who have +joined us since, and in truth that's the great part of us, have +heard many a tale of Colonel Leslie, though they may not have +served under him, and not a tale but was to his honour, for a +braver officer nor a kinder one never stepped the earth. But come +inside, Malcolm. I have got a room to myself and a stoup of good +wine; let's talk over things fair and gentle, and when I know +what it is that you want you may be sure that I will do all I +can, for the sake baith of the colonel and of you, auld +comrade."</p> + +<p>The trio were soon seated in the cottage, and Malcolm then +gave a short sketch of all that had taken place since he had left +the regiment.</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" the sergeant said when he had ended; "and so the +lad, young as he is, has already drawn his sword for the Stuarts, +and takes after his father in loyalty as well as in looks, for +now that I know who he is I can see his father's face in his +plain enough; and now for your plans, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"Our plans must be left to chance, Angus. We came hither to +see whether any of the colonel's friends are still in the +regiment, and to learn from them whether they have any news +whatever of him; and secondly, whether they can tell us aught of +his mother."</p> + +<p>"Ay, there are six or eight officers still in the regiment who +served with him. Hume is our colonel now; you will remember him, +Malcolm, well, for he was captain of our troop; and Major +Macpherson was a captain too. Then there are Oliphant, and +Munroe, and Campbell, and Graham, all of whom were young +lieutenants in your time, and are now old captains of +troops."</p> + +<p>"I will see the colonel and Macpherson," Malcolm said; "if +they do not know, the younger men are not likely to. Will you go +along with us, Angus, and introduce me, though Hume is like +enough to remember me, seeing that I was so much with +Leslie?"</p> + +<p>"They will be dining in half an hour," the sergeant said; +"we'll go after they have done the meal. It's always a good time +to talk with men when they are full, and the colonel will have no +business to disturb him then. Our own dinner will be ready +directly; I can smell a goose that I picked up, as it might be by +accident, at the place where we halted last night. There are four +or five of us old soldiers who always mess together when we are +not on duty with our troops, and if I mistake not, you will know +every one of them, and right glad they will be to see you; but of +course I shall say no word as to who the lad is, save that he is +a friend of yours."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later four other sergeants dropped in, and there +was a joyful greeting between them and Malcolm as soon as they +recognized his identity. The meal was a jovial one, as old jokes +and old reminiscences were recalled. After an hour's sitting +Angus said:</p> + +<p>"Pass round the wine, lads, till we come back again. I am +taking Anderson to the colonel, who was captain of his troop. We +are not likely to be long, and when we come back we will make a +night of it in honour of old times, or I am mistaken."</p> + +<p>On leaving the cottage they waited for a while until they saw +the colonel and major rise from beside the fire round which, with +the other officers, they had been taking their meal, and walk to +the cottage which they shared between them. Angus went up and +saluted.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Graeme?" the colonel asked.</p> + +<p>"There's one here who would fain have a talk with you. It is +Malcolm Anderson, whom you may remember as puir Colonel Leslie's +servant, and as being in your own troop, and he has brought one +with him concerning whom he will speak to you himself."</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember Anderson," the colonel said. "He was +devoted to Leslie. Bring him in at once. What can have brought +him out here again after so many years? Been getting into some +trouble at home, I suppose? He was always in some scrape or other +when he was in the regiment, for, though he was a good soldier, +he was as wild and reckless a blade as any in the regiment. You +remember him, Macpherson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember him well," the major said. "The colonel was +very fond of him, and regarded him almost as a brother."</p> + +<p>A minute later Angus ushered Malcolm and Ronald into the +presence of the two officers, who had now taken seats in the room +which served as kitchen and sitting room to the cottage, which +was much the largest in the village.</p> + +<p>"Well, Anderson, I am glad to see you again," Colonel Hume +said, rising and holding out his hand. "We have often spoken of +you since the day you disappeared, saying that you were going on +a mission for the colonel, and have wondered what the mission +was, and how it was that we never heard of you again."</p> + +<p>"I came over to Paris four years later, colonel, but the +regiment was away in Flanders, and as I found out from others +what I had come to learn, there was no use in my following you. +As to the colonel's mission, it was this;" and he put his hand on +Ronald's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Anderson?" the colonel asked in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"This is Colonel Leslie's son, sir. He bade me fetch him +straight away from the folk with whom he was living and take him +off to Scotland so as to be out of reach of his foes, who would +doubtless have made even shorter work with him than they did with +the colonel."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" the colonel exclaimed; "this is news indeed. +So poor Leslie left a child and this is he! My lad," he said, +taking Ronald's hand, "believe me that anything that I can do for +you, whatever it be, shall be done, for the sake of your dear +father, whom I loved as an elder brother."</p> + +<p>"And I too," the major said. "There was not one of us but +would have fought to the death for Leslie. And now sit down, my +lad, while Anderson tells us your story."</p> + +<p>Malcolm began at the account of the charge which Colonel +Leslie had committed to him, and the manner in which he had +fulfilled it. He told them how he had placed the child in the +care of his brother, he himself having no fixed home of his own, +and how the lad had received a solid education, while he had seen +to his learning the use of his sword, so that he might be able to +follow his father's career. He then told them the episode of the +Jacobite agent, and the escape which had been effected in the +Thames.</p> + +<p>"You have done well, Anderson," the colonel said when he had +concluded; "and if ever Leslie should come to see his son he will +have cause to thank you, indeed, for the way in which you have +carried out the charge he committed to you, and he may well be +pleased at seeing him grown up such a manly young fellow. As to +Leslie himself, we know not whether he be alive or dead. Every +interest was made at the time to assuage his majesty's hostility, +but the influence of the Marquis of Recambours was too strong, +and the king at last peremptorily forbade Leslie's name being +mentioned before him. You see, although the girl's father was, of +course, at liberty to bestow her hand on whomsoever he pleased, +he had, with the toadyism of a courtier, asked the king's +approval of the match with Chateaurouge, which, as a matter of +course, he received. His majesty, therefore, chose to consider it +as a personal offence against himself that this Scottish soldier +of fortune should carry off one of the richest heiresses of +France, whose hand he had himself granted to one of his peers. At +the same rime I cannot but think that Leslie still lives, for had +he been dead we should assuredly have heard of the marriage of +his widow with some one else. The duke has, of course, long since +married, and report says that the pair are ill-matched; but +another husband would speedily have been found for the +widow."</p> + +<p>"Since the duke has married," Ronald said, "he should no +longer be so bitter against my father, and perhaps after so long +an imprisonment the king might be moved to grant his +release."</p> + +<p>"As the duke's marriage is an unhappy one, I fear that you +cannot count upon his hostility to your father being in any way +lessened, as he would all the more regret the interference with +his former plans."</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea where my mother is, sir?"</p> + +<p>"None," the colonel said. "But that I might find out for you. +I will give you a letter to the Count de Noyes, who is on +intimate terms with the Archbishop of Paris, who would, no doubt, +be able to tell him in which convent the lady is residing. You +must not be too sanguine, my poor boy, of seeing her, for it is +possible that she has already taken the veil. Indeed, if your +father has died, and she has still refused to accept any suitor +whom the marquis may have found for her, you may be sure that she +has been compelled to take the veil, as her estates would then +revert to the nearest kinsman. This may, for aught we know, have +happened years ago, without a word of it being bruited abroad, +and the affair only known to those most concerned. However, we +must look at the best side. We shall be able, doubtless, to learn +through the archbishop whether she is still merely detained in +the convent or has taken the veil, and you can then judge +accordingly whether your father is likely to be alive or dead. +But as to your obtaining an interview with your mother, I regard +it as impossible in the one case as the other.</p> + +<p>"At any rate it is of the highest importance that it should +not be known that you are in France. If it is proved that your +father is dead and your mother is secluded for life, we must then +introduce you to her family, and try and get them to bring all +their influence to bear to have you acknowledged openly as the +legitimate heir of the marquis, and to obtain for you the +succession to at least a portion of his estates--say to that of +those which she brought him as her dowry. In this you may be sure +that I and every Scottish gentleman in the army will give you all +the aid and influence we can bring to bear."</p> + +<p>Ronald warmly thanked Colonel Hume for his kindness, and the +next day, having received the letter to the Count de Noyes, set +out for Paris with Malcolm. On his arrival there he lost no time +in calling upon the count, and presenting his letter of +introduction.</p> + +<p>The count read it through twice without speaking.</p> + +<p>"My friend Colonel Hume," he said at last, "tells me that you +are the son, born in lawful wedlock, of Colonel Leslie and Amelie +de Recambours. I am aware of the circumstances of the case, being +distantly related to the lady's family, and will do that which +Colonel Hume asks me, namely, discover the convent in which she +is living. But I warn you, young man, that your position here is +a dangerous one, and that were it known that Colonel Leslie's son +is alive and in France, I consider your life would not be worth a +day's purchase. When powerful people are interested in the +removal of anyone not favoured with powerful protection the +matter is easily arranged. There are hundreds of knives in Paris +whose use can be purchased for a few crowns, of if seclusion be +deemed better than removal, a king's favourite can always obtain +a lettre-de-cachet, and a man may linger a lifetime in prison +without a soul outside the walls knowing of his existence +there.</p> + +<p>"You are an obstacle to the plans of a great noble, and that +is in France a fatal offence. Your wisest course, young man, +would be to efface yourself, to get your friend Colonel Hume to +obtain for you a commission in his regiment, and to forget for +ever that you are the son of Colonel Leslie and Amelie de +Recambours. However, in that you will doubtless choose for +yourself; but believe me my advice is good. At any rate I will do +what my friend Colonel Hume asks me, and will obtain for you the +name of the convent where your mother is living. I do not see +that you will be any the better off when you have it, for +assuredly you will nor be able to obtain permission to see her. +However, that again is your affair. If you will give me the +address where you are staying in Paris I will write to you as +soon as I obtain the information. Do not be impatient, the +archbishop himself may be in ignorance on the point; but I doubt +not, that to oblige me, he will obtain the information from the +right quarter.</p> + +<p>A week later, Ronald, on returning one day to Le Soldat +Ecossais, found a note awaiting him. It contained only the +words:</p> + +<p>"She has not taken the veil; she is at the convent of Our Lady +at Tours."</p> + +<p>The next morning Ronald and Malcolm set out on their journey +to Tours.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_VI_The_Convent_of_Our_Lady_"></a>CHAPTER VI: The Convent +of Our Lady.</h1> + +<p>Arrived at Tours, Malcolm took a quiet lodging in a retired +street. Colonel Hume had furnished him with a regular discharge, +testifying that the bearer, Malcolm Anderson, had served his time +in the 2d Scotch Dragoons, and was now discharged as being past +service, and that he recommended him as a steady man for any +employment for which he might be suited. Malcolm showed this +document to his landlord in order that the latter might, as +required by law, duly give notice to the police of the name and +occupation of his lodger, and at the same time mentioned that the +relations of his wife lived near Tours, and that he hoped through +them to be able to obtain some sort of employment.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were settled in their lodgings they went out, +and after a few inquiries found themselves in front of the +convent of Our Lady. It was a massive building, in a narrow +street near the river, to which its grounds, surrounded by a high +wall, extended. None of the windows of the building looked +towards the street, upon which the massive gate, with a small +wicket entrance, opened.</p> + +<p>"What building is this?" Malcolm, in a careless tone, asked a +woman who was sitting knitting at her door nearly opposite the +entrance. "I am a stranger in Tours."</p> + +<p>"That needs no telling," the woman replied, "or you would have +known that that is the convent of Our Lady, one of the richest in +Touraine, and they say in all France. Though what they do with +their riches is more than I can tell, seeing that the rules are +of the strictest, and that no one ever comes beyond the gates. +They have their own grounds down to the river, and there is a +walk along the wall there where they take the air of an evening +when the weather is fine. Poor things, I pity them from my +soul."</p> + +<p>"But I suppose they all came willingly," Malcolm said; "so +there is no need for pity."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about willingly," the woman said. "I expect most +of them took the veil rather than marry the men their fathers +provided for them, or because they were in the way of someone who +wanted their lands, or because their lovers had been killed in +the war, just as if grief for a lover was going to last one's +life. Besides, they are not all sisters. They say there's many a +lady of good family shut up there till she will do her father's +will. 'Well, well,' I often says to myself, 'they may have all +the riches of France inside those walls, but I would rather sit +knitting at my door here than have a share of them.'"</p> + +<p>"You are a wise woman," Malcolm said. "There is nothing like +freedom. Give me a crust, and a sod for my pillow, rather than +gold plates inside a prison. I have been a soldier all my life, +and have had my share of hard knocks; but I never grumbled so +long as I was on a campaign, though I often found it dull work +enough when in garrison."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have been a soldier! I have a brother in the regiment +of Touraine. Perhaps you know him?"</p> + +<p>"I know the regiment of Touraine," Malcolm said; "and there +are no braver set of men in the king's service. What is his +name?"</p> + +<p>"Pierre Pitou. I have not heard of him for the last two years. +He is a tall man, and broad, with a scar over the left eye."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, to be sure!" Malcolm said. "Of course, Pierre +Pitou is one of my best friends; and now I think of it, madam, I +ought to know without asking, so great is his resemblance to you. +Why, his last words to me were, 'If you go to Tours, seek out my +sister, who lives in a house nearly opposite the entrance to the +convent of Our Lady;' and to think I should have forgotten all +about it till I saw you!"</p> + +<p>Malcolm remained for a quarter of an hour chatting with the +woman about her brother, and then, promising to call again the +next day in the evening to be introduced to her husband, he +rejoined Ronald, who had been waiting at the corner of the lane, +and had been fidgeting with impatience at the long interview +between Malcolm and the woman.</p> + +<p>"What have you been talking about all this time, Malcolm, and +what could you have to say to a stranger?"</p> + +<p>"I have been telling her all about her brother, Pierre Pitou +of the Touraine regiment, and how he distinguished himself at +Dettingen, and will surely be made a sergeant, with a hope some +day of getting to be a captain. I have quite won her heart."</p> + +<p>"But who is Pierre Pitou, and when did you know him?" Ronald +asked surprised.</p> + +<p>"He is a tall man with broad shoulders and a scar over his +left eye," Malcolm said laughing, and he then related the whole +conversation.</p> + +<p>"But why did you pretend to this poor woman that you knew her +brother?"</p> + +<p>"Because she may be very useful to us, Ronald; and if you +can't find a friend in court, it's just as well to have one near +court. She is a gossiping woman, and like enough she may know +some of the lay sisters, who are, in fact, the servants of the +convent, and come out to buy supplies of food and other things, +and who distribute the alms among the poor. I don't know what +advantage will come of it yet, Ronald; but I can see I have done +a great stroke of business, and feel quite an affection for my +friend Pierre Pitou."</p> + +<p>Malcolm followed up the acquaintance he had made, and soon +established himself as a friend of the family. Ronald did not +accompany him on any of his visits, for as the plan of proceeding +was still undecided, he and Malcolm agreed that it was better +that he should not show himself until some favourable opportunity +offered.</p> + +<p>Sometimes towards evening he and Malcolm would take a boat and +float down the stream past the convent walls, and Ronald would +wonder which of the figures whose heads he could perceive as they +walked upon the terrace, was that of his mother. It was not until +Malcolm had become quite at home with Madame Vipon that he again +turned the conversation towards the convent. He learned that she +had often been inside the walls, for before her marriage she had +worked at a farm whence the convent drew a portion of its +supplies; milk, butter, and eggs, and she had often carried +baskets to the convent.</p> + +<p>"Of course I never went beyond the outer court," she said; +"but Farmer Miron's daughter--it was he owned the farm--is a +lay sister there. She was crossed in love, poor girl. She liked +Andre, the son of a neighbouring farmer, but it was but a small +place by the side of that of Miron, and her father would not hear +of it, but wanted her to marry Jacques Dubois, the rich miller, +who was old enough to be her father. Andre went to the wars and +was killed; and instead of changing when the news came, as her +father expected, and taking up with the miller, she hated him +worse than ever, and said that he was the cause of Andre's death; +so the long and short of it was, she came as a lay sister to the +convent here. Of course she never thought of taking the vows, for +to do that here one must be noble and be able to pay a heavy +dowry to the convent.</p> + +<p>"So she is just a lay sister, a sort of servant, you know, but +she is a favourite and often goes to market for them, and when +she does she generally drops in here for a few minutes for a +talk; for though she was only a child when I was at the farm we +were great friends, and she hears from me how all the people she +used to know are getting on."</p> + +<p>"I suppose she knows all the ladies who reside in the convent +as well as the sisters?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, and much better than the sisters! It is on them she +waits. She does not see much of the sisters, who keep to their +own side of the house, and have very little to do with the +visitors, or as one might call them the prisoners, for that is +what most of them really are."</p> + +<p>"Now I think of it," Malcolm said, "one of the officers I +served under had a relation, a lady, whom I have heard him say, +when he was talking to another officer, is shut up here, either +because she wouldn't marry some one her father didn't want her +to, I forget exactly what it was now. Let me see, what was her +name. Elise--no, that wasn't it. Amelie--Amelie de Recambours--yes, +that was it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know the name! I have heard Jeanne speak of her. +Jeanne said it was whispered among them that she had really +married somebody against her father's will. At any rate she has +been there ever so many years, and they have not made her take +the veil, as they do most of them if they are obstinate and won't +give way. Poor thing! Jeanne says she is very pretty still, +though she must be nearly forty now."</p> + +<p>"That is very interesting," Malcolm said; "and if you will not +mind, Madam Vipon, I will write to the officer of whom I spoke +and tell him his cousin is alive and well. I was his servant in +the regiment, and I know, from what I have heard him say, he was +very much attached to her. There can be no harm in that, you +know," he said, as Madam Vipon looked doubtful; "but if you would +prefer it, of course I will not say how I have heard."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that will be better," she agreed. "There is never any +saying how things come round; and though there's no harm in what +I have told you, still it's ill gossiping about what takes place +inside convent walls."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, my dear Madam Vipon, and admire your +discretion. It is singular how you take after your brother. +Pierre Pitou had the reputation of being the most discreet man in +the regiment of Touraine."</p> + +<p>Ronald was very excited when he heard from Malcolm that he had +actually obtained news at second hand as to his mother, and it +was with difficulty that his friend persuaded him to allow +matters to go on as he proposed.</p> + +<p>"It will never do to hurry things now, Ronald; everything is +turning out beyond our expectations. A fortnight ago it seemed +absolutely hopeless that you should communicate with your mother; +now things are in a good train for it."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Malcolm made no further allusion to the subject to +Madame Vipon until a fortnight had passed; then he said, on +calling on her one day:</p> + +<p>"Do you know, my dear Madam Vipon, I have had a letter from +the gentleman of whom I was speaking to you. He is full of +gratitude at the news I sent him. I did not tell him from whom I +had heard the news, save that it was from one of the kindest of +women, the sister of an old comrade of mine. He has sent me this"--and +he took out a small box which he opened, and showed a +pretty gold broach, with earrings to match--"and bid me to give +it in his name to the person who had sent him this good +news."</p> + +<p>"That is beautiful," Madam Vipon said, clapping her hands; +"and I have so often wished for a real gold broach! Won't my +husband open his eyes when he sees them!"</p> + +<p>"I think, if I might advise, my dear madam," Malcolm said, "I +should not give him the exact history of them. He might take it +into his head that you had been gossiping, although there is no +woman in the world less given to gossiping than you are. Still, +you know what husbands are. Therefore, if I were you I would tell +him that your brother Pierre had sent them to you through me, +knowing, you see, that you could not have read a letter even if +he could have written one."</p> + +<p>"Yes, perhaps that would be the best," Madam Vipon said; "but +you had better write to Pierre and tell him. Otherwise when he +comes home, and my husband thanks him for them, he might say he +had never sent them, and there would be a nice affair."</p> + +<p>"I will do so," Malcolm said; "but in any case I am sure your +wit would have come to the rescue, and you would have said that +you had in fact bought them from your savings; but that thinking +your husband might grumble at your little economies you had +thought it best to say that they came from your brother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie, monsieur; I am afraid you are teaching me to tell +stories."</p> + +<p>"That is a very hard word, my dear madam. You know as well as +I do that without a little management on both sides husbands and +wives would never get on well together; but now I want to tell +you more. Not only does my old master write to say how glad he is +to hear of his cousin's welfare, but he has told me a great deal +more about the poor lady, and knowing your kindness of heart I do +not hesitate to communicate the contents of his letter to you. +The Countess Amelie de Recambours was secretly married to a young +officer, a great friend of my late master, and her father did not +discover it until after the birth of a child--a boy. Then she +was shut up here. The father got the boy safely away to Scotland, +but he has now come back to France. I do not suppose the poor +lady has ever heard of her little son since, and it would be an +act of kindness and mercy to let her know that he is alive and +well."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, poor creature," Madame Vipon said +sympathetically. "Only to think of being separated from your +husband, and never hearing of your child for all these +years!"</p> + +<p>"I knew your tender heart would sympathize with her," Malcolm +said; "she is indeed to be pitied."</p> + +<p>"And what became of her husband?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy he died years ago; but my master says nothing about +him. He only writes of the boy, who it seems is so delighted with +the news about his mother that he is coming here to see if it is +possible to have an interview with her."</p> + +<p>"But it is not possible," Madam Vipon exclaimed. "How can he +see her, shut up as she is in that convent?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is difficult," Malcolm agreed; "but nothing is +impossible, my dear madam, when a woman of heart like yourself +takes a matter in hand; and I rely, I can tell you, greatly on +your counsel; as to your goodwill, I am assured of that +beforehand."</p> + +<p>"But it is quite, quite, quite impossible, I assure you, my +good Monsieur Anderson."</p> + +<p>"Well, let us see. Now I know that you would suggest that the +first measure to be taken is to open communication between mother +and son, and there I heartily agree with you."</p> + +<p>"That would be the first thing of course, monsieur; but how is +that to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Now that is where I look to you, madam. Your friend Jeanne +waits upon her, you see, and I know your quick wit will already +have perceived that Jeanne might deliver a message. I am sure +that she would never be your friend had she not a warm heart like +your own, and it will need very little persuasion on your part, +when you have told her this sad story, to induce her to bring +gladness to this unfortunate lady."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but think of the consequences, Monsieur Anderson: think +what would happen if it were found out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if there were any talk of the countess running away from +the convent I would not on any condition ask you to assist in +such a matter; but what is this--merely to give a message, a +few harmless words."</p> + +<p>"But you said an interview, Monsieur Anderson."</p> + +<p>"An interview only if it is possible, my dear madam, that is +quite another matter, and you know you said that it was quite +impossible. All that we want now is just a little message, a +message by word of mouth which not even the keenest eye can +discover or prevent; there can be no harm in that."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think there can be much harm in that," Madam +Vipon agreed; "at any rate I will talk to Jeanne. It will be her +day for going to market tomorrow; I will tell her the story of +the poor lady, and I think I can answer beforehand that she will +do everything she can."</p> + +<p>The following afternoon Malcolm again saw Madam Vipon, who +told him that although she had not actually promised she had no +doubt Jeanne would deliver the message.</p> + +<p>"She will be out again on Saturday, monsieur, at nine in the +morning, and if you will be here with the boy, if he has arrived +by that time, you shall speak to her."</p> + +<p>At the time appointed Malcolm, with Ronald, attired now as a +young French gentleman, arrived at the house of Madam Vipon, who +was warmly thanked by Ronald for the interest she had taken in +him.</p> + +<p>"My friend here has spoken to me in the highest terms of you, +Madam Vipon, and I am sure that all that he has said is no more +than the truth."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I will do all I can," replied Madam Vipon, who was +greatly taken by Ronald's appearance and manner; "it's a cruel +thing separating a mother from a son so many years, and after all +what I am doing is no hanging matter anyway."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Jeanne entered; she was a pleasant looking +woman of five or six and twenty, and even her sombre attire as a +lay sister failed to give a formal look to her merry face.</p> + +<p>"So these are the gentlemen who want me to become a +conspirator," she said, "and to run the risk of all sorts of +punishment and penalties for meddling in their business?"</p> + +<p>"Not so much my business as the business of my mother," Ronald +said. "You who have such true heart of your own, for madam has +told us something of your story, will, I am sure, feel for that +poor lady shut up for fifteen years, and knowing not whether her +child is dead or alive. If we could but see each other for five +minutes, think what joy it would be to her, what courage her poor +heart would take."</p> + +<p>"See each other!" Jeanne repeated surprised. "You said nothing +about that, Francoise; you only said take a message. How can they +possibly see each other? That's a different thing +altogether."</p> + +<p>"I want you to take a message first," Ronald said. "If nothing +more can be done that will be very much; but I cannot think but +that you and my mother between you will be able to hit upon some +plan by which we might meet."</p> + +<p>"But how," Jeanne asked in perplexity, "how could it possibly +be?"</p> + +<p>"For example," Ronald suggested; "could I not come in as a lay +sister? I am not much taller than you, and could pass very well +as a girl."</p> + +<p>Jeanne burst our laughing.</p> + +<p>"You do not know what you are saying, monsieur; it would be +altogether impossible. People do not get taken on as lay sisters +in the convent of Our Lady unless they are known; besides, in +other ways it would be altogether impossible, and even if it were +not it might be years before you could get to speak to the +countess, for there are only two or three of us who ever enter +the visitors' rooms; and lastly, if you were found out I don't +know what would be done to both of us. No, that would never do at +all."</p> + +<p>"Well, in the next place, I could climb on to the river +terrace at night, and perhaps she could come and speak to me +there."</p> + +<p>"That is more possible," Jeanne said thoughtfully; "but all +the doors are locked up at night."</p> + +<p>"But she might get out of a window," Ronald urged; "with a +rope ladder she could get down, and then return again, and none +be the wiser."</p> + +<p>Jeanne sat silent for a minute, and then she asked +suddenly:</p> + +<p>"Are you telling me all, monsieur, or are you intending that +the countess shall escape with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, on my honour!" Ronald exclaimed. "I have nowhere +where I could take my mother. She would be pursued and brought +back, and her position would be far worse than it is now. No; I +swear to you that I only want to see her and to speak to her, and +I have nothing else whatever in my mind."</p> + +<p>"I believe you, monsieur," Jeanne said gravely. "Had it been +otherwise I dare not have helped, for my punishment if I was +discovered to have aided in an escape from the convent would be +terrible--terrible!" she repeated with a shudder. "As to the +other, I will risk it; for a gentler and kinder lady I have never +met. And yet I am sure she must be very, very brave to have +remained firm for so many years. At any rate I will give her your +message."</p> + +<p>Ronald took from a small leather bag, which he wore round his +neck, a tiny gold chain with a little cross.</p> + +<p>"I had this round my neck when I was taken away as a child to +Scotland. No doubt she put it there, and will recognize it. Say +to her only: 'He whom you have not seen since he was an infant is +in Tours, longing above all things to speak to you;' that is all +my message. Afterwards, if you will, you can tell her what we +have said, and how I long to see her. How high is her room from +the ground? Because if it is high it will be better that I should +climb to her window, than that she should descend and ascend +again."</p> + +<p>Jeanne shook her head.</p> + +<p>"That could not be," she said. "The visitors have all separate +cells, but the partitions do not go up to the ceiling; and even +if you entered, not a word could be spoken without being +overheard. But fortunately she is on the first floor, and I am +sure she is not one to shrink from so little a matter as the +descent of a ladder in order to have an interview with her +son."</p> + +<p>That same afternoon as Amelie de Recambours was proceeding +from the refectory to her cell, following several of her fellow +captives, her attendant Jeanne came out from one of the cells. +Glancing behind to see that no one was following, she put her +finger on her lips and then whispered: "Make some excuse not to +go into the garden with the others this evening. It is most +important." Then she glided back into the room from which she had +come.</p> + +<p>The countess followed the others in a state of almost +bewilderment. For sixteen years nothing had occurred to break the +monotony of her existence. At first occasional angry messages +reached her from her father, with orders to join an application +to the pope for a divorce; but when it had been found impossible +to overcome her steady refusals the messages had at last ceased, +and for years no word from the outer world had reached her, +although she had learned from those who from time to time came to +share her captivity what was passing outside. Whether her husband +was alive or dead she knew not. They had told her over and over +again that he was dead; but the fact that she had never had the +option given her of accepting another husband or taking the final +vows kept hope alive. For she was convinced that if he was really +dead, efforts would be made to compel her to marry again.</p> + +<p>What, then, she wondered to herself, could this communication +so secretly given mean? She regarded the lay sister who attended +upon her as a happy looking young woman whose face was in strong +contrast to most of those within the walls of the convent; but +she had exchanged but few words with her, knowing that she would +be but a short time about her. For the policy of the abbess was +to change the attendants upon the ladies in their charge +frequently, in order to prevent them from being tampered with, or +persuaded into conveying communications without the walls.</p> + +<p>"You look pale, Amelie," one of the other ladies said as they +gathered in a group for a moment before proceeding to their +respective apartments, where they were supposed to pass the +afternoon in working, reading, and meditation.</p> + +<p>"It is the heat," the countess said. "I have a headache."</p> + +<p>"You look it," the latter said. "It is not often that you have +anything the matter with you. You know we all say that you must +have a constitution of iron and the courage of a Roland to be +sixteen years here and yet to have no wrinkle on your forehead, +no marks of weeping round your eyes."</p> + +<p>The countess smiled sadly.</p> + +<p>"I wept the first six months almost without ceasing, and then +I told myself that if I would be strong and resist I must weep no +more. If a bird in a cage once takes to pining he is sure not to +live long. There are few of us here the news of whose death would +not give pleasure to those who shut us up, and I for one resolved +that I would live in spite of all."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must not get ill now, Amelie. We should miss you +terribly in the one hour of the day when we really live, the hour +when we walk and talk, and laugh if we can, on the river +terrace.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I shall be able to come this evening," the +countess said. "I shall lie down and keep myself quiet. Tomorrow +I hope to be myself again. It is a mere passing +indisposition."</p> + +<p>The hours passed slowly as Amelie lay on her couch and +wondered over the coming interview. There were so many things +which she might hear--that her father was dead; that her family +had hopes at last of obtaining her restoration to the world. That +it could be a message from her husband she had no hope, for so +long as her father lived she was sure that his release would +never be granted. As to the child, she scarce gave it a thought. +That it had somehow been removed and had escaped the search that +had been made for it she was aware; for attempts had been made to +obtain from her some clue as to where it would most likely have +been taken. She was convinced that it had never been found, for +if it had she would have heard of it. It would have been used as +a lever to work upon her.</p> + +<p>At last the hour when she was accustomed to go into the garden +arrived, and as the convent bell struck seven she heard the doors +of the other cells open, the sound of feet in the corridor, and +then all became still. In a few minutes a step approached, and +one of the sisters entered to inquire why she was not in the +garden with the others.</p> + +<p>She repeated that her head ached.</p> + +<p>"You look pale," the sister said, "and your hand is hot and +feverish. I will send you up some tisane. It is the heat, no +doubt. I think that we are going to have thunder."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes a step was again heard approaching, and +Jeanne entered with the medicament. As she closed the door the +countess started into a sitting position.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Jeanne? What is it that you have to say to +me?"</p> + +<p>"Calm yourself, I pray you, countess," Jeanne said. "For both +our sakes I pray you to hear what I have to say calmly. I expect +Sister Felicia will be here directly. When she heard you were +unwell she said she would come up and see what you needed. And +now, I will begin my message. In the first place I was to hand +you this." And she placed in Amelie's hand the little necklet and +cross.</p> + +<p>For a moment the countess looked at them wonderingly, and then +there flashed across her memory a sturdy child in its nurse's +arms, and a tall man looking on with a loving smile as she +fastened a tiny gold chain round the child's neck. A low cry +burst from her lips as she started to her feet.</p> + +<p>"Hush, lady, hush!" Jeanne exclaimed. "This is my message: 'He +whom you have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, +longing above all things to speak to you.'"</p> + +<p>"My child! my child!" the countess cried. "Alive and here! My +God, I thank thee that thou hast remembered a friendless mother +at last. Have you seen him, Jeanne? What is he like? Oh, tell me +everything!"</p> + +<p>"He is a right proper young gentleman, madam. Straight and +comely and tall, with brown waving hair and a bright pleasant +face. A son such as any mother might be proud of."</p> + +<p>The countess suddenly threw her arms around Jeanne's neck and +burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"You have made me so happy, Jeanne; happy as I never thought +to be again. How can I thank you?"</p> + +<p>"The best way at present, madam," Jeanne said with a smile, +"will be by drinking up that tisane, and lying down quietly. +Sister Felicia moves about as noiselessly as a cat, and she may +pop in at any moment. Do you lie down again, and I will stand a +little way off talking. Then if she comes upon us suddenly she +will suspect nothing."</p> + +<p>The countess seized the bowl of tisane and drank it off, and +then threw herself on the couch.</p> + +<p>"Go on, Jeanne, go on. Have pity on my impatience. Think how I +am longing to hear of him. Did the message say he was longing to +see me? But that is not possible."</p> + +<p>"It is not quite impossible, madam; though it would be +dangerous, very dangerous. Still it is not quite impossible."</p> + +<p>"How then could it be done, Jeanne? You know what our life is +here. How can I possibly see my boy?"</p> + +<p>"What he proposes, madam, is this: that he should some night +scale the river wall, and await you on the terrace, and that you +should descend from your window by a rope ladder, and so return +after seeing him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, that is possible!" the countess exclaimed; "I could +knot my bed clothes and slide down. It matters not about getting +back again, since we have no ladder."</p> + +<p>"I can manage to bring in two light ropes," Jeanne said. "It +would not do for you to be found in the garden, for it would +excite suspicion, and you would never have a chance of doing it +again. But it is not an easy thing to climb up a rope ladder with +no one to help you, and you know I shall be at the other end of +the house."</p> + +<p>"That is nothing," the countess said. "Had I to climb ten +times the height, do you think I should hesitate for a moment +when it was to see my son? Oh, Jeanne, how good you are! And when +will it be?"</p> + +<p>"I will bring in the ropes next time I go out. Mind and place +them in your bed. You will know that that night at eleven o'clock +your son will be on the terrace awaiting you.</p> + +<p>As Jeanne finished speaking she placed her finger on her lips, +for she thought she heard a slight noise without. The countess +closed her eyes and then lay down on her pillow, while Jeanne +stood as if watching her. The next instant the door opened +noiselessly and Sister Felicia entered. She moved with a +noiseless step up to Jeanne.</p> + +<p>"Is she asleep?" she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" Jeanne answered in a louder voice, guessing that the +sister would have heard the murmur of voices. "She has only just +closed her eyes."</p> + +<p>The countess looked up.</p> + +<p>"Ah! is it you, sister? I have taken the tisane Sister Angela +sent up, but my hands are burning and my head aches. The heat in +chapel was so great I thought I should have fainted."</p> + +<p>"Your hands are indeed burning," the sister said, convinced, +as soon as she touched them, that the countess was really +indisposed. "Yes; and your pulse is beating quicker than I can +count. Yes, you have a touch of fever. I will mix you a draught +and bring it up to you at once. Hark! that is the first peal of +thunder; we are going to have a storm. It will clear the air, and +do you even more good than my medicine. I will leave you here for +tonight; if you are not better tomorrow we will move you into the +infirmary."</p> + +<p>The next morning Sister Felicia found her patient much better, +though she still seemed languid and weak, and was ordered to +remain quietly in her apartment for a day or so, which was just +what she desired, for she was so filled with her new born +happiness that she feared that if she went about her daily tasks +as usual she should not be able to conceal from the sharp eyes of +the sisters the joyousness which was brimming over in her, while +had she laughed she would have astonished the inmates of the +gloomy convent.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_VII_Mother_"></a>CHAPTER VII: +Mother!</h1> + +<p>When Jeanne, after accomplishing her errands the next time she +went out, entered Madam Vipon's, she found Ronald and Malcolm +awaiting her.</p> + +<p>"You have told my mother?" the former asked eagerly as she +entered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have told her, and if I had been an angel from heaven, +with a special message to her, the poor lady could not have +looked more happy."</p> + +<p>"And you have been like an angel to us!" Ronald exclaimed, +taking her hand. "How can I thank you for your goodness?"</p> + +<p>"For shame, sir!" Jeanne said, smiling and colouring as +Ronald, in his delight, threw his arms round her and kissed her. +"Remember I am a lay sister."</p> + +<p>"I could not have helped it," Ronald said, "if you had been +the lady superior. And now," he went on eagerly, "is all +arranged? See, I have brought a ladder of silk rope, light and +thin, but quite strong enough to bear her."</p> + +<p>"You take all for granted then, sir. You know I said I would +take your message, but that I would not engage to meddle further +in it."</p> + +<p>"I know you said so; but I was sure that having gone so far +you would do the rest. You will, won't you, Jeanne?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I must," Jeanne said; "for what with the countess +on one side and you on the other, I should get no peace if I said +no. Well, then, it is all arranged. At eleven o'clock tonight you +are to be on the terrace, and you can expect her there. If she +does not come you will know that something has occurred to +prevent her, and she will come the following night at the same +hour."</p> + +<p>Jeanne took the silken cords and wound them round her, under +her lay sister's robe, and then, with a kindly nod at Ronald, and +an injunction to be as noiseless as a mouse in climbing up the +terrace, and above all not to raise his voice in speaking to his +mother, she tripped away across the street to the convent.</p> + +<p>Malcolm and Ronald sallied out from Tours before the city +gates were closed at sunset, and sat down on the slope which +rises from the other side of the river and waited till it was +time to carry the plan into operation. Gradually the lights +disappeared from the various windows and the sounds which came +across the water ceased, and by ten o'clock everything was +profoundly still. They had, in the course of the afternoon, hired +a boat, saying they were going out for a night's fishing. This +they had moored a short distance below the town, on the side of +the river where they now were. They now made their way to it and +rowed quietly across the stream; then they left it and waded +through the water, which flowed knee deep at the foot of the +walls.</p> + +<p>Although Tours was still a walled town the habit of keeping +sentry in time of peace had long since died out, and they had no +fear, at that hour, of discovery. There was no moon, but the +night was bright and clear, and they had no difficulty in finding +that part of the wall which now formed the terrace of the +convent.</p> + +<p>They were provided with a rope knotted at every foot, and with +a grapnel attached to one end. At the second attempt this caught +on the parapet of the wall, and Ronald at once climbed it and +stood on the terrace, where, a minute later, he was joined by +Malcolm. The convent itself could not be seen, for a screen of +trees at the foot of the wall shut it off from the view of people +on the opposite bank of the river. They waited quietly until a +sudden peal of the bells of the numerous churches announced that +it was the hour. Then they moved towards the steps leading down +into the garden. A minute later a figure was seen approaching. +Malcolm fell back, and Ronald advanced towards it. As the +countess approached she held our her arms, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"My boy, my boy!" and with a cry of "Mother!" Ronald sprang +forward into her embrace.</p> + +<p>For a short time not a word was spoken, and then the countess +murmured:</p> + +<p>"My God, I thank thee for this great happiness. And now, my +son," she said, recovering herself, "tell me everything. First, +have you news of your father?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, no!" Ronald said. "Nothing has been heard of him since +the fatal day when he was seized; but I am convinced that he is +still alive, and since I have found you, surely I shall be able +to find him."</p> + +<p>"Who is that with you, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"That is Malcolm Anderson; it is to him I owe everything. He +carried me off and took me away with him to Scotland the day my +father was arrested. He has been my best friend ever since, and +it is he who brought me here to you."</p> + +<p>The countess advanced to Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"My son has told me that we owe everything to you, my brave +Malcolm!" she said, holding out her hand. "I guessed that it was +to you that my husband had confided the care of the child when I +learned that it had disappeared. I remember what confidence he +had in your devotion, and how he confided everything to you."</p> + +<p>"He was like a brother to me, madam," Malcolm replied; "and +glad indeed am I that I have been able to befriend his son and to +bring him back to you a gentleman who will be an honour even to +his father's name and yours."</p> + +<p>"And now let us sit down here," the countess said, taking a +seat upon a bench. "It gets light very early, and you must not +stay after two o'clock, and there is so much for me to hear."</p> + +<p>For the next two hours Ronald sat holding his mother's hand, +while he told her the story of his life. "And now, mother," he +said, when he had concluded, "we have but an hour left, for it +has just struck one, and we have not said a word yet about the +principal thing of all. How are we to obtain your freedom? Cannot +you arrange to escape with us? I do not, of course, mean tonight, +for we have nothing prepared, and, moreover, I promised Jeanne +that there should be no attempt at escape; but we can come again +when everything is ready. We shall, of course, need a disguise +for you, for there will be a hot pursuit when your escape is +known. But we might manage to reach the coast and cross over to +England, and so make our way north."</p> + +<p>"No, my son," the countess said. "I have thought it over in +every way since I knew you were here, and I am resolved to remain +here. Were I to fly, the last hope that your father might be +freed would be lost. My father would be more than ever incensed +against him and me; and, moreover, although that is but a minor +consideration, there would be no hope whatever of your ever +recovering the rank and estate to which you are entitled. No, I +am resolved to wait here, at any rate so long as my father lives. +At his death doubtless there will be some change, for as heiress +to his estates my existence must be in some way recognized, and +my family may be enabled to obtain my release when his powerful +opposition is removed; if not, it will be time to take the idea +of flight into consideration; till then I remain here. Now that I +have seen you, now that I know you as you are, for I can just +make out your face by the light of the stars, I shall be as near +contentment and happiness as I can be till I meet your father +again. In the meantime your good friend here can advise you far +better than I can as to what your course had better be. If you +can obtain any high influence, use it for obtaining your father's +release. If it be accompanied by a sentence of exile from France +it matters not, so that he is freed. You can then return here, +and I will gladly fly with you to join him in Scotland."</p> + +<p>Malcolm now rose from his seat and left mother and son half an +hour together. When two o'clock struck he returned to them.</p> + +<p>"There is the signal," the countess said, rising, "and now we +must part." She had already refused to accede to Ronald's +entreaty that she would meet him there again.</p> + +<p>"No, my son, we have been permitted to meet this once, but we +must not tempt fortune again. Sooner or later something would be +sure to occur which would lead to discovery, and bring ruin upon +all our plans. It is hard to say no, and to refuse the chance of +seeing you again now that we have come together, but I am fully +resolved that I will not risk it."</p> + +<p>"We will see you safe up the ladder, mother," Ronald said. "It +is no easy matter to climb up a rope ladder swinging +loosely."</p> + +<p>"No, I discovered that in descending," the countess said; "but +if you come with me you must take off your boots--the print of +a man's footstep in the garden would ruin us all; and mind, not a +word must be spoken when we have once left the terrace."</p> + +<p>Taking off their boots they accompanied her through the +garden. There was a last passionate embrace at the foot of the +ladder, then the countess mounted it while they held it steady. +Directly she entered the window she undid the fastening of the +rope inside and let the ladder drop down to them. Five minutes +later Ronald descended the rope into the river. Malcolm shifted +the grapnel so that it caught only on the edge of the parapet and +could be shaken off from below when the strain on the rope was +removed, then he slid down to Ronald's side. A sharp jerk brought +down the grapnel, and they returned along the edge of the river +as they had come, crossed in the boat, and waited for +morning.</p> + +<p>They waited two days longer in Tours in order that they might +receive, through Jeanne from the countess, a list of the noble +families to which she was related, with notes as to those persons +of whom she had seen most before her marriage, and who she +believed would be most disposed to exert their influence on her +behalf.</p> + +<p>"Jeanne," Ronald said, "I am troubled that I do not know what +I can do to show you how grateful I am. I should so like to give +you some souvenir, but what can I do--you could not wear +brooches, or earrings, or trinkets."</p> + +<p>"That I could not, monsieur," Jeanne broke in with a smile; +"and if I could I would not accept them from you. I have done +what I have done because I pitied your mother and you, and I am +content that if I have broken the rules I have done it with a +good purpose."</p> + +<p>"Well, Jeanne," Ronald said, "you may not be a lay sister all +your life; you have taken no vows that will bind you for ever, +and I have no doubt that the lady superior can absolve you from +your engagements should you at any time wish to go back to the +world; if so, and if I am still in France, I will come to dance +at your wedding, and will promise you as pretty a necklace and +earrings as are to be found in Touraine."</p> + +<p>"Very well, that is a bargain," Jeanne said laughing; "and it +is not impossible, young sir, that some day I may hold you to +your promise, for only last market day I met my father, and he +spoke more kindly to me than he used to, and even said that he +missed me; and I hear that the miller has found someone who will +put up with him for the sake of his money. I shouldn't be +surprised if, when that comes off, father wants me home again; +but I sha'n't go directly he asks me, you may be sure, but shall +bargain that if there be again any question of a husband it will +be for me to decide and not him."</p> + +<p>The next day Ronald and his companion started for Paris. They +were highly gratified with the success which had attended them, +and Ronald felt his whole life brightened now that he had found +the mother who had been so long lost to him. On arriving at Paris +they found that Colonel Hume's regiment had returned to the +capital. It was not expected that there would at present be any +further fighting on the frontier, and two or three of the Scotch +regiments had been brought back. Ronald at once called on Colonel +Hume and related to him the success which had attended the first +portion of his undertaking.</p> + +<p>"I congratulate you indeed," Colonel Hume said. "I own that I +thought your enterprise was a hopeless one, for it seemed to me +impossible that you should be able to obtain an interview with a +lady closely imprisoned in a convent. Why, Anderson, it is plain +now that your talents have been lost, and that you ought to have +been a diplomatist instead of wasting your time as a soldier. The +way you carried out your plan was indeed admirable, and I shall +really begin to think that Ronald will yet succeed; and now, my +young friend, what do you mean to do next?"</p> + +<p>"Would it be possible, sir, to ascertain where my father is +confined?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, my lad," the colonel said gravely. "In addition +to the four or five prisons in Paris there are a score of others +in different parts of France. The names of the prisoners in each +are known only to the governors; to all others within the walls +they exist as numbers only. The governors themselves are sworn to +secrecy, and even if we could get at one or two of them, which +would be difficult enough, we could hope for no more. Nor would +it be much satisfaction to you merely to know in which prison +your father is lying, for it is a very different matter to +communicate with a prisoner in one of the royal fortresses to +passing a message to a lady detained in a convent. I can see +nothing for you but to follow the example of your mother and to +practise patience, so conducting yourself as to gain friends and +make a name and influence, so that at your grandfather's death we +may bring as strong a pressure as possible to bear upon the +king."</p> + +<p>"How old is my grandfather?" Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"He is a man about sixty."</p> + +<p>"Why, he may live twenty years yet!" Ronald exclaimed +bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Do not look at the worst side of the question," Colonel Hume +replied with a smile. "But he may live some years," he went on +more gravely, "and in the meantime you must think what you had +better do. I will tell you as a great secret, that it has been +finally resolved that an expedition shall sail this winter for +Scotland, and fifteen thousand troops will assemble at Dunkirk +under Marshal Saxe. Nothing could be more opportune. We are to +form part of the expedition, with several other Scottish +regiments. You are too young as yet for me to ask for a +commission for you, but if you like I will enroll you as a +gentleman volunteer; in this way you may have an opportunity of +distinguishing yourself. I will introduce you to the Chevalier, +and it may be that if he succeeds in gaining the crown of +Scotland, if not of England, he will himself ask King Louis as a +personal favour to release and restore to him Colonel Leslie of +Glenlyon, who fought bravely with him in '15. If the expedition +fails, and we get back alive to France, I will then obtain for +you a commission in the regiment, and we can carry out our plan +as we arranged. What do you say to that?"</p> + +<p>"I thank you greatly, sir, and accept your offer most +gratefully. I see that I am powerless to do anything for my +father now, and your plan gives at least a prospect of success. +In any case nothing will give me so much delight as to serve with +the regiment he formerly commanded, and under so kind a friend as +yourself."</p> + +<p>"That is settled then," Colonel Hume said; "and now about +outfit. A gentleman volunteer wears the uniform of the officers +of the regiment, and indeed is one in all respects except that he +draws no pay. My purse will be at your disposal. Do not show any +false modesty, my lad, about accepting help from me. Your father +would have shared his last penny with me had I needed it."</p> + +<p>"I thank you heartily, colonel, for your offer, and should it +be necessary I will avail myself of it, but at present I have +ample funds. Malcolm carried off with me a bag with a hundred +louis, and up to the day when I landed in France these had never +been touched. I have eighty of them still remaining, which will +provide my outfit and my maintenance for a long time to +come."</p> + +<p>"There is another advantage in your being a volunteer, rather +than on the list of officers, Ronald; in that if it is necessary +at any time, you can, after a word with me, lay aside your +uniform and go about your affairs as long as you choose without +question, which would be hard to do if you belonged regularly to +the regiment."</p> + +<p>At the end of a week Ronald had procured his uniform, and was +presented by the colonel to the officers of the regiment as +Ronald Leslie, the son of an old friend of his, who was joining +the regiment as a gentleman volunteer. Malcolm joined only in the +capacity of Ronald's servant. It was painful to the lad that his +old friend and protector should assume such a relation towards +him, but Malcolm laughed at his scruples.</p> + +<p>"My dear Ronald," he said, "I was your father's servant, and +yet his friend. Why should I not act in the same capacity to you? +As to the duties, they are so light that, now I do not belong to +the regiment, my only difficulty will be to kill time. There is +nothing to do save to polish up your arms and your equipment. +Your horse will be looked after by a trooper so long as you are +with the regiment. I shall call you in the morning, get your cup +of chocolate, and prepare your dinner when you do not dine +abroad, carry your messages when you have any messages to send, +and escort you when you go about any business in which it is +possible that a second sword would be of use to you. As I have +said, the only trouble will be to know what to do with myself +when you do not want me."</p> + +<p>It was now the end of August, and for the next four months +Ronald worked hard at drill. He soon became a general favourite +with the officers. The fact that his name was Leslie, and that he +was accompanied by Malcolm, who was known to many of the old +soldiers as being devoted to their former colonel and as having +in some strange way disappeared from the regiment at the same +time, gave ground to a general surmise that Leslie was the +colonel's son.</p> + +<p>Malcolm himself, when questioned, neither denied nor +acknowledged the fact, but turned it off with a joke and a laugh. +He was soon as much at home in his old regiment as if he formed a +part in it, and when not required by Ronald passed the greater +part of his time with his former comrades. As was natural, the +opinion entertained by the men as to Leslie's identity was shared +by the officers. The avoidance by Ronald of any allusion to his +family, his declining when he first came among them to say to +which branch of the Leslies he belonged, and the decided manner +in which Colonel Hume, the first time the question was broached +in his hearing in Ronald's absence, said that he begged no +inquiries would be made on that score; all he could assure them +was that Leslie's father was a gentleman of good family, and a +personal friend of his own--put a stop to all further +questioning, but strengthened the idea that had got abroad that +the young volunteer was the son of Colonel Leslie.</p> + +<p>Early in January the 2d Scottish Dragoons marched for Dunkirk, +where twenty thousand men assembled, while a large number of men +of war and transports were gathered in the port. One day, when +Ronald was walking in the street with Malcolm at his heels, the +latter stepped up to him and touched him.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that officer in the uniform of a colonel of the +Black Musketeers, in that group at the opposite corner; look at +him well, for he is your father's greatest enemy, and would be +yours if he knew who you are; that is the Duke de +Chateaurouge."</p> + +<p>Ronald gazed at the man who had exercised so evil an influence +upon the fate of his parents. He was a tall dark man with a +pointed moustache, and of from forty to forty-five years of age. +His features were regular and handsome; but in his thin straight +eyebrows, the curl of his lips, and a certain supercilious +drooping of the eyelids, Ronald read the evil passions which +rendered him so dangerous and implacable an enemy.</p> + +<p>"So that is the duke!" Ronald said when he had passed on. "I +did not know he was a soldier."</p> + +<p>"He is an honorary colonel of the regiment, and only does duty +when it is called on active service; but he served in it for some +years as a young man, and had the reputation of being a good +soldier, though I know that he was considered a harsh and +unfeeling officer by the men who served under him. That is the +man, Ronald, and if you could get six inches of your sword +between his ribs it would go a good long way towards obtaining +your father's release; but I warn you he is said to be one of the +best swordsmen in France."</p> + +<p>"I care not how good a swordsmen he is," Ronald said hotly, +"if I do but get a fair chance."</p> + +<p>"Don't do anything rash, Ronald; I have no fear about your +swordsmanship, for I know in the last four months you have +practised hard, and that Francois says that young as you are you +could give a point to any officer in the regiment. But at present +it were madness to quarrel with the duke; you have everything to +lose and nothing to gain. If he killed you there would be an end +of you and your plans; if you killed him you would have to fly +the country, for a court favourite is not to be slain with as +much impunity as a bourgeois, and equally would there be an end +of all hope of obtaining your father's release.</p> + +<p>"No, for the present you must be content to bide your time. +Still it is as well for you to know your foe when you see him, +and in the meantime go on frequenting the various schools of arms +and learn every trick of the sword that is to be taught. Look!" +he went on, as a group of mounted officers rode down the street; +"that is Marshal Saxe, one of the best soldiers in France, if not +the best, and just as wild and reckless in private life as he is +calm and prudent as a general."</p> + +<p>Ronald looked with some surprise at the great general. He had +expected to see a dashing soldier. He saw a man who looked worn +and bent with disease, and as if scarce strong enough to sit on +his horse; but there was still a fire in his eye, and as he +uttered a joke to an officer riding next to him and joined +merrily in the laugh, it was evident that his spirit was +untouched by the disease which had made a wreck of his body.</p> + +<p>A few days later a messenger arrived with the news that the +French fleet from Brest had sailed, and had met the English fleet +which had gone off in pursuit of it, and the coast of Kent was in +consequence unguarded. Orders were instantly given that the +troops should embark on board the transports, and as fast as +these were filled they set sail. The embarkation of the cavalry +naturally took longer time than that of the infantry, and before +the Scottish Dragoons had got their horses on board a portion of +the fleet was already out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Was there ever such luck!" Malcolm exclaimed, after assisting +in getting the horses on board, a by no means easy task, as the +vessel was rolling heavily at her mooring. "The wind is rising +every moment, and blowing straight into the harbour; unless I +mistake not, there will be no sailing tonight."</p> + +<p>This was soon evident to all. Signals were made from ship to +ship, fresh anchors were let down, and the topmast housed. By +midnight it was blowing a tremendous gale, which continued for +three days. Several of the transports dragged their anchors and +were washed ashore, and messages arrived from different parts of +the coast telling of the wreck of many of those which had sailed +before the storm set in.</p> + +<p>The portion of the fleet which had sailed had indeed been +utterly dispersed by the gale. Many ships were lost, and the +rest, shattered and dismantled, arrived at intervals at the +various French ports. The blow was too heavy to be repaired. The +English fleet had again returned to the coast, and were on the +lookout to intercept the expedition, and as this was now reduced +to a little more than half of its original strength no surprise +was felt when the plan was abandoned altogether.</p> + +<p>Marshal Saxe with a portion of the troops marched to join the +army in Flanders, and the Scotch Dragoons were ordered to return +to Paris for the present.</p> + +<p>For a year Ronald remained with the regiment in Paris. He had +during that time been introduced by Colonel Hume to several +members of his mother's family. By some of these who had known +her before her marriage he was kindly received; but all told him +that it would be hopeless to make any efforts for the release of +his father as long as the Marquis de Recambours remained alive +and high in favour at court, and that any movement in that +direction would be likely to do harm rather than good. Some of +the others clearly intimated to him that they considered that the +countess had, by making a secret marriage and defying her +father's authority, forfeited all right to the assistance or +sympathy of her mother's family.</p> + +<p>Twice Ronald travelled to Tours and sent messages to his +mother through Jeanne, and received answers from the countess. +She had, however, refused to meet him again on the terrace, +saying that in spite of the love she had for him, and her desire +to see him again, she was firmly resolved not to run the risk of +danger to him and the failure of all their hopes, by any rash +step.</p> + +<p>At the end of the summer campaign in Flanders Marshal Saxe +returned to Paris, and Colonel Hume one day took Ronald and +introduced him to him, having previously interested the marshal +by relating his history to him. The marshal asked Ronald many +questions, and was much pleased with his frank manner and +bearing.</p> + +<p>"You shall have any protection I can give you," the marshal +said. "No man has loved adventures more than I, nor had a fairer +share of them, and my sympathies are altogether with you; +besides, I remember your father well, and many a carouse have we +had together in Flanders. But I am a soldier, you know, and +though the king is glad enough to employ our swords in fighting +his enemies, we have but little influence at court. I promise +you, however, that after the first great victory I win I will ask +the release of your father as a personal favour from the king, on +the ground that he was an old comrade of mine. I can only hope, +for your sake, that the marquis, your grandfather, may have +departed this world before that takes place, for he is one of the +king's prime favourites, and even the request of a victorious +general would go for little as opposed to his influence the other +way. And now, if you like, I will give you a commission in +Colonel Hume's regiment. You have served for a year as a +volunteer now, and younger men than you have received +commissions."</p> + +<p>Ronald thanked the marshal most heartily for his kind promise, +but said that at present he would rather remain as a volunteer, +because it gave him greater freedom of action.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," the marshal said. "But at any rate +you had better abstain from attempting any steps such as Colonel +Hume tells me you once thought of for obtaining the release of +your father. Success will be all but impossible, and a failure +would destroy altogether any hopes you may have of obtaining his +release from the king."</p> + +<p>It seemed that some of his mother's family with whom he had +communicated must have desired to gain the favour of the +favourite of the king by relating the circumstances to him, for a +short time after Ronald's interview with the marshal the marquis +came up to Colonel Hume when he was on duty in the king's +antechamber, and, in the presence of a number of courtiers, said +to him:</p> + +<p>"So, Colonel Hume, I find that I have to thank you for +harbouring in your regiment an imposter, who claims to be my +grandson. I shall know, sir, how to repay the obligation."</p> + +<p>"The gentleman in question is no imposter, marquis, as I have +taken the pains to inform myself. And I am not aware of any +reason why I should not admit the son of a Scottish gentleman +into my regiment, even though he happen to be a grandson of +yours. As to your threat, sir, as long as I do my duty to his +majesty I fear the displeasure of no man."</p> + +<p>Two nights later, as Ronald was returning from dining with +Colonel Hume and some of his officers, he was suddenly attacked +in a narrow street by six men. Malcolm was with him, for Colonel +Hume had at once related to him the conversation he had had with +the marquis, and had warned him to take the greatest +precautions.</p> + +<p>"He is perfectly capable of having you suddenly put out of his +way by a stab in the back, Ronald. And if there were anywhere for +you to go I should advise you to leave Paris at once; but nowhere +in France would you be safe from him, and it would upset all your +plans to return to Scotland at present. However, you cannot be +too careful."</p> + +<p>Ronald had related what had passed to Malcolm, who determined +to watch more carefully than ever over his safety, and never left +his side when he was outside the barracks.</p> + +<p>The instant the six men rushed out from a lane, at whose +entrance a lantern was dimly burning, Malcolm's sword was out, +and before the assailants had time to strike a blow he had run +the foremost through the body.</p> + +<p>Ronald instantly recovered from his surprise and also drew. He +was now nearly eighteen, and although he had not yet gained his +full height he was a match for most men in strength, while his +constant exercise in the school of arms had strengthened the +muscle of his sword arm, until in strength as well as in skill he +could hold his own against the best swordsman in the regiment. +The men were for a moment checked by the fall of their leader; +but then seeing that they had opposed to them only one man, and +another whom they regarded as a lad, scarcely to be taken into +consideration, they rushed upon them. They were quickly +undeceived. Ronald parried the first blow aimed at him, and with +his riposte stretched his opponent on the pavement, and then +springing forward, after a few rapid thrusts and parries ran the +next through the shoulder almost at the same moment that Malcolm +stretched another opponent on the ground.</p> + +<p>Terrified at the downfall of three of their number, while a +fourth leaned against a door post disabled, the two remaining +ruffians took to their heels and fled at the top of their speed, +the whole affair having lasted scarce a minute.</p> + +<p>"Tell your employer," Ronald said to the wounded man, "that I +am not to be disposed of so easily as he imagined. I should be +only giving you what you deserve if I were to pass my sword +through your body; but I disdain to kill such pitiful assassins +except in self defence."</p> + +<p>The next morning Ronald communicated to Colonel Hume what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"It's just as well, my young friend, that you are going to +leave Paris. I received orders half an hour ago for the regiment +to march to the frontier at once. That is the marquis's doing, no +doubt. He thought to get rid of you last night and to punish me +this morning; but he has failed both ways. You have defeated his +cutthroats; I shall be heartily glad to be at the front again, +for I am sick of this idle life in Paris."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_VIII_Hidden_Foes_"></a>CHAPTER VIII: Hidden Foes.</h1> + +<p>"I am heartily glad to be out of Paris," Ronald said to +Malcolm on their first halt after leaving the capital. "It is not +pleasant to regard every man one meets after dark as a possible +enemy, and although I escaped scot free from the gang who +attacked us the other night, one cannot always expect such good +fortune as that. It was a constant weight on one's mind, and I +feel like a new man now that we are beyond the city walls."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, Ronald, we must not omit any precautions. Your +enemy has a long purse, and can reach right across France. That +last affair is proof of his bitterness against you, and it would +be rash indeed were we to act as if, having made one attempt and +failed, he would abandon his plans altogether. He is clearly a +man who nourishes a grudge for years, and his first failure is +only likely to add to his vindictive feeling. I do not say that +your danger is as great as it was in Paris, but that is simply +because the opportunities of attacking you are fewer. I should +advise you to be as careful as before, and to be on your guard +against ambushes and surprises."</p> + +<p>"Well, it may be so, Malcolm, and of course I will be careful; +but till I have proof to the contrary I shall prefer to think +that the marquis will trust to my being knocked on the head +during the war, and will make no further move against me until +the regiment returns to Paris."</p> + +<p>"Think what you like, lad," Malcolm said, "so that you are +cautious and guarded. I shall sleep with one eye open, I can tell +you, till we are fairly beyond the frontier."</p> + +<p>Two days later the regiment encamped outside the town of St. +Quentin. They were usually quartered on the inhabitants; but the +town was already filled with troops, and as the weather was fine +Colonel Hume ordered his men to bivouac a short distance outside +the walls. Ronald was seeing that his troop got their breakfast +next morning, when a sergeant came up with two men with a +horse.</p> + +<p>"This is Monsieur Leslie," he said to them. "These men were +asking for you, sir."</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me?" Ronald said surprised.</p> + +<p>"We heard, sir," one of the peasants said, "that you wanted to +buy a horse. We have a fine animal here, and cheap."</p> + +<p>"But I do not want to buy one," Ronald replied. "I am very +well supplied with horses. What made you think I wanted one?"</p> + +<p>"We asked one of the officers, sir, if anyone in the regiment +would be likely to buy, and he said that Monsieur Leslie wanted +one, he believed."</p> + +<p>"No," Ronald said decidedly. "Whoever told you was mistaken. I +have my full complement, and though your horse looks a nice +animal I could not take him if you offered him to me for nothing. +I don't think you will get anyone to buy him in the regiment. I +believe that every officer has his full complement of +chargers."</p> + +<p>In the evening Ronald happened to mention to Malcolm the offer +he had had in the morning.</p> + +<p>"It was a nice looking beast," he said, "and I had half a mind +to ask them what they would take to exchange him with my roan, +but I did not want to dip further into my purse."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had been beside you at the time," Malcolm said +earnestly; "those two fellows wouldn't have gone out of the camp +so easily."</p> + +<p>"Why, what do you mean, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Mean!" Malcolm repeated in a vexed tone. "This is what comes +of your being watchful and cautious, Ronald. Why, the matter is +clear enough. The marquis has set men on your track, but of +course they could do nothing until some of them knew you by +sight, so two of them are sent into camp with this cock and bull +story about a horse, and they come and have a good look at you +and go quietly off. It is too provoking. Had I been there I would +have given them in charge of a file of men at once. Then we would +have asked every officer in the regiment if he had sent them to +you, and when we found, as we certainly should have found, that +none of them had done so, we should have marched the men off to +Colonel Hume, and I am sure, when he heard the circumstances of +the case, they would have been lashed up and flogged till he had +got the truth of the matter out of them. My great hope has been +that they could not very well attempt your life, because none of +the men who might be engaged on the job would be likely to know +your face, and they would therefore have no means of singling you +out for attack; and now two of the ruffians will be able to +follow you and watch their opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, Malcolm, you are too suspicious altogether! I +have no doubt the affair was just as they stated it to be. What +was more natural?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Ronald, you will meet all the other officers at supper +in half an hour. Just ask if any of them sent two men wanting to +sell a horse to you this morning; if any of them say that they +did so, I will acknowledge I am wrong.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Ronald, at supper, put the question, but none of +the officers admitted they knew anything about the matter.</p> + +<p>"You have two very good horses, Leslie; why should anyone +suppose that you wanted another?" the colonel asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Ronald said. "I only know that two men did +come up with a horse to me this morning, and said that one of the +officers had told them that I wanted to buy one."</p> + +<p>"It must have been one of the men," the colonel said +carelessly, "though I don't know why anyone should suppose that +you wanted another charger. Still, someone, knowing that you are +the last joined officer, might think you had need for a second +horse."</p> + +<p>The subject dropped, and Malcolm shook his head ominously when +Ronald acknowledged to him that his suspicions were so far right +that none of the officers had sent the men to him. The next day, +as the regiment was passing through a thick wood, and Ronald was +riding with Captain Campbell behind his troop, which happened to +be in the rear in the regiment, two shots were fired from among +the trees. The first struck Ronald's horse in the neck, causing +him to swerve sharply round, a movement which saved his rider's +life, for the second shot, which was fired almost instantly after +the first, grazed his body and passed between him and Captain +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Are you hit, Leslie?" the latter exclaimed, for the sudden +movement of his horse had almost unseated Ronald.</p> + +<p>"Nothing serious, I think. The bullet has cut my coat and +grazed my skin, I think, but nothing more."</p> + +<p>The captain shouted orders to his men, and with a score of +troopers dashed into the wood. The trees grew thickly and there +was a dense undergrowth, and they had difficulty in making their +way through them. For half an hour they continued their search +without success, and then rejoined the regiment on its march.</p> + +<p>"This is a curious affair," Colonel Hume said when Captain +Campbell reported, at the next halt, that an attempt at +assassination had taken place.</p> + +<p>"It looks like a premeditated attempt upon one or other of +you. You haven't been getting into any scrape, have you?" he +asked with a smile; "kissing some peasant's wife or offering to +run away with his daughter? But seriously this is a strange +affair. Why should two men lie in wait for the regiment and fire +at two of its officers? The men have been behaving well, as far +as I have heard, on the line of march, and nothing has occurred +which could explain such an outrage as this."</p> + +<p>"It may be fancy on my part, colonel," Ronald said, "but I +cannot help thinking that it is a sequence of that affair I told +you about in Paris, just before we started. The first shot struck +my horse and the second would certainly have killed me had it not +been for the horse's sudden swerve, therefore it looks as if the +shots were aimed at me. I have some reason, too, for supposing +that I have been followed. If you remember my question last night +at supper about the men who wanted to sell me a horse. Malcolm +Anderson is convinced that the whole thing was only a ruse to +enable them to become acquainted with my face. They wanted to be +able to recognize me, and so got up this story in order to have +me pointed out to them, and to have a talk with me. None of the +officers did send them to me, as they said, and they could hardly +have hit upon a better excuse for speaking to me."</p> + +<p>"It certainly looks like it," Colonel Hume said gravely. "I +would give a good deal if we had caught those two men in the +wood. If we had I would have given them the choice of being hung +at once or telling me what was their motive in firing at you and +who paid them to do it. This is monstrous. If we could get but a +shadow of proof against your enemies I would lay a formal +complaint before the king. Marquis or no marquis, I am not going +to have my officers assassinated with impunity. However, till we +have something definite to go upon, we can do nothing, and until +then, Leslie, you had best keep your suspicion to yourself. It +were best to say nothing of what you think; in this country it is +dangerous even to whisper against a king's favourite. Let it be +supposed that this attack in the woods was only the work of some +malicious scoundrels who must have fired out of pure hatred of +the king's troops."</p> + +<p>Captain Campbell and Ronald quite agreed with the view taken +by the colonel, and answered all questions as to the affair, that +they had not the least idea who were the men who fired on them, +and that no one obtained as much as a glimpse of them.</p> + +<p>With most of the officers of the regiment, indeed with all +except one, Ronald was on excellent terms. The exception was a +lieutenant named Crawford; he was first on the list of his +company, and had, indeed, been twice passed over in consequence +of his quarrelsome and domineering disposition. He was a man of +seven or eight and twenty; he stood about the same height as +Ronald and was of much the same figure, indeed the general +resemblance between them had often been remarked.</p> + +<p>His dislike to Ronald had arisen from the fact that previous +to the latter joining the regiment Crawford had been considered +the best swordsman among the officers, and Ronald's superiority, +which had been proved over and over again in the fencing room, +had annoyed him greatly. Knowing that he would have no chance +whatever with Ronald in a duel, he had carefully abstained from +open war, showing his dislike only by sneering remarks and +sarcastic comments which frequently tried Ronald's patience to +the utmost, and more than once called down a sharp rebuke from +Colonel Hume or one or other of the majors. He did not lose the +opportunity afforded by the shots fired in the wood, and was +continually suggesting all sorts of motives which might have +inspired the would be assassins.</p> + +<p>Ronald, who was the reverse of quarrelsome by disposition, +laughed good temperedly at the various suggestions; but one or +two of the senior officers remonstrated sharply with Crawford as +to the extent to which he carried his gibes.</p> + +<p>"You are presuming too much on Leslie's good nature, +Crawford," Captain Campbell said one day. "If he were not one of +the best tempered young fellows going he would resent your +constant attacks upon him; and you know well that, good swordsman +as you are, you would have no chances whatever if he did so."</p> + +<p>"I am quite capable of managing my own affairs," Crawford said +sullenly, "and I do not want any advice from you or any other +man."</p> + +<p>"I am speaking to you as the captain of Leslie's troop," +Captain Campbell said sharply, "and I do not mean to quarrel with +you. You have had more quarrels than enough in the regiment +already, and you know Colonel Hume said on the last occasion that +your next quarrel should be your last in the regiment. I tell you +frankly, that if you continue your course of annoyance to young +Leslie I shall report the matter to the colonel. I have noticed +that you have the good sense to abstain from your remarks when he +is present."</p> + +<p>Three days later the regiment joined the army before +Namur.</p> + +<p>That evening, having drunk more deeply than usual, Lieutenant +Crawford, after the colonel had retired from the circle round the +fire and to his tent, recommenced his provocation to Ronald, and +pushed matters so far that the latter felt that he could no +longer treat it as a jest.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Crawford," he said, "I warn you that you are pushing your +remarks too far. On many previous occasions you have chosen to +make observations which I could, if I had chosen, have resented +as insulting. I did not choose, for I hate brawling, and consider +that for me, who have but lately joined the regiment, to be +engaged in a quarrel with an officer senior to myself would be in +the highest degree unbecoming; but I am sure that my fellow +officers will bear me out in saying that I have shown fully as +much patience as is becoming. I, therefore, have to tell you that +I will no longer be your butt, and that I shall treat any further +remark of the nature of those you have just made as a deliberate +insult, and shall take measures accordingly."</p> + +<p>A murmur of approval rose among the officers sitting round, +and those sitting near Crawford endeavoured to quiet him. The +wine which he had taken had, however, excited his quarrelsome +instinct too far for either counsel or prudence to prevail.</p> + +<p>"I shall say what I choose," he said, rising to his feet. "I +am not going to be dictated to by anyone, much less a boy who has +just joined the regiment, and who calls himself Leslie, though no +one knows whether he has any right to the name."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," Leslie said in a quiet tone, which was, +however, heard distinctly throughout the circle, for at this last +outburst on the part of Crawford a dead silence had fallen on the +circle, for only one termination could follow such an insult. +"Captain Campbell will, I hope, act for me?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Captain Campbell said in a loud voice; "and will +call upon any friend Lieutenant Crawford may name and make +arrangements to settle this matter in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Macleod, will you act for me?" Crawford said to a lieutenant +sitting next to him.</p> + +<p>"I will act," the young officer said coldly, "as your second +in the matter; but all here will understand that I do solely +because it is necessary that some one should do so, and that I +disapprove absolutely and wholly of your conduct."</p> + +<p>"Well, make what arrangements you like," Crawford said with an +oath, and rising he left the circle and walked away.</p> + +<p>When he had left there was an immediate discussion. Several of +the officers were of opinion that the duel should not be allowed +to proceed, but that Crawford's conduct should be reported to the +colonel.</p> + +<p>"I am entirely in your hands, gentlemen," Ronald said. "I have +no desire whatever to fight. This affair has been forced upon me, +and I have no alternative but to take it up. I am not boasting +when I say that I am a far better swordsman than he, and I have +no need to shrink from meeting him; but I have certainly no +desire whatever to take his life. He has drunk more than he ought +to do, and if this matter can be arranged, and he can be +persuaded in the morning to express his regret for what he has +said, I shall be very glad to accept his apology. If it can be +settled in this way without either fighting or reporting his +conduct to the colonel, which would probably result in his having +to leave the regiment, I should be truly glad--What is that?" +he broke off, as a loud cry rang through the air.</p> + +<p>The whole party sprang to their feet, and snatching up their +swords ran in the direction from which the cry had come. The +tents were at some little distance, and just as they reached them +they saw a man lying on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, it is Crawford!" Captain Campbell said, +stooping over him. "See, he has been stabbed in the back. It is +all over with him. Who can have done it?"</p> + +<p>He questioned several of the soldiers, who had now gathered +round, attracted like the officers by the cry. None of them had +seen the act or had noticed anyone running away; but in so large +a camp there were so many people about that an assassin could +well have walked quietly away without attracting any +attention.</p> + +<p>The colonel was speedily on the spot, and instituted a rigid +inquiry, but entirely without success. The attack had evidently +been sudden and entirely unsuspected, for Crawford had not drawn +his sword.</p> + +<p>"It is singular," he said, as with the officers he walked +slowly back to the fire. "Crawford was not a popular man, but I +cannot guess at any reason for this murder. Strange that this +should be the second attack made on my officers since we left +Paris."</p> + +<p>Captain Campbell now related what had taken place after he had +left the circle.</p> + +<p>"The matter should have been reported to me at once," he said; +"although, as it has turned out, it would have made no +difference. Perhaps, after all, it is best as it is, for a duel +between two officers of the regiment would have done us no good, +and the man was no credit to the regiment. But it is a very +serious matter that we should be dogged by assassins. Leslie, +come up with me to my tent. I am not going to blame you, lad," he +said when they were together, "for you could not have acted +otherwise than you have done. Indeed, I have myself noticed +several times that Crawford's bearing towards you was the reverse +of courteous. Have you any idea as to how he came by his +death?"</p> + +<p>"I, sir!" Ronald said in surprise. "No, I know no more than +the others."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me, Leslie, that this is only the sequel of that +attack in the wood, and that your enemies have unwittingly done +you a service. Crawford was very much your height and build, and +might easily have been mistaken for you in the dark. I fancy that +blow was meant for you."</p> + +<p>"It is possible, sir," Ronald said after a pause. "I had not +thought of it; but the likeness between him and myself has been +frequently noticed. It is quite possible that that blow was meant +for me."</p> + +<p>"I have very little doubt of it, my lad. If any of these men +were hanging about and saw you as they believed coming away from +the circle alone, they may well have taken the opportunity. Let +it be a lesson to you to be careful henceforth. It is unlikely +that the attempt will be repeated at present. The men who did it +will think that they have earned their money, and by this time +are probably on the way to Paris to carry the news and claim +their reward. So that, for a time at least, it is not probable +that there will be any repetition of the attempt. After that you +will have to be on your guard night and day.</p> + +<p>"I wish to heaven we could obtain some clue that would enable +me to take steps in the matter; but at present we have nothing +but our suspicions, and I cannot go to the king and say three +attempts have been made on the life of one of my officers, and +that I suspect his grandfather, the Marquis de Recambours, has +been the author of them."</p> + +<p>When Malcolm heard the events of the evening his opinion was +exactly the same as that of the colonel, and he expressed himself +as convinced that Crawford had fallen by a blow intended for +Ronald. He agreed that for a while there was no fear of a renewal +of the attempt.</p> + +<p>"The fellows will take the news straight to Paris that you +have been put out of the way, and some time will elapse before +the employers know that a mistake has been made. Then, as likely +as not, they will decide to wait until the campaign is over."</p> + +<p>The camp before Namur was a large and brilliant one. The king +and dauphin had already arrived with the army. All the household +troops were there, and a large contingent of the nobles of the +court. The English army was known to be approaching, and was +expected to fight a battle to relieve Namur, which the French +were besieging vigorously. The French confidently hoped that in +the approaching battle they would wipe our the reverse which had +befallen them at Dettingen.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_IX_Fontenoy_"></a>CHAPTER IX: +Fontenoy.</h1> + +<p>A fortnight after the Scottish Dragoons joined the army the +king was present at an inspection of their regiment. As the +brilliant cortege passed along the line Ronald saw among the +gaily dressed throng of officers riding behind the king and +Marshal Saxe the Marquis de Recambours and the Duke de +Chateaurouge side by side. Ronald with two other gentlemen +volunteers were in their places in the rear of the regiment. It +was drawn up in double line, and as the royal party rode along +for the second time, Ronald saw that the two noblemen were +looking scrutinizingly through the line of troopers at himself +and his two companions.</p> + +<p>That evening Colonel Hume on his return from a visit to +Marshal Saxe told Ronald that the general had inquired after him, +and had sent him word that if he won the battle he would not +forget the promise he had made him. He had requested Colonel Hume +to place Ronald at his disposal on the day of the battle.</p> + +<p>"'I shall want active officers to carry my messages,' he said, +'and your young friend may have a greater opportunity of +distinguishing himself than he would with the regiment. I should +in that case find it all the easier to bring his business before +the king.'</p> + +<p>"The marshal is terribly ill," Colonel Hume said as he +reported the conversation to Ronald, "so ill that he can only +occasionally sit on his horse. Nothing but his indomitable +courage sustains him. He is drawn about in a light carriage made +of basketwork, and this serves him also for his bed."</p> + +<p>On the 7th of May the enemy were known to be close at hand, +and the French selected the position on which they would fight. +The village of Fontenoy had already been occupied by a strong +body of troops under Marshal Noailles, and the rest of the army +now moved forward to the posts allotted to them. The English army +were close at hand, and it was certain that the battle would be +fought on the morrow. In the evening the king held a grand +reception at which all the officers of rank were present. When +Colonel Hume returned to his camp his officers were still sitting +round the fire.</p> + +<p>"Have you any news for us, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No; I believe everything stands as was arranged. The king is +in the highest spirits, though I must say his majesty did not +choose reminiscences of a nature to encourage those who heard +him. He remarked, for instance, that since the days of St. Louis +the French had never gained a decisive success over the English, +and a few minutes later he observed that the last time a king of +France with his son had fought at the head of the French army was +at the battle of Poictiers."</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh.</p> + +<p>"Certainly the king was not happy with his reminiscences," +Major Munro remarked; "but I think this time the tables are going +to be turned. In the first place we considerably outnumbered the +enemy, even after leaving 15,000 men to continue the siege. In +the second place, the position we have chosen is almost +impregnable. The Scheldt covers our right, with the fortified +bridge securing our communication, and the village of Antoin +resting on the river. Along our front from Antoin to Fontenoy is +a narrow and difficult valley. Our left is covered by the wood of +Barre, where a strong redoubt has been constructed; and the whole +of the position is fortified with breastworks and abattis as far +as Fontenoy. Between that village and Barre the natural +difficulties are so great that field works are unnecessary. I +cannot believe myself that they will attack us in such a +position, especially as nearly half their army are Dutch, who +will count for little. The English are the only troops which we +shall find formidable."</p> + +<p>Before daybreak the camp was astir, and the troops took the +positions assigned to them. Even now it was hardly believed that +an attack would be made by the enemy so long as the French +remained in their all but impregnable position; but presently the +columns of the enemy were seen advancing. Ronald had ridden up to +the litter on which Marshal Saxe was placed, and after saluting, +had taken up his position with a number of other officers, in +readiness to carry orders to different parts of the field.</p> + +<p>At a short distance from the marshal the King of France with +the dauphin and the brilliant cortege of nobles had taken up his +post. From the position in which the marshal had caused himself +to be placed a complete view of the enemy's approaching ranks was +obtained. It could soon be seen that the Dutch troops, who on the +English right were advancing to the attack, were moving against +the villages of Antoin and Fontenoy. A strong force, headed, as +was known afterwards, by General Ingoldsby, moved towards the +wood of Barre; while a solid column of English and Hanoverians, +10,000 strong, marched forward to the attack across the broken +ground between Fontenoy and the wood of Barre.</p> + +<p>It was as yet but five o'clock in the morning when the cannon +broke out into a roar on both sides. The Dutch, who were +commanded by the Prince of Waldeck, soon hesitated, and in a +short time fell back out of range of fire. On the English right +General Ingoldsby penetrated some distance into the wood of +Barre, and then fell back again as the Dutch had done. In an hour +after the fighting had commenced the right and left of the allied +army had ceased their attack. There remained only the centre, but +this was advancing.</p> + +<p>Under the command of the Duke of Cumberland the column crossed +the ravine in front of Fontenoy. The ground was so broken that +the troops were unable to deploy, but moved forward in a solid +mass with a front of only forty men.</p> + +<p>The French batteries from the right and left mowed them down +in lines, but as steadily as if on parade the places were filled +up, and unshaken and calm the great column moved forward. The +cannon which they dragged along by hand opened against Fontenoy +and the redoubts, and as, in spite of the hail of fire, they +pressed steadily on, the French gunners were obliged to abandon +their cannon and fly.</p> + +<p>The regiment of French guards, officered almost entirely by +the highest nobles, met the English guards, who composed the +front lines of the column. A tremendous volley flashed along the +English line, shattering the ranks of the French guard. There was +a moment's fierce fighting, and then the English column swept +from before it the remains of the French guard, and cleared the +ravine which defended Fontenoy.</p> + +<p>Ronald felt his heart beat with excitement and a feeling of +pride and admiration as he saw the English advancing unmoved +through the storm of fire. They advanced in the most perfect +order. The sergeants calmly raised or depressed the soldiers' +muskets to direct the fire; each vacant place was filled quietly +and regularly without hesitation or hurry; and exclamations of +surprise and admiration broke even from the French officers.</p> + +<p>Regiment after regiment was brought up and hurled against the +head of the column, but with no more effect than waves against a +rock, each being dashed aside shattered and broken by the steady +volleys and regular lines of bayonets. Ronald and other officers +were sent off to bring up the cavalry, but in vain did these +strive to break the serried column. One regiment after another +charged down upon it, but the English, retaining their fire until +they were within a few yards of their muzzles, received them with +such tremendous volleys that they recoiled in disorder.</p> + +<p>The French regiment of Vaisseaux next advanced to the attack, +and fought with greater gallantry than any which had preceded it; +but at last, when almost annihilated, its survivors fell back. +And now it seemed as if this 10,000 men were to be victorious +over the whole French army. Marshal Saxe begged the king to +retire with the dauphin across the bridge of Calonne while he did +what he could to retrieve the battle, but the king refused to +leave the field. There was a hurried council held round Louis, +and it was agreed to make a great effort by calling up the whole +of the troops between Fontenoy and Antoin, as the positions they +held were no longer threatened by the Dutch.</p> + +<p>Had the latter now advanced nothing could have saved the +French army from utter defeat; but they remained immovable at a +distance from the field of battle. The English now won the crown +of the position, had cut through the French centre, and were +moving forward towards the bridge of Calonne, when the whole of +the French artillery, which had, by the advice of the Duke of +Richelieu, been brought up, opened fire on the English column. At +the same moment the French regiments from Antoin fell upon it; +while Marshal Saxe, who had, when the danger became imminent, +mounted his horse, himself brought up the Irish Brigade, who, +with a wild yell of hatred, flung itself furiously upon the flank +of the English.</p> + +<p>Attacked thus on all sides, mown down by a heavy fire of +artillery, unsupported amid an army of foes, the column could do +no more. Ten thousand men could not withstand fifty thousand. +Their ranks were twice broken by the Irish, but twice their +officers rallied them; until at last, when it became evident that +no more could be done, the column fell slowly back in an order as +perfect and regular as that in which it had advanced.</p> + +<p>French historians have done ample justice to the extraordinary +valour shown by the English troops on this occasion, a valour +never surpassed in the long annals of the British army. Had they +received the slightest assistance from their cowardly allies the +victory must have been theirs. As it was, although unsuccessful, +the glory and honour of the day rested with them, rather than +with the victorious army of France. More than half the column had +fallen in the desperate engagement, but the loss of the victors +was even greater, and comprised many belonging to the noblest +families of France.</p> + +<p>Ronald had won the warm approval of Marshal Saxe for the +manner in which he carried his orders across ground swept by a +heavy fire, and brought up the regiments to within close quarters +of the English; and after the battle was over Marshal Saxe +presented to the king several of his staff who had most +distinguished themselves, and calling up Ronald, who was standing +near, for his horse had been shot under him as he rode by the +side of the marshal with the Irish Brigade to the attack, the +marshal said:</p> + +<p>"Allow me to present to your majesty Ronald Leslie, a young +Scottish gentleman of good family, who is a volunteer in the +Scottish Dragoons, and has rendered great service today by the +manner in which he has borne my orders through the thickest of +the fire."</p> + +<p>"I will bear you in mind, young gentleman," the king said +graciously, "and I charge the marshal to bring your name before +me on a future day."</p> + +<p>His duty as aide de camp over, Ronald rejoined his regiment. +They had lost nearly a third of their number in their charges +upon the English column. Major Munro had been killed, the colonel +severely wounded, and a number of officers had fallen. Ronald +went about among the men assisting to bind up wounds, and +supplying those who needed it with wine and other refreshments. +Presently he was joined by Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are safe, Ronald. I tell you, you have given me +many a fright today as I watched you galloping along through the +line of the English fire."</p> + +<p>"Where were you, Malcolm? I did not see you."</p> + +<p>"I had nothing to do," Malcolm said, "and I climbed a tree not +fifty yards from the marshal's litter, and keeping the trunk in +front of me to protect me from a stray bullet I had a good view +of the whole proceedings. At one time I was on the point of +slipping down and making a bolt for it, for I thought it was all +over with us. How that column did fight! I have been in many a +battle, but I never saw anything like it, it was grand; and if it +hadn't been for the Irish Brigade, I think that they would have +beaten the whole French army. But if you go into a battle again I +sha'n't come to see you. I have done my share of fighting, and +can take hard knocks as well as another; but I would not go +through the anxiety I have suffered today about you on any +condition. However, this has been a great day for you."</p> + +<p>"You mean about the marshal presenting me to the king? Yes, +that ought to help us."</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't mean that, for I had not heard of it. I mean +about that old rascal your grandfather, the Marquis de +Recambours."</p> + +<p>"What about him? I have not heard."</p> + +<p>"No!" Malcolm exclaimed; "then I have good news for you. A +ball from one of the English field pieces struck him full in the +chest, and of course slew him instantly. He was not thirty yards +from the tree when I saw him knocked over. He is quite dead, I +can assure you, for when the others moved off I took the trouble +to clamber down to assure myself. So now the greatest obstacle to +the release of your father and mother is out of the way."</p> + +<p>"Thank God for that!" Ronald said. "I have no reason for +feeling one spark of regret at what has befallen him. He was the +cruel persecutor of my parents, and did his best to get me +removed. There is but one obstacle now to obtaining my father's +release, and as he is neither a relation nor an old man I shall +be able to deal with him myself."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you must be careful, Ronald; remember the decree +against duelling. We must not make a false step now, when fortune +is at last favouring us. There will be no more fighting, I fancy. +The English will certainly not attack us again, and Tournay must +fall, and I don't think that on our part there will be any desire +whatever to go out of our way to seek another engagement with +them. The king is sure to go back to Paris at once, where he will +be received with enthusiasm. Marshal Saxe will probably follow as +soon as Tournay has fallen. I should advise you, therefore, to +get leave from the colonel to be absent from the regiment for a +time, and we will make our way down to Tours and let your mother +know the marquis is dead, and get her to write a memorial to the +king requesting permission to leave the convent, and then when +the marshall arrives in Paris we will get him to present it."</p> + +<p>Ronald agreed to Malcolm's proposal, and the next morning, +having obtained leave of absence from the colonel, he and Malcolm +mounted and rode for Tours.</p> + +<p>The message was duly conveyed to the countess by Jeanne, +together with Ronald's earnest request that his mother would +again meet him. She sent back by Jeanne the memorial he had asked +her to write to the king, begging that she might be allowed to +leave the convent; but she refused to agree to his wishes to meet +her, bidding Jeanne say that now it seemed there was really a +hope of her release shortly, she would less than ever risk any +step which if discovered might prejudice their plans.</p> + +<p>Although disappointed, Ronald could not deny that her decision +was a wise one, and therefore contented himself by sending word +that he had obtained one very powerful friend, and that he hoped +that she would ere long receive good tidings. After a short stay +at Tours, Ronald and Malcolm returned to Paris, where a series of +brilliant fetes in honour of the victory of Fontenoy were in +preparation. Tournay had surrendered a few days after the battle, +the governor of that town having accepted a heavy bribe to open +the gates, for the place could have resisted for months, and the +allied army were ready to recommence hostilities in order to +relieve it.</p> + +<p>After its surrender they fell back and resumed a defensive +attitude. The king therefore returned at once to Paris, and +Marshal Saxe, handing over the command of the army to Marshal de +Noailles, followed him by easy stages. Delighted above all things +at a success gained over the English, who had for centuries been +victorious in every battle in which England and France had met as +enemies, the citizens of Paris organized a succession of +brilliant fetes, which were responded to by entertainments of all +kinds at Versailles. The Scottish Dragoons were still at the +front; but Colonel Hume had been brought to Paris, as it would be +some time ere he would be able again to take the command of the +regiment. Ronald called at the house where the colonel lodged, +upon the day after his return from Tours, and found that he had +arrived upon the previous day. Ronald was at once shown up on +sending in his name. The colonel was lying on the couch when he +entered.</p> + +<p>"How are you, colonel?"</p> + +<p>"I am going on as well as possible, Ronald; they found the +ball and got it out the day before I left the regiment, and I +shall do well now. I have been carried on a litter all the way by +eight of our troopers, and the good fellows were as gentle with +me as if I had been a child, and I scarce felt a jar the whole +distance. What I have got to do now is to lie quiet, and the +doctor promises me that in six weeks' time I shall be fit to +mount a horse again. Marshal Saxe sent yesterday evening to +inquire after me, and I will send you to him to thank him for so +sending, and to inquire on my part how he himself is going on. My +message will be a good excuse for your presenting yourself."</p> + +<p>Ronald found the antechamber of the marshal crowded with +nobles and officers who had come to pay their respects to the +victorious general, who was, next to the king himself, at that +moment the most popular man in France. Hitherto, as a Protestant +and a foreigner, Maurice of Saxony had been regarded by many with +jealousy and dislike; but the victory which he had won for the +French arms had for the first time obliterated every feeling save +admiration and gratitude.</p> + +<p>Presently the marshal came out from the inner room with the +dauphin, who had called on the part of the king to inquire after +his health. He was now able to walk, the excitement of the battle +and the satisfaction of the victory having enabled him partially +to shake off the disease which afflicted him. After the dauphin +had left, the marshal made the tour of the apartment, exchanging +a few words with all present.</p> + +<p>"Ah! you are there, my young Leslie," he said familiarly when +he came to Ronald. "Where have you been? I have not seen you +since the day when you galloped about with my messages through +the English fire as if you had a charmed life."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume gave me leave, sir, to travel on private +business. I am now the bearer of a message from him, thanking you +for the kind inquiries as to his wound; he bids me say that he +trusts that your own health is rapidly recovering."</p> + +<p>"As you see, Leslie, Fontenoy has done wonders for me as well +as for France; but wait here, I will speak with you again."</p> + +<p>In half an hour most of the callers took their departure, then +the marshal called Ronald into an inner room.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," he said, "I am going to pay my respects to the +king at Versailles. I will take you with me. Have you your +mother's memorial? That is right. As her father was killed at +Fontenoy there will, I hope, be the less difficulty over the +matter; but we must not be too sanguine, for there will be a host +of hungry competitors for the estates of the marquis, and all +these will unite against you. However, I do not think the king +will be able to refuse my first request, and when your mother is +out we must put our heads together and see about getting your +father's release."</p> + +<p>Ronald expressed his deep gratitude at the marshal's +kindness.</p> + +<p>"Say nothing about it, my lad. Fortunately I want nothing for +myself, and it is no use being a victorious general if one cannot +utilize it in some way; so I am quite glad to have something to +ask the king."</p> + +<p>The next day Ronald presented himself at the hotel of Marshal +Saxe and rode by the side of his carriage out to Versailles. The +king, surrounded by a brilliant train of courtiers, received the +marshal with the greatest warmth, and after talking to him for +some time retired with him into his private closet. A few minutes +later one of the royal pages came out into the audience chamber +and said in a loud voice that the king desired the presence of +Monsieur Ronald Leslie.</p> + +<p>Greatly embarrassed at finding himself the centre of +observation not unmingled with envy at the summons, Ronald +followed the page into the presence of the king, who was alone +with Marshal Saxe. Louis, who was in high good humour, gave +Ronald his hand to kiss, saying:</p> + +<p>"I told the marshal to recall your name to me, and he has done +so now. He says that you have a boon to ask of me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire," the marshal said; "and please consider graciously +that it is I who ask it as well as he. Your majesty has always +been gracious to me, and if you think me deserving of any mark of +your favour after this success which your majesty and I have +gained together, I would now crave that you grant it."</p> + +<p>"It is granted before you name it, marshal," the king said. "I +give you my royal word that whatever be your boon, provided that +it be within the bounds of possibility, it is yours."</p> + +<p>"Then, sire, I ask that an old comrade and fellow soldier of +mine, who fought bravely for your majesty, but who fell under +your majesty's displeasure many years ago on account of a +marriage which he made contrary to your pleasure, may be +released. He has now been over sixteen years in prison, and has +therefore paid dearly for thwarting your will, and his wife has +all this time been confined in a convent. They are the father and +mother of this brave lad--Colonel Leslie, who commanded your +majesty's regiment of Scotch Dragoons, and his wife, the Countess +Amelie of Recambours. I ask your majesty, as my boon, that you +will order this officer to be released and the lady to be allowed +to leave the convent."</p> + +<p>"Peste, marshal!" the king said good temperedly; "your request +is one of which will get me into hot water with a score of +people. From the day the marquis was killed at Fontenoy I have +heard nothing but questions about his estates, and I believe that +no small portion of them have been already promised."</p> + +<p>"I say nothing about the estates," the marshal replied; "as to +that, your majesty's sense of justice is too well known for it to +be necessary for me to say a single word. The countess has +estates of her own, which she inherited from her mother, but even +as to these I say nothing. It is her liberty and that of her +husband which I and this brave lad ask of your majesty."</p> + +<p>"It is granted, marshal, and had your boon been a great one +instead of a small one I would have granted it as freely;" and +the king again held out his hand to Ronald, who bent on one knee +to kiss it, tears of joy flowing down his cheeks and preventing +the utterance of any audible thanks for the boon, which far +surpassed his expectations; for the marshal had said nothing as +to his intention of asking his father's freedom, which indeed he +only decided to do upon seeing in how favourable a disposition he +had found the king.</p> + +<p>"You see, marshal," Louis went on, "marriages like this must +be sternly discouraged, or all order in our kingdom would be done +away with. Wilful girls and headstrong soldiers cannot be +permitted to arrange their affairs without reference to the plans +of their parents, and in this instance it happened that the +father's plans had received our approval. The great estates of +France cannot be handed over to the first comer, who may perhaps +be utterly unworthy of them. I do not say that in the present +case Colonel Leslie was in any way personally unworthy; but the +disposal of the hands of the great heiresses of France is in the +king's gift, and those who cross him are against his +authority."</p> + +<p>The king touched a bell and bade the page who entered to order +his secretary to attend at once.</p> + +<p>"Search the register of the state prisons," he said, "and tell +me where Colonel Leslie, who was arrested by our orders sixteen +years ago, is confined, and then make out an order to the +governor of his prison for his release; also draw up an order +upon the lady superior of--," and he paused.</p> + +<p>"The convent of Our Lady at Tours," Ronald ventured to put +in.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you have discovered that, eh?" the king said with a +smile; and then turned again to the secretary--"bidding her +suffer the Countess Amelie de Recambours to leave the convent and +to proceed where she will."</p> + +<p>The secretary bowed and retired. Ronald, seeing that his own +presence was no longer required, said a few words of deep +gratitude to the king and retired to the audience room, where he +remained until, ten minutes later, the door of the king's closet +opened, and the king and Marshal Saxe again appeared. The +audience lasted for another half hour, and then the marshal, +accompanied by many of the nobles, made his way down to his +carriage. Ronald again mounted, and as soon as the carriage had +left the great courtyard of the palace, rode up alongside and +poured out his gratitude to the marshal.</p> + +<p>"It has been another Fontenoy," the marshal said smiling. +"Here are the two orders, the one for Tours, the other for the +governor of the royal castle at Blois. The king made light of it; +but I know his manner so well that I could see he would rather +that I had asked for a dukedom for you. It is not often that +kings are thwarted, and he regards your parents as being rebels +against his authority. However, he was bound by his promise, and +there are the papers. Now, only one word, Leslie. Do not indulge +in any hopes that you will see your father more than a shadow of +the stalwart soldier that he was sixteen years ago. There are few +men, indeed, whose constitution enable them to live through +sixteen years' confinement in a state prison. Therefore prepare +yourself to find him a mere wreck. I trust that freedom and your +mother's care may do much for him, but don't expect too much at +first. If you take my advice you will go first and fetch your +mother, in order that she may be at hand to receive your father +when he leaves the fortress. By the way, I thought it just as +well not to produce your mother's memorial, as it seemed that we +should be able to do without it, for it might have struck the +king to ask how you obtained it, and he would probably have +considered that your communication with your mother was a fresh +act of defiance against his authority."</p> + +<p>Malcolm was wild with joy when Ronald returned with the +account of his interview with the king and its successful result, +and had his not been a seasoned head, the number of bumpers which +he drank that night in honour of Marshal Saxe would have rendered +him unfit for travel in the morning. Ronald had, after +acquainting him with the news, gone to Colonel Hume, whose +pleasure at hearing that his former colonel and comrade was to +regain his freedom was unbounded. Every preparation was made for +an early start.</p> + +<p>"Be sure you look well to the priming of your pistols before +you put them in your holsters tomorrow," Malcolm said.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will be necessary?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it, Ronald. News travels fast; and you may be +sure that by this time the fact that the king has granted an +order for the release of your father and mother is known to the +Duke of Chateaurouge. If he did not hear it from the king +himself, which he would be most likely to do, as Louis would +probably lose no time in explaining to him that he had only gone +against his wishes because under the circumstances it was +impossible for him to refuse the marshal's request, the secretary +who drew out the document would, no doubt, let the duke know of +it. There are no secrets at court."</p> + +<p>"But now that the orders for release have been granted," +Ronald said, "the duke can have no motive in preventing them +being delivered, for fresh ones could, of course, be +obtained."</p> + +<p>"In the first place, Ronald, the duke will be so furious at +your success that he will stick at nothing to have his revenge; +in the second place, he and the others, for there are many +interested in preventing your mother from coming into her +father's possessions, will consider that the gain of time goes +for a good deal. You are the mover in the matter. Were you out of +the way, and the documents destroyed, the matter might rest as it +is for a long time. The marshal is busy from morning till night, +and would be long before he missed you, and would naturally +suppose that you had, after obtaining the release of your +parents, retired with them to some country retreat, or even left +the kingdom.</p> + +<p>"This would give ample time for working upon Louis. Besides, +the king might never inquire whether the prisoners had been +released. Then the marshal might die or be sent away to the +frontier. Therefore, as you see, time is everything. I tell you, +Ronald, I consider the journey you are going to undertake +tomorrow an affair of greater danger than going into a pitched +battle. You will have to doubt everyone you meet on the road, the +people at the inns you stop at--you may be attacked anywhere +and everywhere. As to our travelling by the direct road, I look +upon it as impossible. Our only chance is to throw them off the +scent, and as they know our destination that will be no easy +matter."</p> + +<p>They were astir by daylight, and Malcolm soon brought the +horses round to the door.</p> + +<p>"It's a comfort to know," he said, "that the horses have +passed the night in the barracks, and that therefore they have +not been tampered with. Look well to the buckles of your girths, +Ronald. See that everything is strong and in good order."</p> + +<p>"That is not your own horse, Malcolm, is it?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is one of the troopers'. It is one of the best in the +regiment, and I persuaded the man to change with me for a week. +No one is likely to notice the difference, as they are as nearly +as possible the same colour. Your horse is good enough for +anything; but if I could not keep up with you its speed would be +useless. Now, I think, we can keep together if we have to ride +for it.</p> + +<p>"What have you got in that valise, Malcolm? One would think +that you were going upon a campaign."</p> + +<p>"I have got four bottles of good wine, and bread and meat +enough to last us for two days. I do not mean, if I can help it, +to enter a shop or stop at an inn till we arrive at Tours. We can +make a shift to sleep for tonight in a wood. It would be safer a +thousand times than an inn, for I will bet fifty to one that if +we ventured to enter one we should find one or both of our horses +lame on starting again."</p> + +<p>"Oh come, Malcolm, that's too much! The Duke of Chateaurouge +is not ubiquitous. He has not an army to scatter over all +France."</p> + +<p>"No, he has not," Malcolm agreed; "but from what I know of him +I doubt not that he can lay his hands on a number of men who will +stick at nothing to carry out his orders and earn his money. +Paris swarms with discharged soldiers and ruffians of all kinds, +and with plenty of gold to set the machine in motion there is no +limit to the number of men who might be hired for any desperate +deed."</p> + +<p>As they were talking they were making their way towards one of +the southern gates. They arrived there before it opened, and had +to wait a few minutes. Several other passengers on horseback and +foot were gathered there.</p> + +<p>"I could bet a crown piece," Malcolm said, "that some one +among this crowd is on the watch for us, and that before another +half hour the Duke of Chateaurouge will know that we have +started."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_X_A_Perilous_Journey_"></a>CHAPTER X: A Perilous +Journey.</h1> + +<p>A number of peasants with market carts were waiting outside +the gates, and for the first few miles of their ride the road was +dotted with people making their way to the city. As they rode, +Malcolm discussed the question of the best road to be taken. +Ronald himself was still in favour of pushing straight forward, +for he was not so convinced as his follower that a serious +attempt would be made to interrupt their journey. He pointed out +that the road, as far as Orleans at least, was one of the most +frequented in France, and that in that city even the most +reckless would hardly venture to assault them.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Ronald, that the road offers less +opportunities for ambushes than most others, for the country is +flat and well cultivated; but after all a dozen men with muskets +could lie in ambush in a cornfield as well as a wood, and the +fact that people are going along the road counts for little one +way or the other, for not one in fifty would venture to interfere +if they saw a fray going on. But granting that so far as Orleans +the country is open and cultivated, beyond that it is for the +most part forest; but above all--although they may regard it as +possible that we may be on our guard, and may travel by other +roads--it is upon this direct line that they are sure to make +the most preparations for us. Beyond that it can only be chance +work. We may go by one road or by another. There may be one trap +set on each road; but once past that and we are safe."</p> + +<p>After riding for upwards of an hour they came, at the turn of +the road, upon two carts. One had apparently broken down, and the +other had stopped that those with it might give assistance in +repairing it. One cart was turned across the road, and the other +filled the rest of the space.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" Malcolm exclaimed, checking his horse suddenly.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Ronald asked in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Turn back!" Malcolm said sharply as he wheeled his horse +round.</p> + +<p>Ronald, without a word, did the same, and they galloped a +hundred yards down the road.</p> + +<p>"We were nearly caught there," Malcolm said.</p> + +<p>"Why, how do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind now, Ronald. Turn sharp to the right here, and +make a detour through the fields. You will soon see whether I was +right."</p> + +<p>"It is a shame riding through this ripe corn," Ronald said, as +without any further comment he leaped his horse over the bank and +dashed off among the golden grain, which stretched far and wide +on both sides of the road.</p> + +<p>They had not gone fifty yards before they heard loud shouts, +and as they came abreast of where the carts were standing several +shots were fired, and ten or twelve men were seen running through +the corn as if to cut them off. But although they heard the whiz +of the bullets they were too far off to be in much danger, and +the men on foot had no chance of cutting them off, a fact which +they speedily perceived, as one by one they halted and fired. A +few hundred yards farther the two horsemen came round into the +road again and pursued their journey.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of that, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"It was an ambush, no doubt, Malcolm; but what on earth made +you suspect it? I saw nothing suspicious. Merely two carts in the +road, with three or four men doing something to one of the +wheels."</p> + +<p>"I am in a suspicious humour this morning, Ronald, and it is +lucky I am. The sight of the two carts completely blocking the +road brought me to a halt at once, and as I checked my horse I +saw a movement among the bushes on the right of the road, and +felt sure that it was an ambush. It was a well laid one, too, and +had we ridden on we should have been riddled with bullets. No +doubt there were men lying in the carts. They would have jumped +up as we came up to them, and the fellows in the bushes would +have taken us in the rear; between their two fires our chances +would have been small indeed. No doubt they had a man on watch, +and directly they saw us coming they got their carts across the +road, and took up their positions. It was a well contrived +scheme, and we have had a narrow escape."</p> + +<p>"Thanks to your quickness and watchfulness, Malcolm, which has +saved our lives. I admit that you are right and I was wrong, for +I own that I did not share your apprehensions as to the dangers +of our journey. Henceforth I will be as much on the lookout as +you are, and will look with suspicion at every beggar woman that +may pass."</p> + +<p>"And you will be right to do so," Malcolm said seriously; "but +for the present I think that we are safe. This, no doubt, was +their main ambush, and they may reasonably have felt certain of +success. However, we may be sure that they did not rely solely +upon it. This, no doubt, is the unmounted portion of their gang. +They were to try and put a stop to our journey at its outset; but +mounted men will have ridden on ahead, especially as they +couldn't have been sure that we should follow this road. We might +have gone out by one of the other gates at the south side of the +town, and they will have watched all the roads. Now I propose +that we take the next lane which branches off to the right, and +travel by byroads in future. Do not press your horse too fast. We +have a long journey before us, and must always have something in +hand in case it is necessary to press them to full speed."</p> + +<p>Two miles further a road branched to the right. As they +approached it Ronald was about to touch his horse's rein, when +Malcolm said shortly, "Ride straight on."</p> + +<p>Although surprised at this sudden change of plan, Ronald +obeyed without question.</p> + +<p>"What was that for?" he asked when he had passed the +turning.</p> + +<p>"Did you not see that man lying down by the heap of stones at +the corner?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw him; but what of that?"</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt he was on the lookout for us. Yes, I thought +so," he went on, as he stood up in his stirrups and looked back; +"there, do you see that horse's head in that little thicket, just +this side of where the road separates? I expected as much. If we +had turned off, in another two minutes that fellow would have +been galloping along this road to take the news to those ahead, +and they would have ridden to cut us off further along. I have no +doubt we shall find someone on watch at every turning between +this and Orleans."</p> + +<p>"But this is a regular campaign, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"It is a campaign, Ronald. The ruffians and thieves of Paris +form a sort of army. They have heads whom they implicitly obey, +and those who have money enough to set this machine in motion can +command the services of any number of men. Sharp fellows, too, +many of them are, and when they received orders to arrest our +journey to Tours at any cost, they would not omit a single +precaution which could ensure success. Their former attack upon +you, and its result, will have showed them that we are not +children, and that the enterprise was one which demanded all +their efforts."</p> + +<p>"What is our next move now, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"We will turn off before we get to the next road. They can see +a long way across these level plains; so we will dismount and +lead our horses. The corn is well nigh shoulder deep, and if we +choose a spot where the ground lies rather low, neither that +scoundrel behind nor the one at the next road is likely to see +us."</p> + +<p>Half a mile further there was a slight dip in the ground.</p> + +<p>"This is a good spot," Malcolm said. "This depression extends +far away on our right, and although it is very slight, and would +not conceal us if the ground were bare, it will do so now, so let +us take advantage of it."</p> + +<p>So saying he dismounted, and leading his horse, turned into +the cornfield. Ronald followed him, and for two miles they kept +straight on through the corn; then they came upon a narrow road +connecting two villages. They mounted and turned their horses' +heads to the south.</p> + +<p>"It is as well that none of the peasants saw us making through +their corn," Ronald said, "or we should have had them upon us +with stone and flail like a swarm of angry bees."</p> + +<p>"It could not be helped," Malcolm replied, "and we could +easily have ridden away from them. However, it is just as well +that we have had no bother with them. Now we will quicken our +pace. We are fairly between two of the main roads south, and if +we can contrive to make our way by these village tracks we shall +at any rate for some time be free from all risk of +molestation."</p> + +<p>"I should think we should be free altogether," Ronald said. +"When they find we do not come along the road they will suppose +we have been killed at the first ambush."</p> + +<p>Malcolm shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Do not build upon that, Ronald. No doubt as soon as we had +passed, some of those fellows mounted the horses we saw in the +carts, and rode off in accordance with an agreed plan to give +notice that we had passed them safely, and were proceeding by +that road. In the next place the fellow we saw on watch would +most likely after a time mount and follow us, and when he got to +the watcher at the next crossroad and found that we had not come +along there would know that we must have turned off either to the +right or left. One of them is doubtless before this on his way to +the next party with the news, while the other has set to work to +find out where we turned off, which will be easy enough to +discover. Still, we have gained something, and may fairly reckon +that if we ride briskly there is no fear of those who were posted +along the road we have left cutting us off."</p> + +<p>They rode all day at a steady pace, stopping occasionally for +a short time to allow the horses a rest and a feed. The people in +the quiet little villages looked in surprise at the young officer +and his follower as they rode through their street or stopped for +a quarter of an hour while the horses were fed, for even Malcolm +agreed that such pauses were unattended by danger. It was rarely, +indeed, that a stranger passed along these bypaths, and the +peasants wondered among themselves what could induce them to +travel by country byways instead of following the main roads.</p> + +<p>As they left the rich plains of the Beauce, the country was +less carefully cultivated. The fields of corn were no longer +continuous, and presently they came to tracts of uncultivated +land with patches of wood. They now left the little road they had +been following, and rode straight across country, avoiding all +villages. They crossed several hills, and late in the afternoon +drew rein in a wide spreading forest. They were, Malcolm thought, +quite as far south as Orleans, and by starting at daylight would +arrive at Tours by midday.</p> + +<p>"Here at least we are perfectly safe," he said; "when we +approach Tours our perils will begin again. When once they find +that we have given them the slip they are not likely to try to +intercept us anywhere along the route till we near the town, for +they will know that the chances are enormous against their doing +so, and the parties along the various roads will push on so as to +meet us somewhere near that city. The river can only be crossed +at certain points, and they will feel sure we shall go by one or +other of them."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose we shall," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"No, Ronald; my idea is that we turn west and ride to Le Mans, +then take a wide detour and enter Tours from the south side. It +will take us a day longer, but that is of little consequence, and +I think that we shall in that way entirely outwit them. The only +precaution we shall have to take is to cross the main road on our +right at some point remote from any town or village."</p> + +<p>"I think that is a capital plan. I do not mind a share of fair +fighting; but to be shot down suddenly in an ambush like that of +this morning, I own I have little fancy for it."</p> + +<p>Hobbling their horses, they turned them loose to pick up what +they could in the forest, and then sat down to enjoy a good meal +from the ample supply Malcolm had brought with him. When night +fell they unstrapped their cloaks from their saddles and rolled +themselves in them, and lay down to sleep. An hour later they +were roughly awakened, each being seized by three men, who, +before they could attempt to offer resistance, bound their arms +to their sides, and then hurried them along through the +forest.</p> + +<p>"I have been a fool, Ronald," Malcolm said bitterly; "I ought +to have kept watch."</p> + +<p>"It was not your fault, Malcolm. One could never have guessed +that they would have found us in this forest. Somebody must have +followed us at a distance and marked us down, and brought the +rest upon us; but even had you kept watch it would have been no +good, for they would have shot us down before we could make any +resistance."</p> + +<p>"I wonder they didn't cut our throats at once," Malcolm said. +"I don't know what they are troubling to make us prisoners +for."</p> + +<p>Presently they saw a light in the forest ahead of them, and +soon arrived at a spot where a number of men were sitting round a +fire.</p> + +<p>"You had no trouble with them, Pierre, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"No, captain, they slept as soundly as moles. They have been +speaking some strange language as we came along."</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" Malcolm exclaimed fervently. "I think, after all, +Ronald, we have only fallen in with a band of robbers, and not +with our enemies."</p> + +<p>"Unbind their hands," the captain of the band said, "but first +take away their swords and pistols. Gentlemen, may I ask you to +be seated; and then, perhaps, you will inform us what you, an +officer in the Scotch dragoons, as I perceive by your uniform, +are doing here in the forest?"</p> + +<p>Ronald, to whom the question was principally addressed, +replied frankly:</p> + +<p>"We took to this forest, I fancy, for the same reason for +which you use it, namely, for safety. We are on our way to Tours, +and there are some people who have interest in preventing our +arriving there. They made one attempt to stop us near Paris; +fortunately that failed, or we should not be now enjoying your +society; but as it was likely that another attempt would be made +upon the road, we thought it better to leave it altogether and +take to the forest for the night."</p> + +<p>"What interest could anyone have in preventing an officer of +the king from arriving at Tours?" the man asked doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"It is rather a long story," Ronald said, "but if it is of +interest to you I shall be happy to relate it; and I may mention +that there are three bottles of good wine in the valise of one of +the saddles, and a story is none the worse for such an +accompaniment."</p> + +<p>A laugh went round the circle at Ronald's coolness, and a man +stepped forward with the two saddles which he had carried from +the spot when the captives had been seized. The wine was taken +out and opened.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the captain of the band said, after tasting it, "the +wine is good; now let us have your story."</p> + +<p>Ronald gave them an outline of his history, told them how his +father and mother had been for many years imprisoned for marrying +contrary to the king's pleasure, and how he had at last obtained +the royal order for their release, and how the enemies of his +parents were now trying to prevent him from having those orders +carried out. "There are the orders," Ronald said as he concluded, +taking them from the inner pocket where he carried them. "You see +they are addressed to the abbess of the convent of Our Lady at +Tours, and to the governor of Blois."</p> + +<p>"The story you tell us is a singular one," the captain +replied, "and I doubt not its truth. What was the name of your +father?"</p> + +<p>"He was Colonel Leslie, and commanded the same regiment to +which I belong."</p> + +<p>"I remember him," one of the band said. "Our regiments were +quartered together, nigh twenty years ago, at Flanders, and I was +in Paris at the time when he was imprisoned. We were in the next +barracks to the Scotchmen, and I remember what a stir it made. +The regiment was very nigh mutinying."</p> + +<p>"And I remember you too, though I cannot recall your name," +Malcolm said, rising and looking hard at the speaker; "and if I +mistake not we have cracked many a flask together, and made many +a raid on the hen roosts of the Flemish farmers. My name is +Malcolm Anderson."</p> + +<p>"I remember you well," the other said, rising and giving him +his hand. "Of course I met you scores of times, for the regiments +were generally brigaded together."</p> + +<p>"That confirms your story altogether, monsieur," the captain +of the band said. "From this moment do not consider yourself a +prisoner any longer. I may say that we had no expectation of +booty in your case, and you were captured rather from curiosity +than from any other reason. One of my men, this afternoon, +happened to see you ride into the wood and then dismount and make +preparations for passing the night there. He reported the matter +to me. I know that gentlemen of your cloth--I may say of mine, +for I was once an officer of his majesty, though I left the +service somewhat hastily," and he smiled, "on account of an +unfortunate deficiency in the funds of the regiment in which I +happened, at the time, to be acting as paymaster--are seldom +burdened with spare cash, but the incident seemed so strange that +I determined to capture and question you. If you happen to have +more cash on you than you care about carrying we shall be glad to +purchase a few bottles of wine equal to that which you have given +us. If not, I can assure you that I do not press the +matter.".</p> + +<p>"I am obliged to you for your courtesy," Ronald said; "and as +at present I really happen to be somewhat flush of cash I am +happy to contribute ten louis for the laudable purpose you +mention."</p> + +<p>So saying he took out his purse, counted out ten pieces, and +handed them to the captain.</p> + +<p>The action was received with a round of applause, for the +robbers had not, from the first, anticipated obtaining any booty +worth speaking of, and the turn affairs had taken had altogether +driven any idea of gain from their minds.</p> + +<p>"I thank you warmly, sir," the captain said, "and promise you +that I will tomorrow despatch a messenger to Orleans, which is +but ten miles away, and will lay out the money in liquor, with +which we will, tomorrow night, drink your health and success in +the enterprise. Nay, more, if you like, a dozen of my men shall +accompany you on your road to Tours. They have, for various +reasons, which I need not enter into, a marked objection to +passing through towns, but as far as Blois they are at your +service."</p> + +<p>"I thank you for your offer," Ronald replied, "but will not +accept it, as we intend to ride tomorrow morning to Le Mans, and +then to enter Tours from the south side, by which we shall throw +our enemies completely off the scent."</p> + +<p>"But why do you not go to Blois first?" the man asked. "It is +on your way to Tours."</p> + +<p>"I wish my mother to be present at the release of my father. +So long a confinement may well have broken him down. Now that I +see how obstinately bent our enemies are upon our destruction I +will take with me two or three stout fellows from Tours, to act +as an escort."</p> + +<p>"What day will you be leaving there?" the man asked.</p> + +<p>"Today is Tuesday," Ronald said; "on Thursday we shall be at +Tours, on Friday morning we shall leave."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the man replied, "we will be on the road. It is +no difference to us where we are, and as well there as here. I +will have men scattered all along in the forest between Blois and +Amboise, and if I find that there are any suspicious parties +along the road we will catch them, and if you are attacked you +will find that we are close at hand to help you. You are a +generous fellow, and your story has interested me. We gentlemen +of the woods are obliged to live, whatever the law says; but if +we can do a good action to anybody it pleases us as well as +others."</p> + +<p>"I am greatly obliged to you," Ronald said, "and can promise +you, anyhow, that your time shall be not altogether thrown +away."</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards the whole band lay down round the fire and +were sound asleep. In the morning Malcolm saddled the two horses, +and after a hearty adieu from the captain and his followers--all +of whom were discharged soldiers who had been driven to take +up this life from an inability to support themselves in any other +way--they started for Le Mans, which town they reached late in +the afternoon, without adventure.</p> + +<p>Deeming it in the highest degree improbable that any watch +would be set for them at a place so far from their line of +travel, they put up for the night at the principal inn. In the +morning they again started, and after riding for some distance to +the south, made a wide sweep, and crossing the river, entered +Tours from the south, late in the evening. They again put up at +the principal inn, for although they doubted not that their +arrival would be noticed by the emissaries of the enemy, they had +no fear of molestation in a town like Tours. And on the following +morning Ronald presented himself at the entrance to the +convent.</p> + +<p>"I wish to see the lady superior," he said to the lay sister +at the wicket. "I am the bearer of a communication to her from +the king."</p> + +<p>He was left waiting for a few minutes outside the gate, then +the wicket door opened, and the sister requested him to follow +her. Not a soul was to be seen as he traversed the gloomy courts +and passed through several corridors to the room where the abbess +was waiting him. In silence he handed to her the king's order. +The abbess opened and read it.</p> + +<p>"His majesty's commands shall be obeyed," she said; "in an +hour the countess will be in readiness to depart."</p> + +<p>"A carriage shall be in waiting at the gate to receive her," +Ronald said, bowing, and then, without another word, retired.</p> + +<p>Malcolm was awaiting him outside, and they at once went to the +officer of the royal post and engaged a carriage and post horses +to take them to Blois.</p> + +<p>The carriage was at the door at the appointed time, and a few +minutes later the gate opened, and the countess, in travelling +attire, issued out, and in a moment was clasped in her son's +arms. He at once handed her into the carriage and took his place +beside her. Malcolm closed the door and leapt up on the box, the +postilion cracked his whip, and the carriage moved off.</p> + +<p>"Can it be true, Ronald, or am I dreaming? It is but a week +since you were here last, and the news of my release came upon me +with such a surprise that, do you know, I fainted. Am I really +free? Is it possible that I have seen the last of those hateful +walls? It seems like a dream. Where are we going?"</p> + +<p>"We are going to Blois."</p> + +<p>"To a prison?" the countess exclaimed. "But no, there are no +guards or escorts. Are we going, oh, Ronald, are we going to see +my husband?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother, we are going, not only to see him but to release +him. I have the king's order in my pocket."</p> + +<p>For some time the countess was unable to speak, her joy was +too great for words. Then tears came to her relief, and she +sobbed out exclamations of joy and gratitude. Ronald said nothing +until she had somewhat recovered her calmness, and then he told +her the manner in which Marshal Saxe had obtained the two orders +of release.</p> + +<p>"I will pray for him night and morning to the last day of my +life," the countess said. "God is indeed good to me. I had hoped, +from what you said, that my term of imprisonment was drawing to +an end; but I had looked forward to a long struggle, to endless +efforts and petitions before I could obtain your father's +release, with, perhaps, failure in the end. Not for one moment +did I dream that such happiness as this awaited me."</p> + +<p>Ronald now thought it wise to repeat the warning which the +marshal had given him.</p> + +<p>"Mother, dear," he said "you must be prepared to find that a +total change will have taken place in my father. His imprisonment +has been a very different one to yours. You have had companions +and a certain amount of freedom and comfort. You have had people +to speak to, and have known what is going on in the world. He has +been cut off altogether from mankind. He cannot even know whether +you are alive, or whether you may not have yielded to the +pressure that would be sure to be brought upon you, and +acquiesced in a divorce being obtained. He has, doubtless, been +kept in a narrow cell, deprived almost of the air and light of +heaven. He will be greatly changed, mother. He will not be like +you; for it does not seem to me that you have changed much from +what you were. I could not see you much that night on the +terrace; but now I see you I can hardly believe that you are my +mother, so young do you look."</p> + +<p>"I am nearly forty," the countess said smiling. "I was past +twenty-one when I married. Had I not been of age they could have +pronounced the marriage null and void. But you are right, Ronald, +and I will prepare myself to find your father greatly changed. It +cannot be otherwise after all he has gone through; but so that I +have him again it is enough for me, no matter how great the +change that may have taken place in him. But who are these men?" +the countess exclaimed, as, a quarter of a mile outside the town, +four men on horseback took up their places, two on each side of +the carriage.</p> + +<p>"Do not be alarmed, mother, they are our escort. Malcolm hired +them at Le Mans. They are all old soldiers, and can be relied on +in case of necessity."</p> + +<p>"But what need can there be for them, Ronald? I have heard +that bands of discharged soldiers and others make travelling +insecure; but I had no idea that it was necessary to have an +armed escort."</p> + +<p>"Not absolutely necessary, mother, but a useful measure of +precaution. We heard of them as we came through from Paris, and +Malcolm and I agreed, that as you would have with you any jewels +and valuables that you took to the convent, it would be just as +well to be in a position to beat off any who might be disposed to +trouble us. As you see, they have brought with them Malcolm's +horse and mine, and we shall now mount. The less weight the +horses have to draw the better. I will get in and have a talk +from time to time where the road happens to be good; but, to tell +you the truth, the jolting and shaking are neither pleasant nor +good for talking."</p> + +<p>"You are expecting to be attacked, Ronald," the countess said. +"I am sure you would not be wanting to get out and leave me so +soon after we have met did you not anticipate some danger."</p> + +<p>"Frankly, mother, then, I do think it is probable that an +attempt may be made to stop us, and that not by regular robbers, +but by your enemies. They did their best to prevent me from +reaching Tours, and will now most likely try to prevent our +arriving at Blois. I will tell you all about it when we get there +tonight. Here is the order for my father's release. Will you hide +it in your dress? I had rather not have it about me. And, mother, +if we should be attacked, do not be alarmed, for I have reason to +believe that if we should be outnumbered and hard pressed, help +will speedily be forthcoming."</p> + +<p>"I am not in the least afraid for myself," the countess said; +"but be careful, Ronald. Remember I have only just found you, and +for my sake do not expose yourself unnecessarily."</p> + +<p>"I will take care of myself, mother," he said. "You know I +have always had to do so."</p> + +<p>Malcolm had already mounted his horse, and Ronald was really +glad when he took his place beside him a few yards ahead of the +carriage. The art both of road making and carriage building was +still in its infancy. When the weather was fine and the ground +hard a fair rate of progress could be maintained; but in wet +weather the vehicles often sank almost up to their axles in mud +holes and quagmires, and the bumping and jolting were +terrible.</p> + +<p>"Now we take up our work of looking out for ambushes again, +Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"It will not be quite the same thing now," Malcolm said. +"Before, two or three men with guns behind a wall might do the +business, now they will have to make a regular attack. I have no +doubt that we were watched from the time we entered the town, and +that the news that we are travelling with the countess in a +carriage, and with an escort of four armed men, has been carried +on ahead already. It is by horsemen that we shall be attacked +today if we are attacked at all, and they will probably fall upon +us in the forest beyond Amboise. They will know that with a +vehicle we must keep the road, and that as we cannot travel more +than six miles an hour at the outside, we cannot attempt to +escape by our speed."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we had better wait at Amboise for the night and +go on to Orleans tomorrow?"</p> + +<p>"No, I think we had better push straight on, especially as we +told our friends in the forest that we should come today, and I +feel sure they will keep their promise to be on the lookout to +aid us. If it were not for that I should have said let us stay at +Tours for the present, for we may expect to be attacked by a +force much superior to our own."</p> + +<p>"Why, they would not have sent down more than six men to +attack us two, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"No, if they had been sure which road we should travel; but as +they didn't know that, they may have had small parties at half a +dozen spots, and these will now be united. Probably there may be +a score of them. However, I rely on the robbers. The captain +meant what he said, and you won the goodwill of all the men. If +there are a dozen horsemen anywhere along the road they are sure +to know of it, and will, I have no doubt, post themselves close +at hand so as to be ready to join in the fray as soon as it +commences."</p> + +<p>Amboise was reached without adventure. Here the horses in the +carriage were changed, and the party proceeded on their way. Four +miles further they entered a great forest. Ronald now ordered two +of the men to ride a few yards in front of the horses' heads. He +and Malcolm rode on each side of the coach, the other two +followed close behind. He ordered the driver, in case they were +attacked, to jump off instantly and run to the horses' heads, and +keep them quiet during the fray.</p> + +<p>A vigilant lookout was kept. Suddenly, when they were in the +thickest part of the wood, a number of mounted men dashed out +from either side. In obedience to the orders Ronald had given, +the men in front and behind at once closed in, so that there were +three on either side of the carriage. The assailants fired their +pistols as they dashed down, but the bullets flew harmlessly by, +while the fire of the defenders, sitting quietly on their horses, +was more accurate, two of the assailants falling dead, while +another was severely wounded.</p> + +<p>A moment later swords were drawn, and a furious combat ensued. +Ronald had told his men to keep close to the carriage, so that +they could not be attacked in the rear, keeping just far enough +out on either side of him to be able to use their swords. For a +short time the defenders of the coach maintained their position, +the number of their assailants giving them but slight advantage, +as they were unable to utilize their force.</p> + +<p>Ronald ran the first man who attacked him through the body, +and laid open the face of the next with a sweeping blow from left +to right. The men they had hired fought stoutly; but they were +being pressed together as the assailants urged forward their +horses, when suddenly a volley of firearms was heard.</p> + +<p>Several of the assailants fell dead, and with a loud shout a +number of men rushed out from the wood and fell upon them in +rear. The assailants turned to fly, and it was now the turn of +the defenders of the coach to attack, which they did +furiously.</p> + +<p>In two or three minutes all was over. Five or six only of the +assailants cut their way through the footmen who had attacked +them in rear, while twelve lay dead or dying on the ground. +Ronald's first impulse was to ride up to the carriage to assure +his mother of his safety, his next to leap off his horse and +grasp the hand of the chief of the robbers.</p> + +<p>"You have kept your promise nobly," he said, "and arrived at +the very nick of time. They were beginning to press us hotly; and +though I fancy we should have rendered an account of a good many +more, we must have been beaten in the end."</p> + +<p>"I was farther behind than I intended to be," the man said; +"but we were obliged to keep in hiding some little distance +behind them. There were four parties of them. We kept them in +sight all yesterday, and last night they assembled a mile or two +away. I had men watching them all night, and this morning we +followed them here, and saw them take up their position on both +sides of the road. We crept up as closely as we dared without +being observed, but you had for a couple of minutes to bear the +brunt of it alone."</p> + +<p>"I thank you most heartily," Ronald said. "My mother will +thank you herself." So saying, he led them to the door of the +carriage, which he opened.</p> + +<p>"Mother, I told you that if we were attacked I relied upon +help being near at hand. We owe our lives, for I have no doubt +that yours as well as mine would have been taken, to this brave +man and his followers."</p> + +<p>"I thank you most sincerely, sir," the countess said. "At +present I feel like one in a dream; for I have been so long out +of the world that such a scene as this has well nigh bewildered +me."</p> + +<p>"I am only too glad to have been of service," the man said as +he stood bareheaded. "I am not a good man, madame. I am one of +those whom the necessities of the times have driven to earn their +living as they can without much regard to the law; but I trust +that I have not quite lost my instincts as a gentleman, and I am +only too glad to have been able to be of some slight assistance +to a persecuted lady; for your son, the other night, related to +us something of the treatment which you have had to endure."</p> + +<p>With a bow he now stepped back. His followers were engaged in +searching the pockets of the fallen, and found in them a store of +money which spoke well for the liberality of their employer, and +well satisfied the robbers for the work they had undertaken. +After a few words with her son the countess opened a small bag +she carried with her, and taking from it a valuable diamond +brooch, called the leader of the band up and presented it to +him.</p> + +<p>Ronald and his party then remounted their horses--the +robbers had already overtaken and caught those of the fallen +assailants--the driver mounted the box, and after a cordial +farewell to their rescuers the party proceeded on their way to +Blois.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XI_Free_"></a>CHAPTER XI: +Free.</h1> + +<p>It was late at night before Blois was reached, and having +alighted at the Aigle d'Or they engaged a private room.</p> + +<p>"Even the Duke of Chateaurouge will be satisfied," Ronald +said, "that his schemes have failed, and that no more can be done +just at present. It will be a bitter blow to him when those +scoundrels, on their return to Paris, report their utter failure, +for he must have considered it impossible that we could escape +from the toils he had laid for us. I only wish that we had clear +evidence that he is the author of these attempts. If so, I would +go straight with Marshal Saxe and lay an accusation against him +before the king; but however certain we may feel about it, we +have really nothing to connect him with the affair, and it would +be madness to accuse a king's favourite unless one could prove +absolutely the truth of what one says. However, I hope some day +that I shall get even with him. It will not be my fault if I do +not."</p> + +<p>That night Ronald and his mother debated what would be the +best way to proceed in the morning, and finally they agreed that +Malcolm should present himself at the prison with the order of +release, and that they should remain at the hotel, to which +Malcolm should bring Colonel Leslie, after breaking to him the +news that his wife and son were both awaiting him. The shock, in +any case, of sudden liberty, would be a severe one, and the +meeting with his attached comrade would act as a preparation for +that with his wife.</p> + +<p>Mother and son sat hand in hand after hearing the carriage +drive off with Malcolm next morning. In the hours they had spent +together they had come to know each other, and the relationship +had become a real one. They had scarce been able to make out each +other's features at their midnight meeting on the terrace, and at +that meeting, rejoiced as they both were, there was still a +feeling of strangeness between them. Now they knew each other as +they were, and both were well satisfied. The countess was less +strange to Ronald than he was to her. Malcolm had already +described her to him as he knew her eighteen years before, and +the reality agreed closely with the ideal that Ronald had +pictured to himself, except that she was younger and brighter. +For in thinking of her he had told himself over and over again +that she would have grown much older, that her hair might have +turned gray with grief and trouble, and her spirit been +altogether broken.</p> + +<p>She on her part had been able to form no idea as to what the +infant she had last seen would have grown up, and was not even +sure that he was in existence. She had hoped that if he had lived +he would have grown up like his father, and although she now saw +but slight resemblance between them, she was indeed well +satisfied with her son.</p> + +<p>He was not, she thought, as handsome as his father, but he +bade fair to surpass him in strength and stature. She was +delighted with his manly bearing; and when he laughed he reminded +her of her husband, and she thought that she read in his gray eye +and firm mouth a steadfastness and depth of character equal to +his. They spoke but little now. Both were too anxious, Ronald for +his mother's sake rather than his own. He was prepared to find +this unknown father a man broken down by his years of captivity; +but although his mother said that she too was prepared for great +changes, he could not but think that the reality would be a sad +shock to her. In little over an hour the carriage drove into the +courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Be brave, mother," Ronald said, as he felt the hand he held +in his own tremble violently. "You must be calm for his +sake."</p> + +<p>Steps were heard approaching. The door opened, and Malcolm +entered with a man leaning on his arm. The countess with a cry of +joy sprang forward, and the next moment was clasped in her +husband's arms.</p> + +<p>"At last, my love, at last!" she said.</p> + +<p>Ronald drew aside to the window to leave his father and mother +to enjoy the first rapture of their meeting undisturbed, while +Malcolm slipped quietly from the room again.</p> + +<p>"Why, Amelie," Leslie said at last, holding her at arms' +length that he might look the better at her, "you are scarce +changed. It does not seem to me that you are five years older +than when I saw you last, and yet Malcolm tells me that you too +have been a prisoner. How much my love has cost you, dear! No, +you are scarce changed, while I have become an old man--my hair +is as white as snow, and I am so crippled with rheumatism I can +scarce move my limbs."</p> + +<p>"You are not so much changed, Angus. Your hair is white and +your face is very pale; but you are not so much changed. If I +have suffered for your love, dear, what have you suffered for +mine! I have been a prisoner in a way, but I had a certain amount +of freedom in my cage, while you--" And she stopped.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it has been hard," he said; "but I kept up my spirits, +Amelie. I never lost the hope that some day we should be +reunited."</p> + +<p>"And now, Angus, here is our boy, to whom we owe our liberty +and the joy of this meeting. You may well be proud of such a +son."</p> + +<p>"I am proud," Leslie said as Ronald advanced, and he took him +in his arms. "God bless you, my boy. You have performed well nigh +a miracle. Malcolm has been telling me of you. Call him in again. +It is right that he to whom you owe so much should share in our +happiness."</p> + +<p>Ronald at once fetched Malcolm, and until late at night they +talked of all that had happened during so many years. Colonel +Leslie had passed the first three years of his confinement in the +Chatelet. "It was well it was no longer," he said; "for even I, +hard as I was with years of soldiering, could not have stood that +much longer. My cell there was below the level of the river. The +walls were damp, and it was there I got the rheumatism which has +crippled me ever since. Then they moved me to Blois, and there my +cell was in one of the turrets, and the sun shone in through the +window slit for half an hour a day; besides for an hour once a +week I was allowed to take what they called exercise on the wall +between my turret and the next. The governor was not a bad +fellow, and did not try to pocket the best part of the money +allowed for the keep of the prisoners. Fortunately I never lost +hope. Had I done so I would have thrown myself over the parapet +and ended it at once. I felt sure that you too were shut up, +Amelie, and I pictured to myself how they would try to make you +give me up; but I never thought they would succeed, dear. I knew +you too well for that. Sometimes for months I lay as if paralysed +by rheumatism, and I think I should have died if I had not known +how my enemies would have rejoiced at the news of my death. So I +held on stoutly, and I have got my reward."</p> + +<p>But the hardships had told their tale. Although but the same +age as Malcolm Anderson, Colonel Leslie looked fully ten years +older. His long confinement had taken every tinge of colour out +of his face, and left it almost ghastly in its whiteness. He +could with difficulty lift his hands to his head, and he walked +as stiffly as if his legs had been jointless. His voice only had +not lost the cheery ring his wife remembered.</p> + +<p>"No, Amelie," he said when she remarked this. "I kept my +tongue in practice; it was the one member that was free. After I +had been confined a few months it struck me that I was rapidly +losing the power of speech, and I determined that if I could not +talk for want of someone to answer me, I could at least sing, and +having a good store of songs, Scottish and French, I sang for +hours together, at first somewhat to the uneasiness of the prison +authorities, who thought that I could not be so merry unless I +had some communication from without, or was planning an escape; +but at last they grew accustomed to it, and as my voice could not +travel through the thick walls of my cells, it annoyed no +one."</p> + +<p>"And did you never think of escaping, father?"</p> + +<p>"The first few years of my confinement I was always thinking +of it, Ronald, but nothing ever came of my thought. I had no +tools to burrow through a four foot wall, and if I could have +done so I should have tried if it had only been to give me +something to do, had it not been that I hoped some day to obtain +my release, and that any attempt at escape would, if discovered, +as it was almost certain to be, decrease my chances."</p> + +<p>Not a word was said that evening as to their future plans, all +their thoughts being in the past; but the next morning Colonel +Leslie said at breakfast:</p> + +<p>"And now what are we going to do next? How do we stand?"</p> + +<p>"I know no more than you do, Angus. I do not know whether the +king has gifted my mother's estate to others, as assuredly he has +done my father's lands. If he has, I have been thinking that the +best plan will be to ask the king's permission to leave the +kingdom and return to your native Scotland."</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of Scotland, Amelie; but I have also a +fondness for living, and how I should live in Scotland I have not +the most remote idea. My estate there was but a small one, and +was forfeited thirty years ago; so unless I become a gaberlunzie +and sit on the steps of St. Andrews asking for alms, I don't see +how we should get porridge, to say nothing of anything else. No, +Amelie, it seems to me that we must stop in France. For very +shame they cannot let the daughter of the Marquis de Recambours +starve, and they must at least restore you a corner of your +parents estates, if it be but a farm. How are we off for funds at +present?" he asked with a laugh. "I hope at least we have enough +to pay our hotel bill."</p> + +<p>"We have forty louis in cash, father; the remains of the +hundred you committed to Malcolm with me."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" he exclaimed. "All I can say is that that money +has lasted longer than any that ever passed through my fingers +before."</p> + +<p>"We have plenty of money," the countess said quietly. "I have +all the jewels which came to me from my mother, and their sale +will keep us for years, either in Scotland or France."</p> + +<p>"That is good indeed," the colonel said cheerily.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I took them all with me when I was sent to the convent, +and have parted with none save the diamond necklet which I gave +to the girl who brought Ronald and me together, as a parting +keepsake, and a brooch with which I rewarded the men who aided us +in the forest; but seriously, Angus, we must settle upon +something."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, Amelie; but what is that something to +be?"</p> + +<p>"I should think, Angus, that the proper thing would be for me +to write to the king thanking him for our release, asking his +commands, and petitioning him that my mother's estates may be +restored to me. I will also ask permission to retire to some +southern town where there are waters which may do good to your +rheumatism."</p> + +<p>Colonel Leslie frowned.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is the right thing to do, Amelie; though, for +my part, I cannot thank a sovereign whom I have served well after +such treatment as I have received. I would rather beg my bread +from door to door."</p> + +<p>"No, I would not ask you, Angus, and of course you are +differently placed; but I have my rights as a peeress of France; +besides I have on my own account no complaint against the king. +It was my father who shut me up in the convent, not the +king."</p> + +<p>"By the way, Amelie," her husband said, "you are not yet in +mourning."</p> + +<p>"Nor do I intend to be," she said firmly; "unless I have to go +to court no thread of mourning do I put on. My father behaved +like a tyrant to me, and I will not feign a grief at an event +which has brought us happiness. Well, Ronald, what do you think +had best be done? You and Malcolm have managed so well that we +had best leave it for you to decide."</p> + +<p>"I think what you propose, mother, is best. I think you had +better travel down to some place near where your mother's estates +lay, and then write your petition to the king. I will leave you +there and return with it to Paris, and will there consult Colonel +Hume and Marshal Saxe as to how it should be delivered to the +king."</p> + +<p>This plan was carried out. The party journeyed together to +Poitiers, and there having seen his parents comfortably settled +in a small house near the town, and remained with them a few +days, Ronald with Malcolm returned to Paris, bearing with him his +mother's memorial to the king.</p> + +<p>Ronald was glad to find that Colonel Hume was now recovered +from his wound. Marshal Saxe too was better; the latter at once +took charge of the petition, and said that he would hand it to +the king on the first opportunity. Ronald accompanied the marquis +several times to Versailles, but the latter had no private +audience with the king, and thought it better not to present the +memorial in public. One day, however, he was called into the +king's closet.</p> + +<p>When he emerged with the king, Ronald thought from his +expression of countenance that things had not gone well. On +leaving the palace he mounted his horse--for he was now well +enough to ride--and as he set out he called Ronald, who with +other gentlemen had accompanied him to ride beside him.</p> + +<p>"Things have not gone well," he said. "Your father's enemies +have evidently been at work, and have been poisoning the king's +mind. He read the memorial, and then said harshly, 'The Countess +of Recambours has forfeited all rights to her mother's estates by +marrying an alien. The lands of France are for the King of +France's subjects, not for soldiers of fortune.' This touched me, +and I said, 'Your majesty may recollect that I am an alien and a +soldier of fortune, and methinks that in time of war the swords +of our soldiers of fortune have done such things for France that +they have earned some right to gratitude. In a hundred battles +our Scottish troops have fought in the front ranks, and had it +not been for the Irish Brigade we should not have had to write +Fontenoy down among the list of French victories."</p> + +<p>"You are bold, marshal," the king said angrily.</p> + +<p>"I am bold, sire," I replied, "because I am in the right: and +I humbly submit that a brave soldier like Colonel Leslie deserves +better treatment than he has received at the hands of +France."</p> + +<p>The king rose at once.</p> + +<p>"An answer to the petition will be sent to you tomorrow, +marshal."</p> + +<p>"I bowed, and without another word the king left his closet +and entered the room of audience. However, lad, you must not look +so downcast. We could perhaps expect no more the first time. Of +course every man who has a hope, or who has a relation who has a +hope, of obtaining the grant of your mother's estates is +interested in exciting the king's displeasure against her; +besides which there is, as you have told me, the Duc de +Chateaurouge, who may be regarded as a personal enemy of your +father, and who has the king's ear as much as anyone about him. +However, we must have courage. I consider my personal honour is +touched in the matter now, and I will not let the matter drop +till justice is done."</p> + +<p>At the appointed time Ronald again called at Marshal Saxe's +hotel, and watched the gay crowd of officers and nobles who were +gathered in his reception rooms. An hour later a royal attendant +entered and handed a document to the marshal. The latter glanced +at it and looked around. As soon as his eye fell upon Ronald he +nodded to him.</p> + +<p>"Here is the judgement," he said in a low tone, as he handed +him the paper. "You see it is directed to the countess, to my +care. I suppose you will start with it at once."</p> + +<p>"Yes, marshal; the horses are saddled and we shall leave +immediately."</p> + +<p>"Don't hurry your horses," the marshal said with a slight +smile; "from the king's manner I think that the contents are such +that a few hours' delay in the delivery will cause the countess +no pain. However, I do not anticipate anything very harsh. In the +first place, although the king is swayed by favourites who work +on his prejudices, his intention is always to be just; and in the +second place, after granting the release of your parents as a +boon to me he can scarcely annul the boon by any severe sentence. +Will you tell the countess from me that I am wholly at her +service, and that, should any opportunity offer, she may be sure +that I will do what I can to incline the king favourably towards +her. Lastly, Leslie, take care of yourself. The change in the +king's manner shows that you have powerful enemies, and now that +you have succeeded in obtaining your parents' freedom you have +become dangerous. Remember the attack that was made upon you +before, when there seemed but little chance that you would ever +succeed in obtaining their release or in seriously threatening +the interests of those who were looking forward to the reversion +of the family estates. Their enmity now, when it only needs a +change in the king's mood to do justice to your parents, will be +far greater than before.</p> + +<p>"Bid your father, too, to have a care for himself and your +mother. Remember that violence is common enough, and there are +few inquiries made. An attack upon a lonely house and the murder +of those within it is naturally put down as the act of some party +of discharged soldiers or other ruffians. Tell him therefore he +had best get a few trusty men around him, and be on guard night +and day against a treacherous attack. Those who stand in the way +of powerful men in France seldom live long, so he cannot be too +careful."</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later Ronald was on horseback. He had +already provided himself with a pass to leave the city after the +usual hour of closing the gates, and he and Malcolm were soon in +the open country. As they rode along Ronald repeated the warning +that the marshal had given him.</p> + +<p>"He is quite right, Ronald, and you cannot be too careful. We +have against us, first, this vindictive Duc de Chateaurouge, who, +no doubt, has poisoned the king's mind. In all France there is no +one whom I would not rather have as a foe. He is powerful, +unscrupulous, and vindictive; he would hesitate at nothing to +carry out anything on which he had set his mind, and would think +no more of obtaining the removal of one whom he considered to +stand in his way than of crushing a worm. Even as a young man he +had a villainous reputation, and was regarded as one of the most +dangerous men about the court. To do him justice, he is brave and +a fine swordsman, and for choice he would rather slay with his +own hands those who offend him than by other means. Though he was +but three-and-twenty at the time I first left France he had +fought half a dozen duels and killed as many men, and several +others who were known to have offended him died suddenly. Some +were killed in street brawls, returning home at night, one or two +were suspected of having been poisoned. Altogether the man was +feared and hated in those days, although, of course, none spoke +their suspicions openly.</p> + +<p>"From what I have heard those suspicions have stuck to him +ever since. He has not been engaged in many duels, because in the +first place edicts against duelling are very strict, and in the +second because his reputation as a swordsman is so great that few +would risk their lives against him. Still all who stood in his +way have somehow or other come to a sudden end. We must therefore +be on our guard night and day. He is, of course, your most +dangerous foe; but besides him must be numbered all those who +hope to obtain your mother's estates. The heirs of the marquis +doubtless feel perfectly safe from interference. There is no +chance whatever of the king dispossessing them in favour of a +foreigner, so we need not count them among your foes.</p> + +<p>"It is just as well, Ronald, that we started tonight instead +of waiting till tomorrow. The duke is pretty certain to learn +that the king's answer will be sent this evening, and may +possibly have made preparations for you on the road; but he will +hardly expect that you will start before the morning. However, in +order to be on the safe side I propose that we shall presently +turn off from the main road and avoid all large towns on our way +down to Poitiers."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the danger is as great as that, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think there is much danger, Ronald, just at present, +though I do in the future."</p> + +<p>Travelling by byways Ronald and Malcolm arrived at Poitiers +without adventure.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you the king's answer, mother," Ronald said as +he alighted; "but before you open it I may tell you that it is +unfavourable, though I am ignorant of the precise nature of its +contents. But you must not be disappointed. Marshal Saxe bade me +tell you that he considers his honour engaged in seeing you +righted, and that whenever an opportunity occurs he will +endeavour to move the king's mind in your favour. How is my +father?"</p> + +<p>"He suffers grievously from rheumatism, Ronald, and can scarce +move from his couch."</p> + +<p>As soon as they joined the colonel the countess opened the +king's letter. It was brief. "The Countess Amelie de Recambours +is hereby ordered to withdraw at once to her estate of La +Grenouille and there to await the king's pleasure concerning +her."</p> + +<p>The king's signature was affixed.</p> + +<p>"Well, that is not so very bad," the countess said. "At any +rate my right to one of my mother's estates is recognized. La +Grenouille is the smallest of them, and contains but three or +four farms. Still that will suffice for our wants, and as it lies +but twenty miles from Bordeaux the air will be warm and soft for +you, Angus."</p> + +<p>"Is there a chateau on it, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is a small chateau. I was there once as a girl. It +has never been modernized, but is still a castle such as it was +two hundred years ago."</p> + +<p>"All the better," Ronald said; and he then gave Malcolm's +reasons for their being on the watch against any sudden +attack.</p> + +<p>"He is quite right, Ronald," Colonel Leslie said. "The duke is +capable of anything. However, we will be on our guard, and if, as +your mother says, it is a fortified house, we need have no fear +of any sudden attack."</p> + +<p>"I would suggest, colonel, that I should ride to Tours," +Malcolm said, "and hire two of the men who escorted madame's +carriage. They have served in the wars and can be relied upon. +They would not need high wages, for most of the discharged +soldiers have trouble enough to keep body and soul together. With +a couple of men of this kind, and two or three of the men on the +estate, I think, colonel, you need fear no sudden attack."</p> + +<p>The colonel approved of the suggestion, and a week later, +Malcolm having returned with the two men, a carriage was hired to +convey the colonel and his wife, and so they journeyed quietly +down to La Grenouille. On arriving there they found that they +were expected, the old steward in charge having received a letter +from the royal chancellor, saying that he was to receive the +countess as the owner of the estate.</p> + +<p>The old man, who had known her mother well and remembered her +visits as a child, received the countess with respectful joy. The +chateau was, as Amelie had said, really a castle. It was +surrounded by a moat filled with water, from which the walls rose +abruptly, with no windows in the lower stories and only small +loopholes in those above. Although the steward was ignorant when +his mistress might be expected, he had already caused great fires +to be lighted in all the rooms and had temporarily engaged two of +the farmer's daughters to wait upon the countess, and three stout +men as servitors.</p> + +<p>"What are the revenues of the estate?" the countess asked the +steward that evening. "My mother's other estates have not been +restored to me as yet, and I have only this to depend upon, and I +do not know what establishment I can afford to keep up."</p> + +<p>"The revenue amounts to twelve thousand francs," he said. +"There are three large farms and four small ones. Twelve thousand +francs are not much, countess, for your mother's daughter; but +they go a long way here, where one can live for next to nothing. +We have a garden which will provide all the fruit and vegetables +you require, and your poultry will cost you nothing. The vineyard +attached to the chateau furnishes more than enough wine, and the +cellars are well filled, for every year I have put aside a few +barrels, so that in fact it will be only meat you have to +buy."</p> + +<p>"So that you think I can keep the two men I have brought with +me and the servants you have engaged?"</p> + +<p>"Easily, madam, and more if you wished it."</p> + +<p>"Do you think five men will be sufficient?" the countess said. +"I ask because I have powerful enemies, and in these lawless +times an attack upon a lonely house might well be carried +out."</p> + +<p>"With the drawbridge drawn up, madam, five men could hold the +chateau against a score, and the sound of the alarm bell would +bring all the tenants and their men down to your assistance. I +will answer for them all. There were great rejoicings last week +when I sent round the news that you were expected. The memory of +your mother, who once resided here for a year, is very dear to +all of us, and there is not a man on the estate but would take up +arms in your defence. The sound of the alarm bell would bring +thirty stout fellows, at least, to your aid."</p> + +<p>"Then we need not trouble on that score, Amelie," the colonel +said cheerfully. "Malcolm will see to the drawbridge tomorrow; +probably it has not been raised for years."</p> + +<p>"I have already been examining it," Malcolm--who had just +entered the room--said. "It only needs a little oil and a bolt +or two. I will have it raised tonight. Things look better than I +expected, colonel, and I shall be able to return to Paris without +having any anxiety upon your score."</p> + +<p>"But you are not thinking of going back, Ronald?" the countess +asked anxiously. "If there is danger here for us, there must be +surely danger for you in Paris. And I want you here with us."</p> + +<p>"I will stop for a few days, mother, and then Malcolm and I +will be off. As I have Marshal Saxe's protection I need fear no +open enmity from anyone, and as I shall be with the regiment I +shall be safe from the secret attacks; besides, my sword can +guard my head."</p> + +<p>"You have taught him to defend himself--eh, Malcolm?" +Colonel Leslie said.</p> + +<p>"I," Malcolm repeated--"I can use my sword in a melee, +colonel, as you know, and hold my own against Dutchman or German +when I meet them on the field; but Ronald is a different blade +altogether. He was well taught in Glasgow, and has practised +under the best maitres d'armes in Paris since, and I am proud to +say that I do not think there are ten men in France against whom +he could not hold his own."</p> + +<p>"That is good, that is good, indeed," the colonel said, +delighted. "Malcolm, I feel my obligations to you more and more +every day. Truly I had never even hoped that if my son were ever +to be restored to me, I should have such cause to be proud of +him."</p> + +<p>"But why do you think you had better return to Paris, Ronald?" +his mother inquired.</p> + +<p>"Because, mother, it will not do to let your enemies have +entirely their own way now that you have been so far restored. +Doubtless your family will be the more inclined to aid you with +their influence, but there must be somebody to urge them to do +so."</p> + +<p>"Besides, Amelie," the colonel put in, "we must not cage the +lad here at your apron strings. He has already won Saxe's regard +and protection by his conduct in the field, and can now accept a +commission in the old regiment. He has begun well, and may yet +live to command it. No, no, my love. I should like to keep him +here as much as you would, but in every way it is better that he +should go out and take his place in the world. To you and me, +after our long imprisonment, this place is life, freedom, and +happiness, and we are together; but for him it is a dreary little +country chateau, and he would soon long for a life among +men."</p> + +<p>And so, after three weeks' stay at the chateau, Ronald and +Malcolm rode back to Paris, and the former received a week later +a commission through Marshal Saxe in the Scottish Dragoons. That +regiment had returned from the frontier, and Ronald at once took +his place in its ranks, and was heartily received by all the +officers, to whom he was formally introduced by Colonel Hume as +the son of their former commanding officer.</p> + +<p>A short time afterwards it became the turn of duty of the +Scottish Dragoons to furnish guards for a week at Versailles, and +Colonel Hume took down two troops for that purpose. That to which +Ronald belonged was one of them. Ronald, knowing that for the +present he was not in favour with the king, begged the colonel to +put him on duty as often as possible, so that he might avoid the +necessity of being present at the king's audiences with the other +officers.</p> + +<p>He was one day walking with the colonel and several other +officers in the grounds at a distance from the palace, when they +came, at the turn of the walk, upon the Duc de Chateaurouge and +three other gentlemen of the court. The former stopped abruptly +before Colonel Hume.</p> + +<p>"I had the honour, Colonel Hume, to speak to you some time +since of a volunteer in your regiment who chose to call himself +the name of Leslie. I understand he is now an officer. I see by +the lists in the courtyard that a Cornet Leslie is now on duty +here. Where does he hide himself, for I have been seeking in vain +to meet him?"</p> + +<p>"Cornet Leslie is not one to balk any man's desire that way," +Colonel Hume said gravely. "This is Cornet Leslie."</p> + +<p>Ronald stepped forward and looked the duke calmly in the +face.</p> + +<p>"So this is the young cockerel," the duke said contemptuously. +"A worthy son of a worthy father, I doubt not."</p> + +<p>"At any rate, my lord duke," Ronald said quietly, "I do not +rid myself of my foes by getting those I am afraid to meet as man +to man thrown into prison, nor by setting midnight assassins upon +them. Nor do I rely upon my skill as a swordsman to be a bully +and a coward."</p> + +<p>The duke started as if struck.</p> + +<p>"I had made up my mind to kill you, young sir," he said, +"sooner or later; but you have brought it on yourself now. Draw, +sir!" And the duke drew his sword.</p> + +<p>Colonel Hume and several others threw themselves before +Ronald.</p> + +<p>"Put up your sword, sir. Duelling is forbidden, and you know +the consequence of drawing within the precincts of the +palace."</p> + +<p>"What care I for ordinances!" the duke said furiously. "Stand +aside, gentlemen, lest I do you harm!"</p> + +<p>"Harm or no harm," Colonel Hume said sternly, "my young friend +shall not fight in the palace grounds. I protest against his +being forced into a duel at all; but at any rate he shall not +fight here."</p> + +<p>The duke looked for a moment as if he was about to spring upon +Colonel Hume, but he saw by their faces that his companions also +were against him. For the consequences of drawing a sword within +the precincts of a palace were so serious, that even the most +powerful nobles shrank from braving them.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said at last, thrusting his sword back into +its scabbard. "It is but ten minutes' walk to the boundary wall, +I will let him live till then."</p> + +<p>So saying he started off with rapid strides down the walk, +followed at a slower pace by the rest.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XII_The_End_of_the_Quarrel_"></a>CHAPTER XII: The End of +the Quarrel.</h1> + +<p>"This is a serious business, Leslie," the colonel said in a +low voice. "If it had been anyone but you I should have ordered +him to the barracks at once under pain of arrest, and have laid +the matter before the king, for it would have been nothing short +of murder. But I can trust you to hold your own even against the +Duke of Chateaurouge. And, in truth, after what has been said, I +do not see that you can do other but meet him."</p> + +<p>"I would not avoid it if I could," Ronald said. "His insults +to me do not disturb me; but I have my father's wrongs to +avenge."</p> + +<p>"Forbes," the colonel said to one of the other officers, "do +you go straight to the barracks, bid Leslie's man saddle his own +horse and his master's instantly, and bring them round outside +the wall of the park. If Leslie wounds or kills his man he will +have to ride for it."</p> + +<p>The officer at once hurried away.</p> + +<p>"Ronald, I will tell you a piece of news I heard this morning. +The young Chevalier left Paris secretly five days ago, and I have +received certain private information this morning that he has +gone to Nantes, and that he is on the point of sailing for +Scotland on his own account. I am told that this plan of his is +known to but five or six persons. If you get safely through this +business mount and ride thither at all speed. They are more +likely to pursue you towards the frontier or the northern ports, +and will not think you have made for Nantes. If you get there +before the prince has sailed, present yourself to him and join +his expedition. The king will be furious at first, both at the +loss of his favourite and the breaking of the edicts; but he must +come round. The gentlemen here with the duke are all honourable +men, and were, I could see, shocked at the insult which the duke +passed on you. Therefore I can rely upon them to join me in +representing the matter in its true light to the king. Before you +return, the matter will have blown over, and it may be that the +removal of your father's most powerful enemy may facilitate an +arrangement. In any case, my dear boy, you can rely upon the +marshal and myself to look after your interests."</p> + +<p>They had now reached a wicket gate in the wall of the park. +The duke was standing a few paces distant, having already removed +his coat and turned up the shirt sleeve of the sword arm.</p> + +<p>"You will act as second, marquis?" he said to one of the +gentlemen.</p> + +<p>The latter bowed coldly.</p> + +<p>"I act as second to my friend Leslie," Colonel Hume said. "And +I call upon you all, gentlemen, to bear witness in the future, +that this encounter has been wantonly forced upon him by the Duc +de Chateaurouge, and that Cornet Leslie, as a man of honour, has +no alternative whatever but to accept the challenge forced upon +him."</p> + +<p>Ronald had by this time stripped to his shirt sleeves. The +seconds took the two swords and compared their length. They were +found to be as nearly as possible the same. They were then +returned to their owners. A piece of even turf was selected, and +a position chosen in which the light was equally favourable to +both parties. Then both fell into position on guard, and as the +rapiers crossed Colonel Hume said solemnly:</p> + +<p>"May God defend the right!"</p> + +<p>An instant later they were engaged in deadly conflict. It +lasted but a few seconds. The duke, conscious of his own skill, +and believing that he had but a lad to deal with, at once +attacked eagerly, desirous of bringing the contest to a +termination before there was any chance of interruption. He +attacked, then, carelessly and eagerly, and made a furious lunge +which he thought would terminate the encounter at once; but +Ronald did not give way an inch, but parrying in carte, slipped +his blade round that of the duke, feinted in tierce, and then +rapidly disengaging, lunged in carte as before. The blade passed +through the body of his adversary, and the lunge was given with +such force that the pommel of his sword struck against the ribs. +The duke fell an inert mass upon the ground as Ronald withdrew +the rapier.</p> + +<p>An exclamation of surprise and alarm broke from the three +gentlemen who had accompanied the duke, while Colonel Hume said +gravely:</p> + +<p>"God has protected the right. Ah! here come the horses! Mount +and ride, Leslie, and do not spare the spurs. I should advise +you," he said, drawing him aside, "to take the northern route for +a few miles, so as to throw them off the scent. When you get to +Nantes search the inns till you find the Duke of Athole, he is an +intimate friend of mine, and it was from him I learned in strict +secrecy of the prince's intentions. Show him this ring, he knows +it well, and tell him I sent you to join him; say nothing at +first as to this business here. Your own name and my name will be +enough. He will introduce you to Prince Charlie, who will be with +him under a disguised name. May God bless you, my lad! We will do +our best for you here."</p> + +<p>At this moment Malcolm arrived with the two horses.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are safe, Ronald!" he exclaimed as Ronald leapt +into his saddle, and with a word of thanks and adieu to the +colonel dashed off at full speed.</p> + +<p>Colonel Hume then rejoined the group gathered round the duke. +The Scottish officers were looking very grave, the courtiers even +more so. They had from the first recognized fully that the duel +had been provoked by the duke, and had accompanied him +reluctantly, for they regarded the approaching conflict as so +unfair that it would excite a strong amount of feeling against +all who had a hand in the matter. As to the edict against +duelling, it had not concerned them greatly, as they felt sure +that with the duke's influence the breach of the law would be +passed over with only a show of displeasure on the part of the +king, and an order to absent themselves for a short time from +court. The contingency that this young Scottish officer, who had +scarcely yet attained the age of manhood, should kill one of the +best swordsmen in France had not occurred to them; but this had +happened, and there could be no doubt that the king's anger, +alike at the loss of his favourite and at the breach of the law, +would fall heavily on all concerned, and that a prolonged exile +from court was the least evil they could expect. Not a word had +been spoken after they had, on stooping over the duke, found that +death had been instantaneous, until Colonel Hume joined them.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen," he said; "this is a bad business, and means +trouble for us all. His majesty will be vastly angry. However, +the duke brought it upon himself, and is the only person to +blame. His character is pretty well known, and it will be +manifest that if he had made up his mind to fight no remonstrance +on your part would have availed to induce him to abstain from +doing so. At the same time the king will not, in the first burst +of his anger, take that into consideration, and for awhile we +shall no doubt all of us suffer from his displeasure; but I do +not think that it will be lasting. The duke forced on the duel, +and would have fought within the royal park had we not +interfered, and we were in a way forced to be present. I propose +that we return to the palace and give notice of what has +occurred. Captain Forbes, as you were not present at the affair, +and will not therefore be called upon to give any account of it, +will you remain here until they send down to fetch the body?</p> + +<p>"We will, if you please, gentlemen, walk slowly, for every +mile that Leslie can put between him and Versailles is very +important. The news will reach the king's ears very shortly after +we have made it public. You and I, marquis, as the seconds in the +affair, are sure to be sent for first. As, fortunately, we were +both present at the quarrel we are both in a position to testify +that the duke brought his fate upon himself, that there was no +preventing the duel, and that had we refused to act he was in a +frame of mind which would have driven him to fight without +seconds if none had been forthcoming; lastly, we can testify that +the combat was a fair one, and that the duke fell in consequence +of the rashness of his attack and his contempt for his adversary, +although in point of fact I can tell you that young Leslie is so +good a swordsman that I am confident the result would in any case +have been the same."</p> + +<p>"I suppose there's nothing else for it," the marquis grumbled. +"I must prepare myself for a prolonged visit to my country +estates."</p> + +<p>"And I shall no doubt be placed under arrest for some time," +Colonel Hume said; "and the regiment will probably be packed off +to the frontier again. However, these things don't make much +difference in the long run. What I am most anxious about, +marquis, is that his majesty should thoroughly comprehend that +Leslie was not to blame, and that this affair was so forced upon +him that it was impossible for him to avoid it. There is much +more than the lad's own safety dependent on this."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure, colonel, that I will do him justice."</p> + +<p>At a slow pace the party proceeded until they neared the +palace, when they quickened their steps. The marquis proceeded +immediately to the apartments occupied by the duke, and told his +domestics that their master had been killed in a duel, and +directed them to obtain assistance and proceed at once to the +spot where his body would be found. The colonel went to the +king's surgeon, and told him of what had taken place.</p> + +<p>"His death was instantaneous," he said; "the sword passed +right through him, and I believe touched the heart. However, it +will be as well that you should go and see the body, as the king +will be sure to ask particulars as to the wound."</p> + +<p>The rest of the party joined their acquaintances, and told +them what had happened, and the news spread quickly through the +palace. It created a great sensation. Breaches of the edict were +not unfrequent; but the death of so powerful a noble, a chief +favourite, too, of the king, took it altogether out of the +ordinary category of such events. The more so since the duke's +reputation as a swordsman and a duellist was so great that men +could scarce believe that he had been killed by a young officer +who had but just joined the regiment. It seemed like the story of +David and Goliath over again. A quarter of an hour later a court +official approached Colonel Hume and the Marquis de Vallecourt, +who were standing together surrounded by a number of courtiers +and officers.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur le Marquis and Colonel Hume," he said, saluting +them; "I regret to say that I am the bearer of the orders of his +majesty that you shall deliver me your swords, and that you will +then accompany me to the king's presence."</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen handed over their swords to the official, +and followed him to the king's presence. Louis was pacing angrily +up and down his apartment.</p> + +<p>"What is this I hear, gentlemen?" he exclaimed as they +entered. "A breach of the edicts here at Versailles, almost in +the boundaries of the park; and that the Duc de Chateaurouge, one +of my most valued officers and friends has been killed; they tell +me that you acted as seconds in the affair."</p> + +<p>"They have told your majesty the truth," the marquis said; +"but I think that, much as we regret what has happened, we could +scarcely have acted otherwise than we did. The duke drew in the +first place within the limits of the park, and would have fought +out his quarrel there had we not, I may almost say forcibly, +intervened. Then he strode away towards the boundary of the park, +calling upon his antagonist to follow him; and had we not gone +the encounter would have taken place without seconds or +witnesses, and might then have been called a murder instead of a +duel."</p> + +<p>"You should have arrested him, sir," the king exclaimed, "for +drawing in the park."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we should have done so, sire; but you must please to +remember that the Duke of Chateaurouge was of a temper not to be +crossed, and I believe that bloodshed would have taken place had +we endeavoured to thwart him. He enjoyed your majesty's favour, +and a forcible arrest, with perhaps the shedding of blood, in the +royal demesne would have been a scandal as grave as that of this +duel."</p> + +<p>"How did it come about?" the king asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>"The duke was walking with De Lisle, St. Aignan, and myself, +when we suddenly came upon Colonel Hume with three of the +officers of his regiment. The duke at once walked up to them and +addressed Colonel Hume, and finding which of his companions was +Monsieur Leslie, addressed him in terms of so insulting a nature +that they showed that he had been waiting for the meeting to +provoke a quarrel. The young officer replied perfectly calmly, +but with what I must call admirable spirit and courage, which so +infuriated the duke, that, as I have already had the honour of +telling your majesty, he drew at once, and when we interfered he +called upon him to proceed forthwith outside the park, and there +settle the quarrel. We most reluctantly accompanied him, and +determined to interfere at the first blood drawn; but the affair +scarcely lasted for a second. The duke threw himself furiously +and rashly upon the lad, for as your majesty is aware, he is but +little more. The latter, standing firm, parried with admirable +coolness, and in an instant ran the duke right through the +body."</p> + +<p>"But I have always heard," the king said, "that the duke was +one of the best swordsmen in the army."</p> + +<p>"Your majesty has heard correctly," Colonel Hume replied; "but +young Leslie is one of the best swordsmen in France. The duke's +passion and rashness led to the speedy termination of the duel; +but had he fought with his accustomed coolness I believe that +Leslie would have turned out his conqueror."</p> + +<p>"But what was the cause of the quarrel? Why should the Duc de +Chateaurouge fix a dispute, as you tell me he did, upon this +officer of yours?"</p> + +<p>"I believe, sire, that it was a long standing quarrel. The +duke's words showed that he bore an enmity against the lad's +father, and that it was on this account that he insulted the +son."</p> + +<p>"Leslie!" the king exclaimed, with a sudden recollection. "Is +that the youth whom Marshal Saxe presented to me?"</p> + +<p>"The same, sire; the lad who distinguished himself at +Fontenoy, and whom the Marshal afterwards appointed to a +commission in my regiment, in which he had served as a gentleman +volunteer for nearly a year."</p> + +<p>"These Leslies are always causing trouble," the king said +angrily. "I have already given orders that he shall be arrested +wherever he is found, and he shall be punished as he +deserves."</p> + +<p>"In punishing him," Colonel Hume said with grave deference, "I +am sure that your majesty will not forget that this quarrel was +forced upon him, and that, had he accepted the insults of the +Duke of Chateaurouge, he would have been unworthy to remain an +officer of your majesty."</p> + +<p>"Silence, sir!" the king said angrily. "You will return +immediately to Paris, under arrest, until my pleasure in your +case is notified to you. I shall at once give orders that your +troops here are replaced by those of a regiment whose officers +will abstain from brawling and breaking the edicts in our very +palace. Marquis, you will retire at once to your estates." The +two gentlemen bowed and left the royal presence.</p> + +<p>"Not worse than I expected," the marquis said, after the door +had closed behind them. "Now he will send for St. Aignan and De +Lisle, and will hear their account, and as it cannot but tally +with ours the king must see that the duke brought his fate upon +himself. Louis is not unjust when his temper cools down, and in a +few weeks we shall meet again here."</p> + +<p>"I expect to be on the frontier with my regiment before that," +Colonel Hume replied; "but as I would rather be there than in +Paris that will be no hardship."</p> + +<p>Colonel Hume at once mounted and rode back to Paris and +proceeded straight to the hotel of Marshal Saxe, to whom he +communicated what had occurred.</p> + +<p>"If Leslie gets safely away it will, perhaps, all turn out for +the best," the marshal said. "As soon as the king's anger dies +out I will begin to plead the cause of the boy's parents; and now +that the influence of Chateaurouge the other way is withdrawn, I +may hope for a more favourable hearing. As to the lad himself, we +will make his peace in a few months. The king is brave himself, +as he showed when under fire at Fontenoy, and he admires bravery +in others, and when he has once got over the loss of Chateaurouge +he will appreciate the skill and courage which the lad showed in +an encounter with one of the most noted duellists in France. Now, +too, that the duke has gone, some of the stories to his +disadvantage, of which there are so many current, are likely to +meet the king's ears. Hitherto no one has ventured to speak a +word against so powerful a favourite; but the king's eyes will +soon be open now, and he will become ashamed of so long having +given his countenance to a man who is generally regarded as +having not only killed half-a-dozen men in duels, but as having +procured the removal, by unfair means, of a score of others. When +he knows the truth the king is likely to do justice, not only to +young Leslie, but to his parents. I only hope that they will not +manage to overtake the lad before he reaches the frontier, for +although I can rely on the king's justice when he is cool I would +not answer for it just at present."</p> + +<p>As Ronald rode off at full speed with Malcolm he related to +him the whole circumstances of the quarrel and subsequent +duel.</p> + +<p>"It was well done, Ronald. I made sure that sooner or later +you and the duke would get to blows, that is if he did not adopt +other means to get you removed from his path; anyhow I am +heartily glad it's over, and that the most dangerous enemy of +your father and yourself is out of the way. And now we must hope +that we sha'nt be overtaken before we get to the frontier. The +danger is that orders for your arrest will be passed by +signal."</p> + +<p>"We are not going to the frontier, Malcolm; I am only riding +this way to throw them off the scent. We are going to +Nantes."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's not a bad plan," Malcolm said. "They are not so +likely to send orders there as to the northern ports. But it will +not be easy to get a vessel to cross, for you see, now that we +are at war with England, there is little communication. However, +we shall no doubt be able to arrange with a smuggler to take us +across."</p> + +<p>"We are not going to England, Malcolm; we are going direct to +Scotland. Colonel Hume has told me a secret: Prince Charles has +gone down to Nantes and is going to cross at once to +Scotland."</p> + +<p>"What! Alone and without an army!" Malcolm exclaimed in +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he despairs of getting assistance from Louis. Now +that Fontenoy has put an end to danger on the frontier the King +of France is no longer interested in raising trouble for George +at home."</p> + +<p>"But it is a mad scheme of the prince's," Malcolm said +gravely. "If his father did not succeed in '15 how can he expect +to succeed now?"</p> + +<p>"The country has had all the longer time to get sick of the +Hanoverians, and the gallantry of the enterprise will appeal to +the people. Besides, Malcolm, I am not so sure that he will not +do better coming alone than if he brought the fifteen thousand +men he had at Dunkirk last year with him. Fifteen thousand men +would not win him a kingdom, and many who would join him if he +came alone would not do so if he came backed by an army of +foreigners. It was the French, you will remember, who ruined his +grandfather's cause in Ireland. Their arrogance and interference +disgusted the Irish, and their troops never did any fighting to +speak of. For myself, I would a thousand times rather follow +Prince Charles fighting with an army of Scotsmen for the crown of +Scotland than fight for him with a French army against +Englishmen."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you are right, Ronald; it went against the +grain at Fontenoy; for after all, as you said, we are closely +akin in blood and language to the English, and although Scotland +and France have always been allies it is very little good France +has ever done us. She has always been glad enough to get our +kings to make war on England whenever she wanted a diversion +made, but she has never put herself out of the way to return the +favour. It has been a one sided alliance all along. Scotland has +for centuries been sending some of her best blood to fight as +soldiers in France, but with a few exceptions no Frenchman has +ever drawn his sword for Scotland.</p> + +<p>"No, I am inclined to think you are right, Ronald, and +especially after what we saw at Fontenoy I have no wish ever to +draw sword again against the English, and am willing to be the +best friends in the world with them if they will but let us Scots +have our own king and go away peacefully. I don't want to force +Prince Charles upon them if they will but let us have him for +ourselves. If they won't, you know, it is they who are +responsible for the quarrel, not us."</p> + +<p>"That is one way of putting it, certainly," Ronald laughed. "I +am afraid after having been one kingdom since King James went to +London, they won't let us go our own way without making an effort +to keep us; but here is a crossroad, we will strike off here and +make for the west."</p> + +<p>They avoided the towns on their routes, for although they felt +certain that they were ahead of any messengers who might be sent +out with orders for their arrest, they knew that they might be +detained for some little time at Nantes, and were therefore +anxious to leave no clue of their passage in that direction. On +the evening of the third day after starting they approached their +destination.</p> + +<p>On the first morning after leaving Versailles they had halted +in wood a short distance from Chartres, and Malcolm had ridden in +alone and had purchased a suit of citizen's clothes for Ronald, +as the latter's uniform as an officer of the Scotch Dragoons +would at once have attracted notice. Henceforward, whenever they +stopped, Malcolm had taken an opportunity to mention to the +stable boy that he was accompanying his master, the son of an +advocate of Paris, on a visit to some relatives in La Vendee. +This story he repeated at the inn where they put up at +Nantes.</p> + +<p>The next morning Malcolm went round to all the inns in the +town, but could hear nothing of the Duke of Athole, so he +returned at noon with the news of his want of success.</p> + +<p>"They may have hired a private lodging to avoid observation," +Ronald said, "or, not improbably, may have taken another name. +The best thing we can do is to go down to the river side, inquire +what vessels are likely to leave port soon, and then, if we see +anyone going off to them, to accost them. We may hear of them in +that way."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they made their way down to the river. There were +several vessels lying in the stream, in readiness to sail when +the wind served, and the mouth of the river was reported to be +clear of any English cruisers. They made inquiries as to the +destination of the vessels. All the large ones were sailing for +Bordeaux or the Mediterranean ports of France.</p> + +<p>"What is that little vessel lying apart from the rest?" +Malcolm asked. "She looks a saucy little craft."</p> + +<p>"That is the privateer La Doutelle, one of the fastest little +vessels on the coast. She has brought in more than one English +merchantman as a prize."</p> + +<p>As they were speaking a boat was seen to leave her side and +make for the shore. With a glance at Malcolm to break off his +conversation with the sailor and follow him, Ronald strode along +the bank towards the spot where the boat would land. Two +gentlemen got out and advanced along the quay. As they passed +Ronald said to Malcolm:</p> + +<p>"I know one of those men's faces."</p> + +<p>"Do you, Ronald? I cannot recall having seen them."</p> + +<p>Ronald stood for a moment in thought.</p> + +<p>"I know now!" he exclaimed. "And he is one of our men, sure +enough."</p> + +<p>"I think, sir," he said as he came up to them, "that I have +had the honour of meeting you before."</p> + +<p>A look of displeasure came across the gentleman's face.</p> + +<p>"I think you are mistaken, sir," he said coldly. "You must +take me for some one else. My name is Verbois--Monsieur Verbois +of Le Mans."</p> + +<p>"I have not the pleasure of knowing Monsieur Verbois," Ronald +said with a slight smile; "but I hardly think, sir, that that is +the name that you went by when I had the honour of meeting you in +Glasgow more than two years ago?"</p> + +<p>"In Glasgow!" the gentleman said, looking earnestly at Ronald. +"In Glasgow! I do not remember you."</p> + +<p>"I had the pleasure of doing you some slight service, +nevertheless," Ronald said quietly, "when I brought you news that +your enemies were upon you, and managed to detain them while you +made your escape through the attic window."</p> + +<p>"A thousand pardons!" the gentleman exclaimed, speaking in +English. "How could I have forgotten you? But I saw you for such +a short time, and two years have changed you greatly. This is the +young gentleman, marquis, to whom I am indebted for my escape +when I was so nearly captured at Glasgow, as you have heard me +say. It was to his kindly warning in the first place, and to his +courage in the second, that I owed my liberty. It is wonderful +that you should remember me."</p> + +<p>"Two years have not changed you as much as they have changed +me," Ronald said; "besides, you were busy in destroying papers, +while I had nothing to do but to watch you."</p> + +<p>"That is so," the gentleman agreed. "At any rate I am heartily +glad of the happy chance which has thrown us together, and has +given me an opportunity of expressing to you the deep gratitude +which I have felt for your warning and assistance. Had it not +been for that, not only should I myself have been taken, but they +would have got possession of those papers, which might have +brought the heads of a score of the best blood of Scotland to the +scaffold. I took a boat that was lying in readiness, and making +down the river got on board a ship which was cruising there +awaiting me, and got off. It has always been a matter of bitter +regret to me that I never learned so much as the name of the +brave young gentleman to whom I owed so much, or what had +happened to him for his share in that night's work."</p> + +<p>"My name is Ronald Leslie, sir. I am the son of Leslie of +Glenlyon, who fought with the Chevalier in '15, and afterwards +entered the service of the King of France, and was colonel of the +2nd Scorch Dragoons."</p> + +<p>"Of course I knew him well," the gentleman said, "and with +others endeavoured to obtain his pardon when he fell under the +king's displeasure some fifteen years ago, although I regret to +say without success. Believe me, if Prince Charles--" He stopped +suddenly as his companion touched him.</p> + +<p>"You would say, sir," Ronald said with a smile, "If Prince +Charles succeeds in his present enterprise, and regains his +throne, you will get him to exert his influence to obtain my +father's release."</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen gave an exclamation of astonishment.</p> + +<p>"How do you know of any enterprise that is meditated?"</p> + +<p>"I was told of it as a secret by a Scotch officer in Paris, +and am the bearer of a message from him to the Duke of Athole, to +ask him to allow me to join the prince."</p> + +<p>"I am the duke," the other gentleman said.</p> + +<p>"Since it is you, sir, I may tell you that the officer I spoke +of is Colonel Hume, and that he bade me show you this ring, which +he said you would know, as a token that my story was a correct +one."</p> + +<p>"Hume is my greatest friend," the duke exclaimed, "and his +introduction would be sufficient, even if you had not already +proved your devotion to the cause of the Stuarts. I will take you +at once to the prince. But," he said, "before I do so, I must +tell you that the enterprise upon which we are about to embark is +a desperate one. The prince has but five companions with him, and +we embark on board that little privateer lying in the stream. It +is true that we shall be escorted by a man of war, which will +convey the arms which Prince Charles has purchased for the +enterprise; but not a man goes with us, and the prince is about +to trust wholly to the loyalty of Scotland."</p> + +<p>"I shall be ready to accompany him in any case, sir," Ronald +said, "and I beg to introduce to you a faithful friend of my +father and myself. His name is Malcolm Anderson. He fought for +the Chevalier in '15, and accompanied my father in his flight to +France, and served under him in the French service. Upon the +occasion of my father's arrest he carried me to Scotland, and has +been my faithful friend ever since."</p> + +<p>So saying he called Malcolm up and presented him to the duke, +and the party then proceeded to the lodging where Prince Charles +was staying.</p> + +<p>"I have the misfortune to be still ignorant of your name, +sir," Ronald said to his acquaintance of Glasgow.</p> + +<p>"What!" the gentleman said in surprise. "You do not know my +name, after doing so much for me! I thought, as a matter of +course, that when you were captured for aiding my escape you +would have heard it, hence my remissness in not introducing +myself. I am Colonel Macdonald. When you met me I was engaged in +a tour through the Highland clans, sounding the chiefs and +obtaining additions to the seven who had signed a declaration in +favour of the prince three years before. The English government +had obtained, through one of their spies about the person of the +Chevalier, news of my mission, and had set a vigilant watch for +me."</p> + +<p>"But is it possible that there can be spies among those near +the Chevalier!" Ronald exclaimed in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Aye, there are spies everywhere," Macdonald said bitterly. +"All sorts of people come and go round the Chevalier and round +Prince Charles. Every Scotch or Irish vagabond who has made his +native country too hot to hold him, come to them and pretend that +they are martyrs to their loyalty to the Stuarts; and the worst +of it is their story is believed. They flatter and fawn, they say +just what they are wanted to say, and have no opinion of their +own, and the consequence is that the Chevalier looks upon these +fellows as his friends, and often turns his back upon Scottish +gentlemen who have risked and lost all in his service, but who +are too honest to flatter him or to descend to the arts of +courtiers. Look at the men who are here with the prince now."</p> + +<p>"Macdonald! Macdonald!" the duke said warmly.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," the other broke off impatiently; "no doubt it is +better to hold one's tongue. But it is monstrous, that when there +are a score, ay, a hundred of Scottish gentlemen of family, many +of them officers with a high knowledge of war, who would gladly +have accompanied him at the first whisper of his intentions, the +prince should be starting on such a venture as this with yourself +only, duke, as a representative of the Scottish nobles and +chiefs, and six or eight mongrels--Irish, English, and Scotch--the +sort of men who haunt the pot houses of Flanders, and +spend their time in telling what they have suffered in the Stuart +cause to any who will pay for their liquor."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so bad as that, Macdonald," the duke said. "Still I +admit that I could have wished that Prince Charles should have +landed in Scotland surrounded by men with names known and +honoured there, rather than by those he has selected to accompany +him."</p> + +<p>"But you are going, are you not, sir?" Ronald asked Colonel +Macdonald.</p> + +<p>"No, I do not accompany the prince; but I hope to follow +shortly. As soon as the prince has sailed it is my mission to see +all his friends and followers in France, and urge them to join +him in Scotland; while we bring all the influence we have to bear +upon Louis, to induce him to furnish arms and assistance for the +expedition."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XIII_Prince_Charles_"></a>CHAPTER XIII: Prince +Charles.</h1> + +<p>Upon arriving at the prince's lodgings Macdonald remained +without, the Duke of Athole entering, accompanied only by +Ronald.</p> + +<p>"The prince is in disguise," he said, "and but one or two of +us visit him here in order that no suspicion may be incited among +the people of the house that he is anything beyond what he +appears to be--a young student of the Scotch college at +Paris."</p> + +<p>They ascended the stairs to the upper story, and on the +marquis knocking, a door was opened. The duke entered, followed +by Ronald.</p> + +<p>"Well, duke, what is the news?"</p> + +<p>The question was asked by a young man, who was pacing +restlessly up and down the room, of which he was, with the +exception of his valet de chambre, an Italian named Michel, the +person who had opened the door, the only occupant.</p> + +<p>"Ah! whom have you here?"</p> + +<p>"Allow me to present to your royal highness Lieutenant Leslie. +He is the son of Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought by my side in +your father's cause in '15, and has, like myself, been an exile +ever since. This is the young gentleman who, two years since, +saved Macdonald from arrest in Glasgow."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I remember the adventure," the prince said courteously, +"and right gallant action it was; but how did you hear that I was +here, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I was told by my good friend and commanding officer, Colonel +Hume of the 2nd Scottish Dragoons, your royal highness."</p> + +<p>"I revealed it to Hume before leaving Paris," the duke said, +"he being a great friend of mine and as staunch as steel, and I +knew that he could be trusted to keep a secret."</p> + +<p>"It seems that in the last particular you were wrong," the +prince remarked with a slight smile.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume only revealed it to me, sir," Ronald said, +anxious to save his friend from the suspicion of having betrayed +a secret confided to him, "for very special reasons. I had the +misfortune to kill in a duel the Duke of Chateaurouge, and as we +fought just outside the park of Versailles, and the duke was a +favourite of the king's, I had to ride for it; then Colonel Hume, +knowing my devotion to the cause of your highness, whispered to +me the secret of your intention, and gave me a message to his +friend the Duke of Athole."</p> + +<p>"Do you say that you have killed the Duke of Chateaurouge in a +duel?" the duke exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, he has the +reputation of being one of the best swordsmen in France, and has +a most evil name as a dangerous and unscrupulous man. I met him +constantly at court, and his arrogance and haughtiness were well +nigh insufferable. And you have killed him?"</p> + +<p>"I knew him well too," the prince said, "and his reputation. +We do not doubt what you say, young gentleman," he added quickly, +seeing a flush mount into Ronald's face; "but in truth it seems +strange that such should have been the case."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume did me the honour to be my second," Ronald said +quietly, "and the Marquis de Vallecourt was second to the duke; +some other officers of the Scottish regiment were present, as +were two other French noblemen, De Lisle and St. Aignan."</p> + +<p>"We doubt you not, sir," the duke said warmly. "You will +understand that it cannot but seem strange that you at your +age--for it seems to me that you cannot be more than +nineteen--should have been able to stand for a moment against one of the +best swordsmen in France, to say nothing of having slain +him."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume would scarcely have consented to act as my +second had he thought that the contest was a wholly unequal one," +Ronald said with a slight smile; "indeed I may say that he +regarded it as almost certain that I should have the best of the +fray."</p> + +<p>"Why, you must be a very Paladin," the prince said admiringly; +"but sit down and tell us all about it. Upon my word I am so sick +of being cooped up for four days in this wretched den that I +regard your coming as a godsend. Now tell me how it was that the +Duc de Chateaurouge condescended to quarrel with a young officer +in the Scottish Horse."</p> + +<p>"It was a family quarrel, sir, which I had inherited from my +father."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I remember now," the Duke of Athole broke in. "It +is an old story now; but I heard all about it at the time, and +did what I could, as did all Leslie's friends, to set the matter +right, but in vain. Leslie of Glenlyon, prince, was colonel of +the Scottish Dragoons, and as gallant and dashing a soldier as +ever was in the service of the King of France, and as good +looking a one too; and the result was, the daughter of the +Marquis de Recambours, one of the richest heiresses in France, +whom her father and the king destined as the bride of this Duke +of Chateaurouge, who was then quite a young man, fell in love +with Leslie, and a secret marriage took place between them. For +three years no one suspected it; but the young lady's obstinacy +in refusing to obey her father's orders caused her to be shut up +in a convent. Somehow the truth came out. Leslie was arrested and +thrown into the Bastille, and he has never been heard of since. +What became of the child which was said to have been born no one +ever heard; but it was generally supposed that it had been put +out of the way. We in vain endeavoured to soften the king's anger +against Leslie, but the influence of Recambours and Chateaurouge +was too great for us. Hume told me some time since that Leslie's +son had been carried off to Scotland by one of his troopers, and +had returned, and was riding as a gentleman volunteer in his +regiment; but we have had no further talk on the subject."</p> + +<p>"You will be glad to hear, sir," Ronald said, "that my father +and mother have within the last few weeks been released, and are +now living on a small estate of my mother's in the south. They +were ordered to retire there by the king."</p> + +<p>"I am glad, indeed," the duke said cordially; "and how is your +father?"</p> + +<p>"He is sadly crippled by rheumatism, and can scarce walk," +Ronald said, "and I fear that his health is altogether shaken +with what he had to go through."</p> + +<p>"How did you obtain their release, Leslie?" the prince +asked.</p> + +<p>"Marshal Saxe obtained it for me," Ronald answered. "Colonel +Hume first introduced me to him, and as he too had known my +father he promised that should he obtain a victory he would ask +as a boon from the king the release of my father, and he did so +after Fontenoy, where the Marquis de Recambours was killed, and +the king thereby freed from his influence. The Duke of +Chateaurouge, whose hostility against my father had always been +bitter, was doubtless greatly irritated at his release, and took +the first opportunity, on meeting me, of grossly insulting me. On +my replying in terms in accordance with the insult, he drew, and +would have fought me in the palace grounds had not Colonel Hume +and his friends interfered; then we adjourned outside the park. +The duke doubtless thought that he would kill me without +difficulty, and so rushed in so carelessly that at the very first +thrust I ran him through."</p> + +<p>"And served him right," the prince said heartily. "Now since +both your father's enemies are gone, it may be hoped that his +troubles are over, and that your mother will recover the estates +to which she is entitled. And now, duke, what is your news? When +are we going to sail?"</p> + +<p>"The Doutelle is already by this time on her way down the +river, and it is proposed that we shall start this evening and +board her there. The stores and arms are all safely on board the +Elizabeth, and she is lying off Belleisle; so far as Mr. Walsh +has heard, no suspicion has been excited as to their purpose or +destination, so that we may hope in twenty-four hours to be +fairly on board."</p> + +<p>"That is the best news I have heard for months," the prince +said; "thank goodness the time for action is at last at +hand!"</p> + +<p>"I have, I trust, your royal highness' permission to accompany +you," Ronald said; "together with my follower, Anderson. He is +the trooper who carried me over to Scotland as a child, and has +been my faithful friend ever since."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Leslie. I shall be glad indeed to have a member of +a family who have proved so faithful to my father's cause with me +in the adventure upon which I am embarking."</p> + +<p>Ronald with a few words of thanks bowed and took his leave, +after receiving instructions from the duke to start shortly and +to ride down the river towards Lorient.</p> + +<p>"You can halt for a few hours on the road, and then ride on +again; we shall overtake you before you reach the port. We shall +all leave singly or in pairs, to avoid attracting any +attention."</p> + +<p>Ronald left, delighted with the kindness of the prince's +manner. Prince Charles was indeed possessed of all the attributes +which win men's hearts and devotion. In figure he was tall and +well formed, and endowed both with strength and activity. He +excelled in all manly exercises, and was an excellent walker, +having applied himself ardently to field sports during his +residence in Italy.</p> + +<p>He was strikingly handsome, his face was of a perfect oval, +his features high and noble, his complexion was fair, his eyes +light blue, and, contrary to the custom of the time, when wigs +were almost universally worn, he allowed his hair to fall in long +ringlets on his neck. His manner was graceful, and although he +always bore himself with a sort of royal dignity he had the +peculiar talent of pleasing and attracting all with whom he came +in contact, and had the art of adapting his conversation to the +taste or station of those whom he addressed.</p> + +<p>His education had been intrusted to Sir Thomas Sheridan, an +Irish Roman Catholic, who had grossly neglected his duties, and +who indeed has been more than suspected of acting as an agent in +the pay of the British government. The weakness in the prince's +character was that he was a bad judge of men, and inclined on all +occasions to take the advice of designing knaves who flattered +and paid deference to him, rather than that of the Scottish +nobles who were risking their lives for his cause, but who at +times gave their advice with a bluntness and warmth which were +displeasing to him. It was this weakness which brought an +enterprise, which at one time had the fairest prospect of +success, to destruction and ruin.</p> + +<p>On leaving the house Ronald was joined by Malcolm, and half an +hour later they mounted their horses and rode for the mouth of +the Loire. The whole party arrived on the following day at St. +Nazaire, embarking separately on board the Doutelle, where Prince +Charles, who had come down from Nantes in a fishing boat, was +received by Mr. Walsh, the owner of the vessel. Ronald now saw +gathered together the various persons who were to accompany +Prince Charles on this adventurous expedition. These were +Sheridan, the former tutor of the prince; Kelly, a non-juring +clergyman, and Sullivan--both, like Sheridan, Irishmen; +Strickland, a personage so unimportant that while some writers +call him an Englishman, others assert that he was Irish; Aeneas +Macdonald, a Scotchman; Sir John Macdonald, an officer in the +Spanish service; the prince's valet, Michel; and the Duke of +Athole, or, as he is more generally called, the Marquis of +Tullibardine, the last named being the only man of high standing +or reputation. Never did a prince start to fight for a kingdom +with such a following.</p> + +<p>The Doutelle weighed anchor as soon as the last of the party +arrived on deck, and under easy sail proceeded to Belleisle. Here +she lay for some days awaiting the arrival of the Elizabeth. Mr. +Rutledge, a merchant at Nantes, had obtained an order from the +French court that this man of war should proceed to cruise on the +coast of Scotland, and had then arranged with the captain of the +ship to take on board the arms that had been purchased by the +prince with the proceeds of the sale of some of the family +jewels.</p> + +<p>These consisted of fifteen hundred muskets, eighteen hundred +broadswords, twenty small field pieces, and some ammunition. The +captain had also agreed that the Doutelle, which only mounted +eighteen small guns, should sail in company with the Elizabeth to +Scotland. As soon as the Elizabeth was seen the Doutelle spread +her sails, and keeping a short distance from each other, the two +vessels sailed north. So great was the necessity for prudence +that the prince still maintained his disguise as a Scottish +student, and, with the exception of Mr. Walsh, none of the +officers and crew of the Doutelle were acquainted with his real +rank, and the various members of his party treated him and each +other as strangers.</p> + +<p>Four days after leaving Belleisle a British man of war of +fifty-eight guns hove in sight, and crowding on all sail rapidly +came up. The Elizabeth at once prepared to engage her, signalling +to the Doutelle to do the same. The prince urged Mr. Walsh to aid +the Elizabeth, but the latter steadily refused.</p> + +<p>He had undertaken, he said, to carry the prince to Scotland, +and would do nothing to endanger the success of the enterprise. +The two vessels were well matched, and he would not allow the +Doutelle to engage in the affair. The prince continued to urge +the point, until at last Mr. Walsh said "that unless he abstained +from interference he should be forced to order him below."</p> + +<p>The Doutelle, therefore, stood aloof from the engagement, +which lasted for five or six hours, and sailed quietly on her +course, in order to be beyond the risk of capture should the +English ship prove victorious; neither of the vessels, however, +obtained any decided advantage. Both were so crippled in the +encounter that the Elizabeth returned to France, the Lion to +Plymouth to refit. Thus the small supply of arms and artillery +which the prince had with such great trouble got together was +lost.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ronald," Malcolm said that evening as they leant over +the taffrail together, "I do think that such a mad headed +expedition as this was never undertaken. An exiled prince, an +outlawed duke, six adventurers, a valet, and our two selves. One +could laugh if one was not almost ready to cry at the folly of +invading a country like England in such a fashion."</p> + +<p>"That is only one way of looking at it, Malcolm. We are not an +army of invasion. The prince is simply travelling with a few +personal followers to put himself at the head of an army. The +affair depends, not upon us, but upon the country. If the clans +turn out to support him as they did in '15 he will soon be at the +head of some twenty thousand men. Not enough, I grant you, to +conquer England, but enough for a nucleus round which the Lowland +and English Jacobites can gather."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it depends upon the ifs, Ronald. If all the Highland +clans join, and if there are sufficient Jacobites in the Lowlands +and England to make a large army, we may do. I have some hopes of +the clans, but after what we saw of the apathy of the English +Jacobites in '15 I have no shadow of faith in them. However, I +fought for the Chevalier in '15, and I am ready to fight for +Prince Charles now as long as there is any fighting to be done, +and when that is over I shall be as ready to make for France as I +was before."</p> + +<p>Ronald laughed.</p> + +<p>"You are certainly not enthusiastic about it, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"When one gets to my age, Ronald, common sense takes the place +of enthusiasm, and I have seen enough of wars to know that for +business a well appointed and well disciplined army is required. +If Prince Charles does get what you call an army, but which I +should call an armed mob, together, there will be the same +dissensions, the same bickerings, the same want of plan that +there was before; and unless something like a miracle happens it +will end as the last did at Preston, in defeat and ruin. However, +lad, here we are, and we will go through with it to the end. By +the time we get back to France we must hope that King Louis will +have got over the killing of his favourite. However, I tell you +frankly that my hope is that when the Highland chiefs see that +the prince has come without arms, without men, and without even +promises of support by France, they will refuse to risk liberty +and life and to bring ruin upon their people by joining in such a +mad brained adventure."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, Malcolm," Ronald said, as he looked at the prince +as he was pacing up and down the deck with the Duke of Athole, +talking rapidly, his face flushed with enthusiasm, his clustering +hair blown backward by the wind. "He is a noble young prince. He +is fighting for his own. He has justice and right on his side, +and God grant that he may succeed!"</p> + +<p>"Amen to that, Ronald, with all my heart! But so far as my +experience goes, strength and discipline and generalship and +resources go a great deal further than right in deciding the +issue of a war."</p> + +<p>Two days later another English man of war came in sight and +gave chase to the Doutelle, but the latter was a fast sailer and +soon left her pursuer behind, and without further adventure +arrived among the Western Isles, and dropped anchor near the +little islet of Erisca, between Barra and South Uist. As they +approached the island an eagle sailed out from the rocky shore +and hovered over the vessel, and the Duke of Athole pointed it +out as a favourable augury to the prince.</p> + +<p>Charles and his companions landed at Erisca and passed the +night on shore. They found on inquiry that this cluster of +islands belonged to Macdonald of Clanranald, a young chief who +was known to be attached to the Jacobite cause. He was at present +absent on the mainland, but his uncle and principal adviser, +Macdonald of Boisdale, was in South Uist. The prince sent off one +of his followers in a boat to summon him, and he came aboard the +Doutelle the next morning; but when he heard from the prince that +he had come alone and unattended he refused to have anything to +do with the enterprise, which he asserted was rash to the point +of insanity, and would bring ruin and destruction on all who took +part in it.</p> + +<p>The prince employed all his efforts to persuade the old chief, +but in vain, and the latter returned to his isle in a boat, while +the Doutelle pursued her voyage to the mainland and entered the +Bay of Lochnanuagh, in Inverness shire, and immediately sent a +messenger to Clanranald, who came on board shortly with Macdonald +of Kinloch Moidart, and several other Macdonalds.</p> + +<p>They received the prince with the greatest respect, but, like +Macdonald of Boisdale, the two chiefs refused to take up arms in +an enterprise which they believed to be absolutely hopeless. In +vain Prince Charles argued and implored. The two chiefs remained +firm, until the prince suddenly turned to a younger brother of +Moidart, who stood listening to the conversation, and with his +fingers clutching the hilt of his broadsword as he heard the +young prince, whom he regarded as his future king, in vain +imploring the assistance of his brother and kinsmen.</p> + +<p>"Will you at least not assist me?" the prince exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I will, I will!" Ranald Macdonald exclaimed. "Though no other +man in the Highlands shall draw a sword, I am ready to die for +you."</p> + +<p>The enthusiasm of the young man was catching, and throwing to +the winds their own convictions and forebodings, the two +Macdonalds declared that they also would join, and use every +exertion to engage their countrymen. The clansmen who had come on +board the ship without knowing the object of the visit were now +told who the prince was, and they expressed their readiness to +follow to the death. Two or three days later, on the 25th of +July, Prince Charles landed and was conducted to Borodale, a +farmhouse belonging to Clanranald.</p> + +<p>Charles at once sent off letters to the Highland chiefs whom +he knew to be favourable to the Stuart cause. Among these the +principal were Cameron of Locheil, Sir Alexander Macdonald, and +Macleod. Locheil immediately obeyed the summons, but being +convinced of the madness of the enterprise he came, not to join +the prince, but to dissuade him from embarking in it. On his way +he called upon his brother, Cameron of Fassefern, who agreed with +his opinion as to the hopelessness of success, and urged him to +write to the prince instead of going to see him.</p> + +<p>"I know you better than you know yourself," he said. "If the +prince once sets eyes upon you, he will make you do whatever he +pleases."</p> + +<p>Locheil, however, persisted in going, convinced that the +prince would, on his representation, abandon the design. For a +long time he stood firm, until the prince exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I am resolved to put all to the hazard. In a few days I will +erect the royal standard and proclaim to the people of Britain +that Charles Stuart is come over to claim the crown of his +ancestors or perish in the attempt. Locheil, who my father has +often told me was our firmest friend, may stay at home and learn +from the newspapers the fate of his prince."</p> + +<p>Locheil's resolution melted at once at these words, and he +said:</p> + +<p>"Not so. I will share the fate of my prince whatsoever it be, +and so shall every man over whom nature or fortune hath given me +power."</p> + +<p>The conversion of Locheil was the turning point of the +enterprise. Upon the news of the prince's landing spreading, most +of the other chiefs had agreed that if Locheil stood aloof they +would not move; and had he remained firm not a man would have +joined the prince's standard, and he would have been forced to +abandon the enterprise. Sir Alexander Macdonald and Macleod, +instead of going to see the prince, had gone off together, on the +receipt of his letter, to the Isle of Skye, so as to avoid an +interview. Clanranald was despatched by Prince Charles to see +them, but they declined to join, urging with the truth that the +promises which they had given to join in a rising were contingent +upon the prince arriving at the head of a strong French force +with arms and supplies. They therefore refused at present to +move. Others, however, were not so cautious. Fired by the example +of Locheil, and by their own traditions of loyalty to the +Stuarts' cause, many of the lesser chiefs at once summoned their +followers to the field. With the majority the absence of French +troops had the exactly opposite effect that it had had with Sir +Alexander Macdonald and Macleod. Had the prince landed with a +French army they might have stood aloof and suffered him to fight +out his quarrel unaided; but his arrival alone and unattended, +trusting solely and wholly to the loyalty of the Scottish people, +made an irresistible appeal to their generous feelings, and +although there were probably but few who did not foresee that +failure, ruin, and death would be the result of the enterprise, +they embarked in the cause with as much ardour as if their +success had been certain.</p> + +<p>From Borodale, after disembarking the scanty treasure of four +thousand louis d'or which he had brought with him and a few +stands of arms from the Doutelle, Charles proceeded by water to +Kinloch Moidart.</p> + +<p>Mr. Walsh sailed in the Doutelle, after receiving the prince's +warmest thanks, and a letter to his father in Rome begging him to +grant Mr. Walsh an Irish earldom as a reward for the services he +had rendered, a recommendation which was complied with.</p> + +<p>The chiefs soon began to assemble at Moidart, and the house +became the centre of a picturesque gathering.</p> + +<p>Ronald had now put aside the remembrance of Malcolm's +forebodings, and entered heart and soul into the enterprise. He +had in Glasgow frequently seen Highlanders in their native dress, +but he had not before witnessed any large gathering, and he was +delighted with the aspect of the sturdy mountaineers in their +picturesque garb.</p> + +<p>The prince had at once laid aside the attire in which he had +landed and had assumed Highland costume, and by the charm and +geniality of his manner he completely won the hearts of all who +came in contact with him. Among those who joined him at Moidart +was Murray of Broughton, a man who was destined to exercise as +destructive an influence on the prince's fortune as had Mr. +Forster over that of his father. Murray had hurried from his seat +in the south, having first had a large number of manifestoes for +future distribution printed. He was at once appointed by Charles +his secretary of state.</p> + +<p>While the gathering at Moidart was daily growing, the English +remained in ignorance of the storm which was preparing. It was +not until the 30th of July that the fact that the prince had +sailed from Nantes was known in London, and as late as the 8th of +August, nearly three weeks after Charles first appeared on the +coast, the fact of his landing was unknown to the authorities in +Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of August the English governor at Fort Augustus, +alarmed at the vague reports which reached him, and the sudden +news that bodies of armed Highlanders were hurrying west, sent a +detachment of two companies under Captain Scott to reinforce the +advance post of Fort William.</p> + +<p>After marching twenty miles the troops entered the narrow +ravine of Spean Bridge, when they were suddenly attacked by a +party of Keppoch's clansmen who were on their way to join the +prince when they saw the English troops on their march. They were +joined by some of Locheil's clansmen, and so heavy a fire was +kept up from the heights that the English, after having five or +six men killed and many more wounded, among them their commanding +officer, were forced to lay down their arms.</p> + +<p>They were treated with great humanity by their captors, and +the wounded were well cared for. The news of this success reached +the prince on the day before that fixed for the raising of his +standard, the 19th of August, and added to the enthusiasm which +prevailed among the little force gathered in Glenfinnan, where +the ceremony took place. The glen lay about halfway between +Borodale and Fort William, both being about fifteen miles +distant. The gathering consisted principally of the Camerons of +Locheil, some six hundred strong, and they brought with them two +English companies captured on the 16th, disarmed and +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Athole performed the ceremony of unfurling the +banner. He was the heir to the dukedom of Athole, but had been +exiled for taking part in the rising of '15 and the dukedom +bestowed by the English government upon his brother; thus among +the English he was still spoken of as the Marquis of +Tullibardine, while at the French court and among the followers +of the Stuarts he was regarded as the rightful Duke of +Athole.</p> + +<p>The unfurling of the standard was greeted with loud shouts, +and the clansmen threw their bonnets high in the air. The duke +then read the manifesto of the Chevalier, and the commission of +regency granted by him to Prince Charles. After this the prince +himself made an inspiring speech, and declared that at the head +of his faithful Highlanders he was resolved to conquer or to +perish.</p> + +<p>Among the spectators of the ceremony was Captain Swetenham, an +English officer taken prisoner a few days before while on his way +to assume the command of Fort William. He had been treated with +great courtesy and kindness by the prince, who, after the +ceremony, dismissed him with the words, "You may now return to +your general; tell him what you have seen, and add that I am +about to give him battle."</p> + +<p>Soon after the conclusion of the ceremony Keppoch marched in +with three hundred of his clan, and some smaller parties also +arrived. The next morning the force marched to Locheil's house at +Auchnacarrie, where the prince was joined by the Macdonalds of +Glencoe, a hundred and fifty strong, two hundred Stuarts of Appin +under their chief, and by the younger Glengarry with two hundred +more, so that the force had now swelled to sixteen hundred +men.</p> + +<p>"We begin to look like an army," Ronald said to Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," the latter replied drily, "we are rather stronger +than one regiment and not quite so strong as two; still, if +things go on like this we shall ere very long have mounted up to +the strength of a brigade; but even a brigade, Ronald, does nor +go very far towards the conquest of a kingdom, especially when +only about one man in three has got a musket, and so far there +are neither cavalry nor artillery. Still, you know, these things +may come."</p> + +<p>Ronald laughed gaily at his companion's want of faith. He +himself had now caught the enthusiasm which pervaded all around. +It was true that as yet the prince's adherents were but a +handful, but it was not to be expected that an army would spring +from the ground. Promises of assistance had come from all +quarters, and if the army was a small one the English army in +Scotland was but little larger, and if a first success could be +achieved, all Scotland might be expected to rise, and the news +would surely influence the Jacobites of England to declare for +the prince.</p> + +<p>Sir John Cope, the English officer commanding the English +forces in Scotland, at the first rumour of troubles had ordered +his troops to assemble at Stirling. He had with him two regiments +of dragoons, Gardiner's and Hamilton's, both young regiments, and +the whole force at his disposal, exclusive of troops in garrison, +did not exceed three thousand men. With these he proposed to +march at once to the west, and crush the rebellion before it +gained strength. The English government approved of his proposal, +and sent him a proclamation offering a reward of thirty thousand +pounds to any person who should seize and secure the pretended +Prince of Wales.</p> + +<p>On the day of the raising of the standard Cope set out from +Edinburgh for Stirling and the next day commenced his march at +the head of fifteen hundred infantry, leaving the dragoons behind +him, as these could be of but little service among the mountains, +where they would have found it next to impossible to obtain +forage for their horses. He took with him a large quantity of +baggage, a drove of black cattle for food, and a thousand stand +of arms to distribute among the volunteers who he expected would +join him. As, however, none of these came in, he sent back seven +hundred muskets to Crieff.</p> + +<p>The first object of the march was Fort Augustus, which he +intended to make his central post. As he advanced he was met by +Captain Swetenham, who informed him of the raising of the +standard and the gathering he had witnessed. As, however, only +Locheil's clansmen had arrived before Swetenham left, Cope +considered his force ample for the purpose, and continued his +march. In order to reach Fort Augustus, however, he had to pass +over Corry Arrack, a lofty and precipitous mountain which was +ascended by a military road with fifteen zigzags, known to the +country as the devil's staircase.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles, who had received early news of the advance +from Stirling, had recognized the importance of the position, and +having burned and destroyed all baggage that would impede his +progress, made a forced march and reached Corry Arrack on the +27th, before Sir John Cope had commenced his ascent. As Sir John +saw that the formidable position was in the hands of the enemy he +felt that it would be in vain to endeavour to force it. Each +zigzag would have to be carried in turn, and the enterprise would +be a desperate one. Success would be of no great advantage, as +the Highlanders, lightly clad and active, would make off and defy +pursuit; defeat would be disastrous. He, therefore, called a +council of war and asked his officers to decide whether it would +be best to remain at Dalwhinnie at the foot of the mountain, to +return to Sterling, or to march to Inverness, where they would be +joined by the well affected clans. He himself strongly urged the +last course, believing that the prince would not venture to +descend into the Lowlands while he remained in his rear. The +council of war adopted his opinion. No officer advocated +remaining inactive at Dalwhinnie, one only supported the +alternative of the retreat to Stirling, the rest agreed upon an +advance to Inverness.</p> + +<p>When it was found that Cope's army had moved away without +fighting, the exultation of the Highlanders was great. Most of +the chiefs wished to follow at once and give battle, urging that +it would be hazardous to advance south and leave the enemy to cut +off their retreat; but the prince himself saw the supreme +importance of a descent into the Lowlands, and that plan of +action was decided upon.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV_Prestonpans_"></a>CHAPTER +XIV: Prestonpans.</h1> + +<p>Advancing in high spirits through the mountains of Badenoch, +Prince Charles with his army came down into the vale of Athole, +and visited, with Tullibardine, the castle of Blair Athole, the +noble property of which the marquis had so long been deprived, +owing to his constancy to the cause of the Stuarts, but which +would again be his own were this great enterprise successful.</p> + +<p>From Blair Athole the little army moved on to Perth. Here they +were joined by powerful friends, of whom the principal were the +young Duke of Perth, Lord Nairn, and Lord George Murray, the +younger brother of the Marquis of Tullibardine. Lord George +Murray was but ten years of age when the events of 1715 had taken +place, but four years later he came over with the marquis with a +handful of Spaniards and was wounded at the battle of Glenshiels. +The influence of the family obtained his pardon on the plea of +his extreme youth, but he remained at heart a Jacobite, and, +going to the Continent, entered the service of Sardinia, then a +portion of the possessions of the Duke of Savoy. For many years +he served abroad, and acquired a considerable reputation as an +excellent officer and a most gallant soldier.</p> + +<p>He had, indeed, a natural genius for military operations, and +had he not been thwarted at every turn by the jealousy of Murray +of Broughton, it is by no means improbable that he would have +brought the enterprise to a successful termination and seated the +Stuarts upon the throne of England. The accession of such an +officer was of the highest value to the prince.</p> + +<p>Hitherto the army had consisted merely of wild clansmen, full +of valour and devotion but wholly undisciplined; while among +those who accompanied him, or who had joined him in Scotland, +there was not a single officer of any experience in war or any +military capacity whatever. Lord George Murray and the Duke of +Perth were at once named generals in the prince's army; but the +command in reality remained entirely in the hands of Murray, for +Lord Perth, though an estimable young nobleman possessed of +considerable ability, had no military experience and was of a +quiet and retiring disposition.</p> + +<p>Lord George Murray at once set about raising the tenantry of +his brother the Hanoverian Duke of Athole, who was absent in +England, and as these had always remained attached to the Stuart +cause, and still regarded the Marquis of Tullibardine as their +rightful head, they willingly took up arms upon Lord George +Murray's bidding. Lord George decided at once that it would be +useless to attempt to drill the Highlanders into regular +soldiers, but that they must be allowed to use their national +style of fighting and trust to their desperate charge with +broadsword and target to break the enemy's ranks.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately dissensions commenced among the leaders from the +very first. Secretary Murray, who desired to be all powerful with +the prince, saw that he should not succeed in gaining any +influence over so firm and energetic a character as Lord George +Murray, while it would be easy for him to sway the young Duke of +Perth, and he was not long in poisoning the ear of the latter +against his companion in arms by representing to him that Lord +George treated him as a mere cipher, although of equal rank in +the army. The secretary's purpose was even more easily carried +out with Prince Charles. The latter was no judge of character, +and fell readily under the influence of the wily and unscrupulous +Murray, who flattered his weaknesses and assumed an air of +deference to his opinions. Lord George Murray, on the other hand, +was but too prone to give offence. He was haughty and overbearing +in manner, expressed his opinions with a directness and bluntness +which were very displeasing to the prince, and, conscious of his +own military genius and experience, put aside with open contempt +the suggestions of those who were in truth ignorant of military +matters. Loyal, straightforward, and upright, he scorned to +descend to the arts of the courtier, and while devoting his whole +time to his military work, suffered his enemies to obtain the +entire command of the ear of the prince.</p> + +<p>Ronald was introduced to him as soon as he joined at Perth, +and finding that young Leslie had had some military experience, +Lord George at once appointed him one of his aides de camp, and +soon took a warm liking to the active and energetic young +officer, whose whole soul was in his work, and who cared nothing +for the courtly gatherings around the person of the prince.</p> + +<p>Malcolm rode as Ronald's orderly, and during the few days of +their stay in Perth, Ronald was at work from morning till night +riding through the country with messages from Lord George, and in +the intervals of such duty in trying to inculcate some idea of +discipline into the wild Highland levies. At this time Charles +was using all his efforts to persuade Lord Lovat, one of the most +powerful of the northern noblemen, to join him, offering him his +patent as Duke of Fraser and the lord lieutenancy of the northern +counties.</p> + +<p>Lovat, however, an utterly unscrupulous man, refused openly to +join, although he sent repeatedly assurances of his devotion. +Throughout the struggle he continued to act a double part, trying +to keep friends with both parties, but declaring for the prince +at the moment when his fortunes were at their highest. The result +was that while he afforded the prince but little real assistance, +his conduct cost him his head.</p> + +<p>Sir John Cope, finding that his march to Inverness had failed +to draw the prince after him, and had left the Lowlands and the +capital open to the insurgents, directed his march to Aberdeen, +and sent to Edinburgh for transports to bring down his army to +cover that city. But Prince Charles determined to forestall him, +and on the 11th of September commenced his march south. The age +and infirmities of the Marquis of Tullibardine prevented his +accompanying Prince Charles during active operations.</p> + +<p>It was impossible for the army to march direct against +Edinburgh, as the magistrates of that town had taken the +precaution to withdraw every ship and boat from the northern side +of the Forth, and the prince was consequently obliged to make a +detour and to cross the river at the fords eight miles above +Stirling, and then marching rapidly towards Edinburgh, arrived on +the evening of the 16th within three miles of that town.</p> + +<p>So long as the coming of the prince was doubtful the citizens +of Edinburgh had declared their willingness to defend the town to +the last. Volunteer regiments had been formed and guns placed on +the walls; but when the volunteers were ordered to march out with +Hamilton's regiment of dragoons, to oppose the advance of the +insurgents, the men quitted their ranks and stole away to their +houses, leaving the dragoons to march out alone. The latter, +however, showed no greater courage than that of their citizen +allies, when on the following day they came in contact with a +party of mounted gentlemen from the prince's army, who fired +their pistols at their pickets. These rode off in haste, their +panic was communicated to the main body, whose officers in vain +endeavoured to check them, and the whole regiment galloped away +in wild confusion, and passing close under the walls of Edinburgh +continued their flight, without halting, to Preston. There they +halted for the night; but one of the troopers happening in the +dark to fall into a disused well, his shouts for assistance +caused an alarm that they were attacked, and mounting their +horses the regiment continued their flight to Dunbar, where they +joined General Cope's army, which had just landed there.</p> + +<p>This disgraceful panic added to the terror of the citizens of +Edinburgh, and when, late in the afternoon, a summons to +surrender came in from Prince Charles, the council could arrive +at no decision, but sent a deputation to the prince asking for +delay, hoping thereby that Cope's army would arrive in time to +save them. But the prince was also well aware of the importance +of time, and that night he sent forward Lochiel with five hundred +Camerons to lie in ambush near the Netherbow Gate. They took with +them a barrel of powder to blow it in if necessary; but in the +morning the gate was opened to admit a carriage, and the +Highlanders at once rushed in and overpowered the guard, and +sending parties through the streets they secured these also +without disturbance or bloodshed, and when the citizens awoke in +the morning they found, to their surprise, that Prince Charles +was master of the city.</p> + +<p>The Jacobite portion of the population turned out with delight +to greet the prince, while the rest thought it politic to imitate +their enthusiasm. The Highlanders behaved with perfect order and +discipline, and although the town had, as it were, been taken by +storm, no single article of property was touched. An hour later +Prince Charles, at the head of his troops, entered the royal +palace of Holyrod, being met by a crowd of enthusiastic +supporters from the city, who received him with royal shouts and +tears of joy.</p> + +<p>In the evening a grand ball was held in the palace, in spite +of the fact that it was within range of the guns of Edinburgh +Castle, which still held out. But one day was spent in Edinburgh. +This was occupied in serving out about a thousand muskets found +in the magazines to the Highlanders, and in obtaining tents, +shoes, and cooking vessels, which the town was ordered to supply. +They were joined during the day by many gentlemen, and on the +night of the 19th the army, two thousand five hundred strong, of +whom only fifty were mounted, moved out to the village of +Duddingston. There the prince that evening called a council of +war, and proposed to march next morning to meet the enemy +halfway, and declared that he would himself lead his troops and +charge in the first ranks.</p> + +<p>The chiefs, however, exclaimed against this, urging that if +any accident happened to him ruin must fall upon the whole, +whether they gained or lost the battle; and upon the prince +persisting they declared that they would return home and make the +best terms they could for themselves. He was therefore obliged to +give way, declaring, however, that he would lead the second line. +The next morning the army commenced its march. They had with them +only one cannon, so old that it was quite useless, and it was +only taken forward as an encouragement to the Highlanders, who +had the greatest respect for artillery.</p> + +<p>Sir John Cope, who had received intelligence of all that had +happened at Edinburgh, had also moved forward on the 19th, and on +the 20th the two armies came in sight of each other. The +Highlanders, after passing the bridge of Musselburgh, left the +road, and turning to the right took up their position on the brow +of Carberry Hill, and there waited the attack. The English forces +were marching forward with high spirit, and believed that the +Highlanders would not even wait their assault. Cope had with him +two thousand two hundred men, including the six hundred runaway +dragoons. The numbers, therefore, were nearly equal; but as the +English were well armed, disciplined, and equipped, while only +about half the Highlanders had muskets, and as they had, +moreover, six pieces of artillery against the one unserviceable +gun of Prince Charles, they had every reason to consider the +victory to be certain.</p> + +<p>On seeing the Highland array Cope drew up his troops in order +of battle--his infantry in the centre, with a regiment of +dragoons and three pieces of artillery on each flank. His right +was covered by a park wall and by the village of Preston. On his +left stood Seaton House, and in his rear lay the sea, with the +villages of Prestonpans and Cockenzie. Their front was covered by +a deep and difficult morass.</p> + +<p>It was now about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the +Highlanders, seeing that the English did not advance against +them, clamoured to be led to the attack. Prince Charles was +himself eager to fight, but his generals persuaded him to abstain +from attacking the English in such a formidable position. The +Highlanders, however, fearing that the English would again avoid +a battle, were not satisfied until Lord Nairn with five hundred +men was detached to the westward to prevent the English from +marching off towards Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>During the night the two armies lay upon the ground. Cope +retired to sleep at Cockenzie, the prince lay down in the middle +of his soldiers. Before doing so, however, he held a council, and +determined to attack next morning in spite of the difficulty of +the morass. But in the course of the night Anderson of Whitburg, +a gentleman well acquainted with the country, bethought himself +of a path from the height towards their right by the farm of +Ruigan Head, which in a great measure avoided the morass. This +important fact he imparted to Lord George Murray, who at once +awoke the prince.</p> + +<p>Locheil and some other chiefs were sent for, and it was +determined to undertake the enterprise at once. An aide de camp +was sent to recall Lord Nairn and his detachment, and under the +guidance of Anderson the troops made their way across the morass. +This was not, however, accomplished without great difficulty, as +in some places they sank knee deep. The march was unopposed, and +covered by the darkness they made their way across to firm ground +just as the day was breaking dull and foggy. As they did so, +however, the dragoon outposts heard the sound of their march, and +firing their pistols galloped off to give the alarm. Sir John +Cope lost no time facing his troops about, and forming them in +order of battle. He was undisturbed while doing so, for the +Highlanders were similarly occupied.</p> + +<p>As the sun rose the mist cleared away, and the two armies +stood face to face. The Macdonalds had been granted the post of +honour on the Highland right, the line being completed by the +Camerons and Stuarts, Prince Charles with the second line being +close behind. The Highlanders uncovered their heads, uttered a +short prayer, and then as the pipers blew the signal they rushed +forward, each clan in a separate mass, and raising their war cry, +the Camerons and Stuarts rushed straight at the cannon on the +left.</p> + +<p>These guns were served, not by Royal Artillerymen, but by some +seamen brought by Cope from the fleet. They, panic struck by the +wild rush of the Highlanders, deserted their guns and fled in all +directions. Colonel Gardiner called upon his dragoons to follow +him, and with his officers led them to the charge. But the +Stuarts and Camerons, pouring in a volley from their muskets, +charged them with their broadswords, and the dragoons, panic +stricken, turned their horses and galloped off.</p> + +<p>The Macdonalds on the right had similarly captured three guns, +and charging with similar fury upon Hamilton's regiment of +dragoons, drove them off the field; Macgregor's company, who, for +want of other weapons were armed with scythes, doing terrible +execution among the horses and their riders. The English +infantry, deserted by their cavalry, and with their guns lost, +still stood firm, and poured a heavy fire into the Highlanders; +but these, as soon as they had defeated the cavalry, faced round +and charged with fury upon both flanks of the infantry. Their +onslaught was irresistible. The heavy masses of the clans broke +right through the long line of the English infantry, and drove +the latter backward in utter confusion. But the retreat was +impeded by the inclosure and park wall of Preston, and the +Highlanders pressing on, the greater portion of the English +infantry were killed or taken prisoners.</p> + +<p>A hundred and seventy of the infantry alone succeeded in +making their escape, four hundred were killed, and the rest +captured. Colonel Gardiner and many of his officers were killed +fighting bravely, but the loss of the dragoons was small. Only +thirty of the Highlanders were killed, and seventy wounded. The +battle lasted but six minutes, and the moment it had terminated +Prince Charles exerted himself to the utmost to obtain mercy for +the vanquished.</p> + +<p>He treated the prisoners with the greatest kindness and +consideration, and the wounded were relieved without any +distinction of friend or foe. The dragoons fled to Edinburgh, and +dashed up the hill to the castle; but the governor refused to +admit them, and threatened to open his guns upon them as cowards +who had deserted their colours. Later on in the day the greater +portion were rallied by Sir John Cope and the Earls of Loudon and +Home; but being seized with a fresh panic they galloped on again +at full speed as far as Coldstream, and the next morning +continued their flight in a state of disgraceful disorder as far +as Berwick. The contents of the treasure chest, consisting of two +thousand five hundred pounds, with the standards and other +trophies, were brought to Prince Charles. The rest of the spoil +was divided among the Highlanders, of whom a great number +immediately set off towards their homes to place the articles +they had gathered in safety.</p> + +<p>So greatly was the Highland army weakened by the number of men +who thus left the ranks that the prince was unable to carry out +his wish for an instant advance into England. His advisers, +indeed, were opposed to this measure, urging that in a short time +his force would be swelled by thousands from all parts of +Scotland; but unquestionably his own view was the correct one, +and had he marched south he would probably have met with no +resistance whatever on his march to London. There were but few +troops in England. A requisition had been sent to the Dutch by +King George for the six thousand auxiliaries they were bound to +furnish, and a resolution was taken to recall ten English +regiments home from Flanders.</p> + +<p>Marshal Wade was directed to collect as many troops as he +could at Newcastle, and the militia of several counties was +called out; but the people in no degree responded to the efforts +of the government. They looked on coldly, not indeed apparently +favouring the rebellion, but as little disposed to take part +against it. The state of public feeling was described at the time +by a member of the administration, Henry Fox, in a private +letter.</p> + +<p>"England, Wade says, and I believe, is for the first comer, +and if you can tell me whether these six thousand Dutch and the +ten battalions of England, or five thousand French or Spaniards, +will be here first, you know our fate. The French are not come, +God be thanked; but had five thousand landed in any part of this +island a week ago, I verily believe the entire conquest would not +have cost a battle."</p> + +<p>The prince indeed was doing his best to obtain assistance from +France, conscious how much his final success depended upon French +succour.</p> + +<p>King Louis for a time appeared favourable. The prince's +brother, Henry of York, had arrived from Rome, and the king +proposed to place him at the head of the Irish regiments in the +king's service and several others to enable him to effect a +landing in England; but with his usual insincerity the French +king continued to raise difficulties and cause delays until it +was too late, and he thus lost for ever the chance of placing the +family who had always been warm friends of France, and who would +in the event of success have been his natural friends and allies, +on the throne of England.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Prince Charles had taken up his abode in +Edinburgh, where he was joined by most of the gentry of Scotland. +He was proclaimed king in almost every town of the Tweed, and was +master of all Scotland, save some districts beyond Inverness, the +Highland forts, and the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling.. +Prince Charles behaved with the greatest moderation. He forbade +all public rejoicing for victory, saying that he could not +rejoice over the loss which his father's misguided subjects had +sustained. He abstained from any attempt to capture Edinburgh +Castle, or even to cut off its supplies, because the general of +the castle threatened that unless he were allowed to obtain +provisions he would fire upon the city and lay it in ruins, and +he even refused to interfere with a Scotch minister who continued +from his pulpit to pray for King George.</p> + +<p>In one respect he carried his generosity so far as to excite +discontent among his followers. It was proposed to send one of +the prisoners taken at Preston to London with a demand for the +exchange of prisoners taken or to be taken in the war, and with +the declaration that if this were refused, and if the prince's +friends who fell into the enemy's hands were put to death as +rebels, the prince would be compelled to treat his captives in +the same way. It was evident that this step would be of great +utility, as many of the prince's adherents hesitated to take up +arms, not from fear of death in battle, but of execution if taken +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The prince, however, steadily refused, saying, "It is beneath +me to make empty threats, and I will never put such as this into +execution. I cannot in cold blood take away lives which I have +saved in the heat of action."</p> + +<p>Six weeks after the victory the prince's army mustered nearly +six thousand men; but Macleod, Macdonald, and Lovat, who could +have brought a further force of four thousand men, still held +aloof. Had these three powerful chiefs joined at once after the +battle of Prestonpans, Prince Charles could have marched to +London, and would probably have succeeded in placing his father +on the throne, without having occasion to strike another blow; +but they came not, and the delay caused during the fruitless +negotiations enabled the English troops to be brought over from +Flanders, while Prince Charles on his side only received a few +small consignments of arms and money from France.</p> + +<p>But in the meantime Edinburgh was as gay as if the Stuart +cause had been already won. Receptions and balls followed each +other in close succession, and Prince Charles won the hearts of +all alike by his courtesy and kindness, and by the care which he +showed for the comfort of his troops.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of the campaign Lord George Murray had but +one aide de camp besides Ronald. This was an officer known as the +Chevalier de Johnstone, who afterwards wrote a history of the +campaign. After the battle of Prestonpans he received a captain's +commission, and immediately raised a company, with which he +joined the Duke of Perth's regiment. Two other gentlemen of +family were then appointed aides de camp, and this afforded some +relief to Ronald, whose duties had been extremely heavy.</p> + +<p>A week after the battle Lord George said to Ronald:</p> + +<p>"As there is now no chance of a movement at present, and I +know that you care nothing for the court festivities here, I +propose sending you with the officers who are riding into Glasgow +tomorrow, with the orders of the council that the city shall pay +a subsidy of five thousand pounds towards the necessities of the +state. The citizens are Hanoverians to a man, and may think +themselves well off that no heavier charge is levied upon them. +Do you take an account of what warlike stores there are in the +magazines there, and see that all muskets and ammunition are +packed up and forwarded."</p> + +<p>The next morning Ronald started at daybreak with several other +mounted gentlemen and an escort of a hundred of Clanranald's men, +under the command of the eldest son of that chief, for Glasgow, +and late the same evening entered that city. They were received +with acclamation by a part of the population; but the larger +portion of the citizens gazed at them from their doorways as they +passed in sullen hostility. They marched direct to the barracks +lately occupied by the English troops, the gentlemen taking the +quarters occupied by the officers. A notification was at once +sent to the provost to assemble the city council at nine o'clock +in the morning, to hear a communication from the royal +council.</p> + +<p>As soon as Malcolm had put up Ronald's horse and his own in +the stables, and seen to their comfort, he and Ronald sallied +out. It was now dark, but they wrapped themselves up in their +cloaks so as not to be noticed, as in the hostile state of the +town they might have been insulted and a quarrel forced upon +them, had they been recognized as two of the new arrivals. The +night, however, was dark, and they passed without recognition +through the ill lighted streets to the house of Andrew Anderson. +They rang at the bell. A minute later the grille was opened, and +a voice, which they recognized as that of Elspeth, asked who was +there, and what was their business.</p> + +<p>"We come to arrest one Elspeth Dow, as one who troubles the +state and is a traitor to his majesty."</p> + +<p>There was an exclamation from within and the door suddenly +opened.</p> + +<p>"I know your voice, bairn. The Lord be praised that you have +come back home again!" and she was about to run forward, when she +checked herself. "Is it yourself, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"It is no one else, Elspeth," he replied, giving the old woman +a hearty kiss.</p> + +<p>"And such a man as you have grown!" she exclaimed in surprise. +For the two years had added several inches to Ronald's stature, +and he now stood over six feet in height.</p> + +<p>"And have you no welcome for me, Elspeth?" Malcolm asked, +coming forward.</p> + +<p>"The Lord preserve us!" Elspeth exclaimed. "Why, it's my boy +Malcolm!"</p> + +<p>"Turned up again like a bad penny, you see, Elspeth."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Elspeth?" Andrew's voice called from above. "Who +are these men you are talking to, and what do they want at this +time of night?"</p> + +<p>"They want some supper, Andrew," Malcolm called back, "and +that badly."</p> + +<p>In a moment Andrew ran down and clasped his brother's hand. In +the darkness he did not notice Malcolm's companion, and after the +first greeting with his brother led the way up stairs.</p> + +<p>"It is my brother Malcolm," he said to his wife as he entered +the room.</p> + +<p>Ronald followed Malcolm forward. As the light fell on his face +Andrew started, and, as Ronald smiled, ran forward and clasped +him in his arms.</p> + +<p>"It is Ronald, wife! Ah, my boy, have you come back to us +again?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Anderson received Ronald with motherly kindness.</p> + +<p>"We had heard of your escape before your letter came to us +from Paris. Our city constables brought back the news of how you +had jumped overboard, and had been pulled into a boat and +disappeared. And finely they were laughed at when they told their +tale. Then came your letter saying that it was Malcolm who had +met you with the boat, and how you had sailed away and been +wrecked on the coast of France; but since then we have heard +nothing."</p> + +<p>"I wrote twice," Ronald said; "but owing to the war there have +been no regular communications, and I suppose my letters got +lost."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you have both come over to have a hand in this +mad enterprise?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it is mad or not, Andrew; but we have +certainly come over to have a hand in it," Malcolm said. "And +now, before we have a regular talk, let me tell you that we are +famishing. I know your supper is long since over, but doubtless +Elspeth has still something to eat in her cupboard. Oh, here she +comes!"</p> + +<p>Elspeth soon placed a joint of cold meat upon the table, and +Ronald and Malcolm set to at once to satisfy their hunger. Then a +jar of whiskey and glasses were set upon the table, and pipes +lighted, and Ronald began a detailed narration of all that had +taken place since they had last met.</p> + +<p>"Had my father and mother known that I was coming to Scotland, +and should have an opportunity of seeing you both, they would +have sent you their warmest thanks and gratitude for your +kindness to me," he concluded. "For over and over again have I +heard them say how deeply they felt indebted to you for your care +of me during so many years, and how they wished that they could +see you and thank you in person."</p> + +<p>"What we did was done, in the first place, for my brother +Malcolm, and afterwards for love of you, Ronald; and right glad I +am to hear that you obtained the freedom of your parents and a +commission as an officer in the service of the King of France. I +would be glad that you had come over here on any other errand +than that which brings you. Things have gone on well with you so +far; but how will they end? I hear that the Jacobites of England +are not stirring, and you do not think that with a few thousand +Highland clansmen you are going to conquer the English army that +beat the French at Dettingen, and well nigh overcame them at +Fontenoy. Ah, lad, it will prove a sore day for Scotland when +Charles Stuart set foot on our soil!"</p> + +<p>"We won't talk about that now, Andrew," Malcolm said good +temperedly. "The matter has got to be fought out with the sword, +and if our tongues were to wag all night they could make no +difference one way or another. So let us not touch upon politics. +But I must say, that as far as Ronald and I are concerned, we did +not embark on this expedition because we had at the moment any +great intention of turning Hanoverian George off his throne; but +simply because Ronald had made France too hot to hold him, and +this was the simplest way that presented itself of getting out of +the country. As long as there are blows to be struck we shall do +our best. When there is no more fighting to be done, either +because King James is seated on his throne in London, or because +the clans are scattered and broken, we shall make for France +again, where by that time I hope the king will have got over the +breach of his edict and the killing of his favourite, and where +Ronald's father and mother will be longing for his presence."</p> + +<p>"Eh, but it's awful, sirs," Elspeth, who as an old and +favourite servant had remained in the room after laying the +supper and listened to the conversation, put in, "to think that a +young gallant like our Ronald should have slain a man! He who +ought not yet to have done with his learning, to be going about +into wars and battles, and to have stood up against a great +French noble and slain him. Eh, but it's awful to think of!"</p> + +<p>"It would be much more awful, Elspeth, if the French noble had +killed me, at least from the light in which I look at it."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough," Elspeth said. "And if he wanted to kill +you, and it does seem from what you say that he did want, of +course I cannot blame you for killing him; but to us quiet bodies +here in Glasgow it seems an awful affair; though, after you got +in a broil here and drew on the city watch, I ought not to be +surprised at anything."</p> + +<p>"And now we must go," Ronald said, rising. "It is well nigh +midnight, and time for all decent people to be in bed."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XV_A_Mission_"></a>CHAPTER +XV: A Mission.</h1> + +<p>The next morning early Ronald proceeded to take an inventory +of the arms and ammunition left behind by the troops when they +had marched to join Sir John Cope at Stirling. Having done this +he saw that they were all packed up in readiness to be sent off +the next day under the escort, who were also to convey the money +which the city was required to pay. For the provost and council, +knowing that it was useless to resist the order, and perhaps +anxious in the present doubtful state of affairs to stand well +with Prince Charles, had arranged that the money should be +forthcoming of the following morning. After his work was over +Ronald again spent the evening at Andrew Anderson's.</p> + +<p>The next morning he returned to Edinburgh with the arms and +escort. It was late when he arrived; but as he knew that Lord +George Murray would be at work in his tent, he repaired there at +once.</p> + +<p>"We have brought back the money and arms, Lord George. I have +handed over the arms and ammunition at the magazine tent, and +those in charge of the money have gone into the town with a part +of the escort to give it over to the treasurer."</p> + +<p>"How many arms did you get?"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred and twenty-three muskets and eighty pistols, +fourteen kegs of gunpowder, and well nigh a ton of lead."</p> + +<p>"That is more than I had expected. And now, Leslie, I have an +important mission for you. The prince this morning asked me whom +I could recommend, as a sure and careful person likely to do the +business well, to go down into Lancashire to visit the leading +Jacobites there, and urge them to take up arms. I said that I +knew of none who would be more likely to succeed than yourself. +Your residence of two years in France has rubbed off any Scotch +dialect you may have had, and at any rate you could pass for a +northern Englishman. In the next place, your youth would enable +you to pass unsuspected where an older man might be questioned. +The prince agreed at once, and took shame to himself that he had +not before given promotion to one who was his companion on his +voyage to Scotland, the more so as he had made Johnstone a +captain. Your claims are far greater than his, and moreover you +have served as an officer in the French army. But, in truth, the +fault is in some degree your own, for you spend all your time in +carrying out your duties, and do not show yourself at any of the +levees or festivities. And you know, with princes, as with other +people, out of sight is out of mind. However, the prince at once +took steps to repair the omission, and has signed your commission +as captain. Here it is. You will understand, of course, that it +is for past services, and that you are perfectly free to decline +this mission to the south if you would rather not undertake it. +It is unquestionably a dangerous one."</p> + +<p>"I will undertake it readily, sir," Ronald said, "and I thank +you sincerely for bringing my name before the prince, and the +prince himself for his kindness in granting me his commission, +which so far I have done but little to win. I shall be able, I +trust, to carry out this mission to his satisfaction; and +although I am ignorant of the country I shall have the advantage +of taking with me my brave follower, Malcolm Anderson, who for +years was in the habit of going with droves of cattle down into +Lancashire, and will not only know the country but have +acquaintances there, and being known as a drover would pass +without suspicion of his being engaged with politics."</p> + +<p>"That will do well," Lord George said. "I will get the list of +persons on whom you should call prepared tomorrow. You had best +go to Sir Thomas Sheridan and Francis Strickland, who came over +with you, and get them to present you to Secretary Murray and +recommend you to him. If he hears that your mission is of my +recommendation he will do all he can to set the prince against +you. Everything that I do is wrong in his eyes, and I do believe +that he would ruin the cause in order to injure me, did he see no +other way to accomplish that end. Therefore, if he mentions my +name, as he is like to do, knowing that you have been my aide de +camp, be sure that you say nought in my favour, or it will ruin +you with him. You will, of course, attend the prince's levee +tomorrow, and had best make preparation to start at +nightfall."</p> + +<p>The next day, accordingly, Ronald called upon Sir Thomas +Sheridan and Strickland, and telling them that the prince had +determined to send him on a mission into Lancashire, asked them +to present him to Secretary Murray, from whom he would receive +orders for his guidance and instruction as to the persons whom he +was to visit. The two gentlemen proceeded with him to the house +in which Secretary Murray had taken up his abode, and introduced +him, with much warmth, as a fellow passenger on board the +Doutelle.</p> + +<p>"You have been serving since as Lord Murray's aide de +camp?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, the prince recommended me to him at Perth, and I +have since had the honour to carry his orders."</p> + +<p>"Captain Leslie, for so the prince has granted him a +commission," Sir Thomas said, "has served two years in the French +army, and was present at Dettingen and Fontenoy. He mentioned to +me on the voyage that he had the honour of being presented by +Marshal Saxe to the King of France, and that he received his +commission from the marshal, to whom he had acted as aide de camp +at Fontenoy."</p> + +<p>"You have begun well, indeed, young sir," Murray said, "to +have received at your age, for I judge that you are not yet +twenty, commissions in the French army and ours."</p> + +<p>Ronald bowed.</p> + +<p>"He has another claim upon all you Scottish gentlemen," Sir +Thomas said, "for Colonel Macdonald told us, when he introduced +him to us at Nantes, that it was through his interference and aid +alone that he escaped safely from Glasgow, and that all his +papers, with the names of the king's friends in Scotland, did not +fall into George's hands. He was taken prisoner for his share in +that affair, but escaped from the ship in the Thames, and +succeeded in crossing to France. So you see, young as he is, he +has rendered good service to the cause."</p> + +<p>The expression of the secretary's face, which had before been +cold and distant, changed at once. He had been aware that Ronald +had been chosen for this business on the recommendation of Lord +George Murray, and his jealousy of that nobleman had at once set +him against Ronald, of whose antecedents he was entirely +ignorant; but what he now heard entirely altered the case, and +disposed him most favourably towards him, especially as his own +name would have been one of the most prominent in the list, he +having been in constant communication with Colonel Macdonald +during the stay of the latter in Scotland.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea it was to you that we are all so indebted," he +said warmly. "I heard from Colonel Macdonald, after his return +from France, that he owed his escape entirely to the quickness +and bravery of a young gentleman of whose name he was ignorant, +but who, he feared, would suffer for his interference on his +behalf, and prayed me and all other loyal gentlemen of Scotland +to befriend you should they ever discover your name, for that we +assuredly owed it to you that we escaped imprisonment, if not +worse. I am truly glad to meet you and thank you in person. And +so you are going on this mission?"</p> + +<p>"I have undertaken to do my best, sir. Fortunately I have a +faithful follower who fought beside my father in '15, followed +him to France and fought by his side in the Scottish Dragoons for +fifteen years, and who has since been my best friend. He worked +for years, when I was a child, as a drover of cattle from the +Highlands into England. He knows Cumberland and Lancashire well, +and would be known at every wayside inn. He will accompany me, +and I shall pass as his nephew, therefore no suspicion will be +likely to light upon me."</p> + +<p>"And you set out tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, if my orders and letters are ready."</p> + +<p>"There will not be many letters," the secretary said. "It +would not do for you to have documents upon you which might +betray you and our friends there should you be arrested. I will +give you a list of the gentlemen on whom you have to call, which +you had best learn by heart and destroy before you cross the +frontier. You shall have one paper only, and that written so +small that it can be carried in a quill. This you can show to one +after the other. If you find you are in danger of arrest you can +destroy or swallow it. I will give them to you at the prince's +levee this afternoon, and will send to your tent a purse of gold +for your expenses."</p> + +<p>"I shall need but little for that, sir," Ronald said +smiling.</p> + +<p>"For your expenses, no," the secretary said; "but one never +can say what money may be required for. You may have to buy fresh +horses, you may want it to bribe someone to conceal you. Money is +always useful, my young friend. By the way, what family of +Leslies do you belong to? I heard that one of your name had +accompanied the prince, but no more."</p> + +<p>"My father was Leslie of Glenlyon."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" the secretary exclaimed. "Of course, I know the name +well. The lands were confiscated; but we shall soon set that +right, and I will see that they are added to when the time comes +to reward the king's friends and punish his foes."</p> + +<p>Ronald now took his leave and returned to Malcolm, who was +making preparation for the enterprise. He had already purchased +two suits of clothes, such as would be worn by Lowland drovers, +and was in high spirits, being more elated than was Ronald +himself at the latter's promotion. In the course of the day he +bought two rough ponies, as being more suitable for the position +they were to assume than the horses with which they had been +furnished at Perth. Ronald attended the levee, and thanked the +prince for the favour which he bestowed upon him.</p> + +<p>"You are a young gentleman after my own heart," Prince Charles +said, "and I promised myself on shipboard that we should be great +friends; but I have been so busy since I landed, and you have +been so occupied in my service, that I have seen but little of +you. On your return I hope that I shall be able to have you near +my person. I am half jealous of you, for while you are younger +than I am you have seen good service and taken part in great +battles, but hitherto I have led a life almost of idleness."</p> + +<p>Ronald bowed deeply at the prince's gracious speech. On his +return to his tent he found a messenger from the secretary with a +purse which, on counting its contents, they found to amount to a +hundred guineas.</p> + +<p>They started immediately, and travelled twenty miles before +stopping for the night at a small wayside inn.</p> + +<p>"This seems like old times to me," Malcolm said as, after +eating supper, they sat by a turf fire, "except that on my way +down I had the herd to look after. There is no fear of our being +questioned or suspected till we reach the border, for there is +not an English soldier between the Forth and the Tweed; nor is it +likely that we shall meet with any difficulty whatever till we +get to Carlisle. Cope's forces, or what remain of them, are at +Newcastle, and it will be there that the English will gather, and +the western road is likely to be open until, at any rate, Prince +Charles moves south. George's troops have plenty to think about +without interfering with the Lowlands drovers. At the same time, +after we have once crossed the Tweed, we may as well leave the +high road. I know every bypath over the fells."</p> + +<p>On the third day after starting they crossed the border and +were among the hills of Cumberland. They found that among the +villages great apprehension existed. The tales of the rapine and +destruction wrought in the old times by the Scottish forays had +been handed down from father to son, and nothing less than the +destruction of their homes and the loss of their flocks and herds +was looked for. Malcolm was welcomed warmly at the little village +inn where they put up for the night.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's well nigh three years since I saw you last," the +host said, "and before that it was seldom two months without our +seeing you. What have you been doing with yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I have been gathering the herds in the Highlands," Malcolm +said, "while others have driven them down for sale; but at +present my occupation is gone. The Highlanders are swarming like +angry bees whose hive has been disturbed, and even if we could +collect a herd it would not be safe to drive it south; it would +be seized and despatched to Edinburgh for the use of the clans +there."</p> + +<p>"Is it true that there are fifty thousand of them, and that +they have sworn to kill every English man, woman, and child?"</p> + +<p>"No, they are not so strong as that," Malcolm said. "From what +I hear I should say they were not more than half; and I do not +think there is any occasion for peaceful people to be afraid, for +they say that the prince has treated all the prisoners who fell +into his hands in the kindest manner, and that he said that the +English are his father's subjects as well as the Scots, and that +he will see that harm is done to no man."</p> + +<p>"I am right glad to hear it," the innkeeper said. "I don't +know that I am much afraid myself; but my wife and daughter are +in a terrible fright, and wanted me to quit the house and go +south till it is all over."</p> + +<p>"There is no occasion for that, man," Malcolm said; "you will +have no reason for fear were the whole of the clans to march +through your village, unless you took it into your head to stand +at the door and shout, 'God bless King George.'"</p> + +<p>"I care not a fig about King George or King James," the man +said. "It's nought to me who is king at London, and as far as I +know that's the way with all here. Let them fight it out +together, and leave us hard working folks to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose either James or George would care for that," +Malcolm said laughing; "but from what I have heard of Prince +Charles I should say that there is nothing in the world that he +would like better than to stand with broadsword or dagger against +the Duke of Cumberland, and so settle the dispute."</p> + +<p>"That would be the most sensible thing to my mind," the +innkeeper said; "but what brings you here, Anderson, since you +have no herd with you?"</p> + +<p>"I am just getting out of it all," Malcolm said. "I have had +my share of hard knocks, and want no more of them. I don't want +to quarrel with Highlanders or Lowlanders, and as trade is at a +standstill at present, and there's nothing for me to do in the +Highlands, I thought I would come south till it was all over. +There is money to collect and things to look after, and I have to +notify to our regular customers that the herds will come down +again as soon as the tempest is over; and between ourselves," he +said in a lower voice, "I wanted to get my nephew out of harm's +way. He has a hankering to join the prince's army, and I don't +want to let him get his brains knocked out in a quarrel which +isn't his, so I have brought him along with me."</p> + +<p>"He is a good looking young fellow, I can see, and a strong +one. I don't wonder that he wanted to mount the white cockade; +lads are always wanting to run their heads into danger. You have +had your share of it, as you say; still you are wise to keep the +lad out of it. I don't hold with soldiering, or fighting in +quarrels that don't concern you.</p> + +<p>Malcolm and Ronald travelled through Cumberland and +Westmoreland, calling upon many of the gentlemen to whom the +latter had been charged to deliver Prince Charles's messages. +They could not, however, flatter themselves that their mission +was a success, for from few of those on whom they called did they +receive assurances that they were prepared to take action; all +the gentlemen professed affection for the Stuarts, but deprecated +a descent into England unless the prince were accompanied by a +strong body of French troops.</p> + +<p>The rising of '15 had been disastrous for the Jacobites of the +North of England, and though all declared that they were ready +again to take up arms and risk all for the cause of the Stuarts, +if the prince was at the head of a force which rendered success +probable, they were unanimously of opinion that it would be +nothing short of madness to rise until at any rate the prince had +marched into England at the head of a strong army.</p> + +<p>The principal personage upon whom they called was Mr. +Ratcliff, a brother of the Earl of Derwentwater, who had been +executed after the rising of '15. That gentleman assured them +that he himself was ready to join the prince as soon as he came +south, but that he wished the prince to know that in his opinion +no large number of English would join.</p> + +<p>"The memory of '15 is still too fresh," he said; "while the +Stuarts have been absent so long that, although there are great +numbers who would prefer them to the Hanoverians, I do not +believe that men have the cause sufficiently at heart to risk +life and property for it. Many will give their good wishes, but +few will draw their swords. That is what I wish you to say to +Prince Charles. Among gentlemen like myself the feeling of +respect and loyalty to his father's house is as strong as ever, +and we shall join him, however desperate, in our opinion, the +chances of success may be; but he will see that the common people +will stand aloof, and leave the battle to be fought out by the +clansmen on our side and George's troops on the other."</p> + +<p>Some weeks were passed in traversing the country to and fro, +for the desired interviews were often only obtained after +considerable loss of time. They could not ride up as two Highland +drovers to a gentleman's house, and had to wait their chances of +meeting those they wished to see on the high road, or of sending +notes requesting an interview, couched in such terms that while +they would be understood by those to whom they were addressed +they would compromise no one if they fell into other hands. There +was indeed the greatest necessity for caution, for the +authorities in all the towns and villages had received orders +from the government to be on the lookout for emissaries from the +north, and they were frequently exposed to sharp examination and +questioning. Indeed it was only Malcolm's familiarity with the +country, and the fact that he had so many acquaintances ready to +testify that he was, as he said, a Scotch drover, in the habit +for many years of journeying down from the north with cattle, +that enabled them to escape arrest.</p> + +<p>After much thought they had decided upon a place of +concealment for the quill containing Ronald's credentials, which +would, they thought, defy the strictest scrutiny. A hole had been +bored from the back into the heel of Ronald's boot deep enough to +contain the quill, and after this was inserted in the hiding +place the hole was filled up with cobbler's wax, so that it would +need a close examination indeed to discover its existence. Thus, +although they were several times closely searched, no document of +a suspicious nature was found upon them.</p> + +<p>Their money was the greatest trouble, as the mere fact of so +large a sum being carried by two drovers would in itself have +given rise to suspicions, although had they been on their return +towards Scotland the possession of such an amount would have been +easily explained as the proceeds of the sale of the cattle they +had brought down. They had therefore left the greater part of it +with a butcher in Carlisle, with whom Malcolm had often had +dealings, retaining only ten pounds for their necessary +expenses.</p> + +<p>The day after they reached Manchester four constables came to +the little inn where they were stopping and told them that they +were to accompany them before the magistrates.</p> + +<p>"I should like to know what offence we are charged with," +Malcolm said angrily. "Things have come to a pretty pass, indeed, +when quiet drovers are to be hauled before magistrates without +rhyme or reason."</p> + +<p>"You will hear the charge quickly enough when you are before +their worships," the constable said; "but that is no affair of +mine--my orders are simply to take you there."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course we must go," Malcolm said grumblingly; "but +here we have been well nigh twenty years travelling to and fro +between England and Scotland, as my host here can testify, +without such a thing happening before. I suppose somebody has +been robbed on the highway, and so you sharp sighted gentlemen +clap hands on the first people you come across."</p> + +<p>Three magistrates were sitting when Ronald and Malcolm were +brought into the courthouse. They were first asked the usual +questions as to their names and business, and then one of the +magistrates said:</p> + +<p>"Your story is a very plausible one; but it happens that I +have here before me the reports, sent in from a score of +different places, for in times like these it is needful to know +what kinds of persons are travelling through the country, and two +men answering to your description are reported to have visited +almost every one of these places. It is stated in nearly every +report that you are drovers ordinarily engaged in bringing down +herds of Highland cattle, and it is added that in every case this +account was verified by persons who have previously known you. +All this would seem natural enough, but you seem to have +journeyed hither and thither without any fixed object. Sometimes +you have stopped for two days at little villages, where you could +have had no business, and, in short, you seem for upwards of a +month to have been engaged in wandering to and fro in such a way +as is wholly incompatible with the affairs upon which you say you +were engaged."</p> + +<p>"But you will observe, sir," Malcolm said quietly, "that I +have not said I am engaged upon any affairs whatever. I am not +come to England on business, but solely to escape from the +troubles which have put a stop to my trade in the Highlands, and +as for fifteen years I was engaged in journeying backwards and +forwards, and had many friends and acquaintances, I came down +partly, as I have said, to avoid being mixed up in the trouble, +partly to call upon old acquaintances, and partly to introduce to +them my nephew, who is new to the work, and will shortly be +engaged in bringing down cattle here. I thought the present was a +good opportunity to show him all the roads and halting places in +order that he might the better carry out the business."</p> + +<p>"Your story has been well got up," one of the magistrates +said, "though I doubt whether there be a single word of truth in +it. However, you will be at present searched, and detained until +we get to the bottom of the matter. This is not a time when men +can travel to and fro through the country without exciting a +suspicion that they are engaged upon other than lawful business. +At present I tell you that in our eyes your conduct appears to be +extremely suspicious."</p> + +<p>The prisoners were then taken to a cell and searched with the +utmost rigour. Their clothes were examined with scrupulous care, +many of the seams being cut open and the linings slit, to see if +any documents were concealed there. Their shoes were also +carefully examined; but the mud had dried over the opening where +the quill was concealed, and the officials failed to discover it. +Even their sticks were carefully examined to see if they +contained any hollow place; but at last, convinced that had they +been the bearers of any documents these must have been +discovered, the officials permitted them to resume their clothes, +and then paying no heed to the angry complaints of Malcolm at the +state to which the garments had been reduced, they left the +prisoners to themselves.</p> + +<p>"Be careful what you say," Malcolm whispered to Ronald. "Many +of these places have cracks or peepholes, so that the prisoners +can be watched and their conversation overheard."</p> + +<p>Having said this Malcolm indulged in a long and violent tirade +on the hardship of peaceful men being arrested and maltreated in +this way, and at the gross stupidity of magistrates in taking an +honest drover known to half the countryside for a Jacobite spy. +Ronald replied in similar strains, and any listeners there might +have been would certainly have gained nothing from the +conversation they overheard.</p> + +<p>"I should not be surprised," Malcolm said in low tones when +night had come and all was quiet, "if some of our friends outside +try to help us. The news will speedily spread that two men of the +appearance of drovers have been taken on suspicion of being +emissaries from Scotland, and it will cause no little uneasiness +among all those on whom we have called. They cannot tell whether +any papers have been found upon us, nor what we may reveal to +save ourselves, so they will have a strong interest in getting us +free if possible."</p> + +<p>"If we do get free, Malcolm, the sooner we return to Scotland +the better. We have seen almost all those whom we are charged to +call upon, and we are certainly in a position to assure the +prince that he need hope for no rising in his favour here before +he comes, and that it is very doubtful that any numbers will join +him if he marches south."</p> + +<p>The next morning they were removed from the cell in which they +had been placed to the city jail, and on the following day were +again brought before the magistrates.</p> + +<p>"You say that you have been calling on people who know you," +one of the magistrates began; "and as I told you the other day we +know that you have been wandering about the country in a strange +way, I now requite that you shall tell us the names of all the +persons with whom you have had communication."</p> + +<p>The question was addressed to Malcolm as the oldest of the +prisoners. Ronald looked round the court, which was crowded with +people, and thought that in several places he could detect an +expression of anxiety rather than curiosity.</p> + +<p>"It will be a long story," Malcolm said in a drawling voice, +"and I would not say for sure but that I may forget one or two, +seeing that I have spoken with so many. We came across the hills, +and the first person we spoke to was Master Fenwick, who keeps +the Collie Dog at Appleswade. I don't know whether your worship +knows the village. I greeted him as usual, and asked him how the +wife and children had been faring since I saw him last. He said +they were doing brawly, save that the eldest boy had twisted his +ankle sorely among the fells."</p> + +<p>"We don't want to hear all this nonsense," the magistrate said +angrily. "We want a list of persons, not what you said to +them."</p> + +<p>"It will be a hard task," Malcolm said simply; "but I will do +the best I can, your worship, and I can do no more. Let me think, +there was Joseph Repton and Nat Somner--at least I think it was +Nat, but I won't be sure to his Christian name--and John Dykes, +and a chap they called Pitman, but I don't know his right +name."</p> + +<p>"Who were all these people?" the magistrate asked.</p> + +<p>"Joe Repton, he is a wheelwright by trade, and Nat Somner he +keeps the village shop. I think the others are both labouring +men. Anyhow they were all sitting at the tap of the Collie Dog +when I went in."</p> + +<p>"But what have we to do with these fellows?" the magistrate +exclaimed angrily.</p> + +<p>"I don't know no more than a child," Malcolm said; "but your +worship ordered me to tell you just the names of the persons I +met, and I am doing so to the best of my ability."</p> + +<p>"Take care, prisoner," the magistrate said sternly; "you are +trifling with the court. You know what I want you to tell me. You +have been to these villages," and he read out some fifteen names. +"What did you go there for, and whom did you see?"</p> + +<p>"That is just what I was trying to tell your worship in +regular order, but directly I begin you stop me. I have been +going through this district for fifteen years, and I am known in +pretty well every village in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and +Lancashire. Having been away for three years, and my trade being +stopped by the war, as your worship well knows, I have been going +round having a crack with the people I know. Such as were +butchers I promised some fine animals next time I came south; +such as were innkeepers I stayed a night with and talked of old +times. If your worship will have patience with me I can tell you +all the names and what I said to each of them, and what they said +to me, and all about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to know about these things. I am asking you +whether you have not been calling on some of the gentry."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, now," Malcolm said with an air of astonishment, "and +this is the first time that I have heard a word about the gentry +since I came into the court. Well, let me think now, I did meet +Squire Ringwood, and he stopped his horse and said to me: 'Is +that you, Malcolm Anderson, you rascal;' and I said, 'It's me, +sure enough, squire;' and he said, 'You rascal, that last score +of beasts I bought of you--'"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" shouted the magistrate as a titter ran through the +court. "All this fooling will do you no good, I can tell you. We +believe that you are a traitor to the king and an emissary of the +Pretender. If you make a clean breast of it, and tell me the +names of those with whom you have been having dealings, there may +be a hope of mercy for you; but if not, we shall get at the truth +other ways, and then your meanness of condition will not save you +from punishment."</p> + +<p>"Your worship must do as you like," Malcolm said doggedly. "I +have done my best to answer your questions, and you jump down my +throat as soon as I open my mouth. What should a man of my +condition have to do with kings or pretenders? They have ruined +my trade between them, and I care not whether King George or King +James get the best of it, so that they do but make an end of it +as soon as possible, and let me bring down my herds again. +There's half a dozen butchers in the town who know me, and can +speak for me. I have sold thousands of beasts to Master Tregold; +but if this is the treatment an honest man meets with I ain't +likely to sell them any more, for as soon as I am let free and +get the money the constables have taken from me I am off to +Glasgow and if I ever come south of the border again, may I be +hung and quartered."</p> + +<p>Finding that nothing was to be made out of the prisoners, the +magistrate ordered them to be taken back to jail.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XVI_The_March_to_Derby_"></a>CHAPTER XVI: The March to +Derby.</h1> + +<p>Two days later when the jailer brought in breakfast to their +cell he dropped on the table by the side of the loaf a tiny ball +of paper, and then without a word went out and locked the back +door. Malcolm put his finger to his lips as Ronald was about to +utter an exclamation of joy.</p> + +<p>"One's appetite is not as good here as it was when we were +tramping the hills, Ronald; but one looks forward to one's meals; +they form a break in the time."</p> + +<p>So saying, he took up one of the lumps of bread and began to +ear, securing at the same time the pellet of paper. "We can't be +too careful," he said in a whisper. "It is quite possible that +they may be able to overhear us."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," Ronald replied in the same tone; "I see no +crack or crevice through which sound could pass."</p> + +<p>"You may not see one," Malcolm said, "but it may exist for all +that. One of the boards of the ceiling may be as thin as paper, +and anyone listening through could hear every word we say when we +speak in our natural voices. The magistrates evidently believe +that they have made a valuable capture, and would give anything +to prove that their suspicions are correct. Now, I will go and +stand at that grated opening and look at this paper, if they are +watching us they will see nothing then."</p> + +<p>The little piece of paper when unfolded contained but a few +words: "Keep up your courage. You have friends without working +for you. Destroy this."</p> + +<p>Malcolm at once again rolled up the pellet, put it into his +mouth and swallowed it, and then whispered to Ronald what he had +just read.</p> + +<p>"I thought," he whispered, "that we should soon get a message +of some sort. The news of our arrest will have set the hearts of +a score of people quaking, and they would do anything now to get +us out from this prison. They have already, you see, succeeded in +bribing our warder."</p> + +<p>At his evening visit the warder passed into Ronald's hand a +small parcel, and then, as before, went out without speaking.</p> + +<p>"I am confirmed in the belief that we can be overheard," +Malcolm said. "Had the man not been afraid of listeners he would +have spoken to us. Now let us see what he has brought us this +time."</p> + +<p>The parcel contained a small file, a saw made of watch spring, +and a tiny phial of oil.</p> + +<p>"So far so good," Malcolm said quietly. "Our way through these +bars is clear enough now. But that is only the beginning of our +difficulties. This window looks into the prison yard, and there +is a drop of some forty feet to begin with. However, I have no +doubt our friends will send us the means of overcoming these +difficulties in due course. All we have to concern ourselves +about now is the sawing through of these bars."</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark they began the work, relieving each +other in turns. The oil prevented much sound being made, but to +deaden it still further they wrapped a handkerchief over the +file. The bars had been but a short time in position and the iron +was new and strong. It was consequently some hours before they +completed their work. When they had done, the grating was left in +the position it before occupied, the cuts being concealed from +any but close observation by kneading up small pieces of bread +and pressing them into them, and then rubbing the edges with iron +filings.</p> + +<p>"That will do for tonight," Malcolm said. "No one is likely to +pay us a visit; but if they did, they would not notice the bars +unless they went up and shook them. Tomorrow morning we can put a +finishing touch to the work."</p> + +<p>As soon as it was daylight they were upon their feet.</p> + +<p>"It does very well as it is," Malcolm said, examining the +grating. "It is good enough to pass, and we need not trouble +further about it. Now collect every grain of those iron filings. +No, don't do that on any account," he broke in, as Ronald was +preparing to blow some of it from the lower stonework through the +opening. "Were you to do that, it would be quite possible that +one of the prisoners walking in the yard might see it, and would +as likely as not report the circumstance to one of the warders in +order to curry favour and perhaps obtain a remission of his +sentence. Scrape it inside and pour every atom down the crevices +in the floor. That done, we are safe unless anyone touches the +grating."</p> + +<p>They watched their warder attentively when he next came into +the cell, but this time he had no message for them. "We must not +be impatient," Malcolm said; "our friends have a good many +arrangements to make, for they will have to provide for our +getting away when we are once out; besides, they will probably +have to bribe other warders, and that kind of thing can't be done +in a hurry."</p> + +<p>It was not for another two days that the warder made any fresh +sign. Then, as on the first occasion, he placed a pellet of paper +on the table with their bread.</p> + +<p>"This is a good deal larger than the last," Ronald +whispered.</p> + +<p>It was not until some little time after they had finished +their meal that Ronald moved to the grating and unrolled the +little ball of paper; it contained only the words:</p> + +<p>"You will receive a rope this evening. With this lower +yourselves from your window into the courtyard. Start when you +hear the church bells strike midnight, cross the court and stand +against the wall near the right hand corner of the opposite side. +The third window on the second floor will be opened, and a rope +lowered to you. Attach yourselves to this, and you will be pulled +up from above."</p> + +<p>After reading the note Ronald passed it on to Malcolm, who, as +before, swallowed it, but had this time to tear it into several +pieces before doing so. The warder was later bringing their +supper than usual that evening, and it was dark when he came in. +As he entered the room he let the lamp fall which he carried.</p> + +<p>"Confound the thing!" he said roughly. "Here, take hold of +this bread, and let me feel for the lamp. I can't be bothered +with going down to get another light. You can eat your supper in +the dark just as well, I have no doubt."</p> + +<p>As he handed Ronald the bread he also pushed into his hand the +end of the rope, and while he pretended to search for the lamp he +turned round and round rapidly, and so unwound the rope, which +was twisted many times round his body. As soon as this was done +he picked up the lamp, and with a rough "Goodnight," left +them.</p> + +<p>"It is just as I suspected," Malcolm said in Ronald's ear. +"There is a peephole somewhere, otherwise there could be no +occasion for him to have dropped the lamp. It is well that we +have always been on our guard."</p> + +<p>They ate their bread in silence, and then after a short talk +on the stupidity of the English in taking two drovers for +messengers of Prince Charles, they lay down on their rough +pallets to pass with what patience they could the long hours +before midnight, for it was late in October, and it was little +after five o'clock when the warder visited them. They felt but +slight anxiety as to the success of the enterprise, for they had +no doubt that every detail had been carefully arranged by their +friends without, although certainly it seemed a strange method of +escape that after lowering themselves from a third floor window +they should afterwards be hauled up into a second. At last, after +what seemed almost an endless watch, they heard the church clocks +strike twelve, and simultaneously rose to their feet. Not a word +was spoken, for although it was improbable in the extreme that +any watcher would be listening at that hour of the night, it was +well to take every precaution. The grating was lifted out and +laid down on one of the couches so that all noise should be +avoided. The rope was then strongly fastened to the stump of one +of the iron bars.</p> + +<p>"Now, Malcolm, I will give you a leg up; I am younger and more +active than you are, so you had better go first."</p> + +<p>Without debating the question, Malcolm put his foot on +Ronald's hand, and in a moment was seated in the opening of the +window. Grasping the rope he let himself quietly out, and lowered +himself to the ground, reaching it so noiselessly that Ronald, +who was listening, did nor hear a sound. After waiting a minute, +however, he sprang up on to the sill, and feeling that the rope +was slack, was soon by Malcolm's side below. Then both removed +their shoes and hung them round their necks, and walking +noiselessly across the court they took up their post under the +window indicated in the note. In less than a minute the end of a +rope was dropped upon their heads.</p> + +<p>"You go first this time, Ronald," Malcolm said, and fastened +it beneath Ronald's arms. Then he gave a pull at the rope to show +that they were ready. The rope tightened, and Ronald found +himself swinging in the air. He kept himself from scraping +against the walls by his hands and feet, and was especially +careful as he passed the window on the first floor. In a minute +he was pulled into the room on the second floor by the men who +had hoisted him up. A low "Hush!" warned him that there was still +a necessity for silence. The rope was lowered again, and Ronald +lent his aid to hoist Malcolm up to the window. As soon as he was +in, it was as slowly and carefully closed.</p> + +<p>"You are mighty heavy, both of you," a voice whispered. "I +should not have thought it would have been such hard work to lift +a man up this height. Now, follow us, and be sure you make no +noise."</p> + +<p>Two flights of stairs were descended, and then they stood +before a small but heavy door; some bolts were drawn and a key +turned in the lock, this being done so noiselessly that Ronald +was sure they must have been carefully oiled. The two men passed +through with them, locking the door behind them.</p> + +<p>"Thank God we are out!" Malcolm said fervently. "I have been +in a watch house more than once in my young days, but I can't say +I like it better as I grow older." They walked for some minutes, +and then their guides opened a door and they entered a small +house.</p> + +<p>"Stir up those peats, Jack," one of the men said, "and blow +them a bit, while I feel for a candle."</p> + +<p>In a minute or two a light was obtained.</p> + +<p>"That's very neatly done, I think, gentlemen," laughed the man +addressed as Jack, and who they now saw was the warder who had +attended upon them. "We had rare trouble in hitting upon that +plan. The cell you were in opened upon a corridor, the doors to +which are always locked by the chief constable himself; and even +if we could have got at his key, and opened one of them, we +should have been no nearer escape, for two of the warders sleep +in the lodge, and there would be no getting out without waking +them, and they could not be got at. They are both of them married +men, with families, and that sort of man does not care about +running risks, unless he happens to be tired of his wife and +wanting a change. Nat here and I have no incumbrances, and +weren't sorry of a chance to shift. Anyhow, there was no way, as +far as we could see, of passing you out through that part of the +prison, and at last the idea struck us of getting you out the way +we did. That wing of the jail is only used for debtors, and they +are nothing like so strict on that side as they are on the other. +Some of the warders sleep there, so there was no difficulty in +getting hold of the key for an hour and having a duplicate made. +Till yesterday all the cells were full, and we had to wait till a +man, whose time was just up, moved out. After that it was clear +sailing."</p> + +<p>"Well, we are immensely obliged to you," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't be obliged to us," the warder replied; "we +are well paid for the job, and have a promise of good berths if +Prince Charles gets the best of it. Anyhow, we shall both make +for London, where we have acquaintances. Now we are going to +dress up; there's no time to be lost talking. There is a light +cart waiting for us and horses for you half a mile outside the +town."</p> + +<p>He opened a cupboard and took our two long smock frocks, which +he and his companion put on.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, will you put on these two suits of soldiers' +clothes. I think they will about fit you."</p> + +<p>Ronald and Malcolm were soon attired as dragoons.</p> + +<p>"There's a regiment of them here," the man said, "so there was +no difficulty in buying a cast off suit and getting these made +from it. As to the helmets, I guess there will be a stir about +them in the morning. We got hold of a soldier today and told him +we wanted a couple of helmets for a lark, and he said, for a +bottle of brandy he would drop them out of a barrack window at +ten o'clock tonight; and he kept his word. Two of them will be +surprised in the morning when they find that their helmets have +disappeared; as to the swords and belts, I don't know that they +are quite right; they were bought at an old shop, and I believe +they are yeomanry swords, but I expect they are neat enough. I +was to give you this letter to take with you; it is, as you see, +directed to General Wade at Newcastle, and purports to come from +the colonel of your regiment here, so that if by any chance you +are questioned on the way, that will serve as a reason for your +journeying north. Here is a purse of twenty guineas; I think +that's about all."</p> + +<p>"But are we not to see those who have done us such service," +Ronald asked, "in order that we may thank them in person?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know who it is any more than the man in the moon," +the warder replied. "It was a woman dressed as a serving wench, +though I doubt it was only a disguise, who came to me. She met me +in the street and asked me if I should like to earn fifty pounds. +I said I had no objection, and then after a good deal of beating +about the bush it came out that what was wanted was that I should +aid in your escape. I didn't see my way to working it alone, and +I told her so. She said she was authorized to offer the same sum +to another, so I said I would talk it over with Nat. He agreed to +stand in, and between us we thought about the arrangements; but I +never got to know any more about her. It was nothing to me whom +the money came from, as long as it was all right. We have had +half down, and are to have the other half when we get to the cart +with you. And now if you are ready we will be starting. The +further we get away from here before morning the better."</p> + +<p>They made their way quietly along the streets. The town was in +total darkness, and they did not meet a single person abroad, and +in a quarter of an hour they were in the open country. Another +ten minutes and they came upon the cart and horses. Three men +were standing beside them, and the impatient stamp of a horse's +hoof showed that the horses were tied up closely. A lantern was +held up as the party came up.</p> + +<p>"All safe?"</p> + +<p>"All safe," Ronald replied. "Thanks, many thanks to you for +our freedom."</p> + +<p>The man holding the lantern was masked, so they could not see +his face. He first turned to the two warders, and placed a bag of +money in their hand.</p> + +<p>"You have done your work well," he said; "the cart will take +you thirty miles on your road, and then drop you. I wish you a +safe journey. You had best hide your money in your boots, unless +you wish it to fall into the hands of highwaymen. The London road +is infested with them."</p> + +<p>With a word of farewell to Ronald and Malcolm, the two warders +climbed into the cart, one of them mounted beside them and took +the reins, and in another minute the cart drove away in the +darkness. As soon as it had started the man with the lantern +removed his mask.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ratcliff!" Ronald exclaimed in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is myself. There are half a dozen of us engaged in +the matter. As soon as we heard of your arrest we determined to +get you out. I was only afraid you would have been taken up to +London before we could get all our plans arranged, for I knew +they had sent up for instructions. It was well that we were ready +to act tonight, for orders were received this afternoon that you +should be sent up under an escort tomorrow. You puzzled them +rarely at your examination, and they could make nothing of you. +Our greatest fear was that you might betray yourselves in the +prison when you fancied you were alone, for we learned from the +men who have just left us that you were placed in a special cell +where all that you said could be overheard, and your movements to +some extent watched through a tiny hole in the wall communicating +with the cell next to it. It widens out on that side so that a +man can get his ear or his eye to the hole, which is high up upon +the wall, and but a quarter of an inch across, so that it could +scarcely be observed unless by one who knew of its existence. The +warder said that they could hear plainly enough through this +hole, but could see very little. However, they do not seem to +have gathered much that way."</p> + +<p>"We were on guard, sir; my friend Malcolm thought it possible +that there might be some such contrivance."</p> + +<p>"And now, my young friend," Mr. Ratcliff said, "you had best +mount at once; follow this road for half a mile, and then take +the broad road to the left; you cannot mistake it. It goes +straight to Penrith. You have got the letter to General +Wade?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and the money; we are indeed in every way greatly +indebted to you."</p> + +<p>"Say nothing about it," Mr. Ratcliff said. "I am risking my +life as well as my fortune in the cause of Prince Charles, and +this money is on his service. I hear he is already on the march +south. Repeat to him when you join him what I have already told +you, namely, that I and other gentlemen will assuredly join him; +but that I am convinced there will be no general rising in his +favour unless a French army arrive to his assistance. The delay +which has taken place has, in my opinion, entirely destroyed his +chances, unless he receives foreign assistance. Wade has ten +thousand men at Newcastle, the Duke of Cumberland has gathered +eight thousand in the Midlands, and there is a third army forming +to cover London. Already many of the best regiments have returned +from Holland, and each day adds to their number. Do all you can +to dissuade him from advancing until French aid arrives; but tell +him also that if he comes with but half a dozen followers, +Charles Ratcliff will join him and share his fate, whatever it +be."</p> + +<p>With a hearty shake of the hand he leapt on his horse, and, +followed by his servant, galloped off in one direction, while +Ronald and Malcolm set out in the other.</p> + +<p>"This is a grand disguise," Ronald said. "We might ride +straight into Wade's camp at Newcastle without being +suspected."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt we could," Malcolm agreed. "Still, it will be +wiser to keep away from the neighbourhood of any English troops. +Awkward questions might be asked, and although the letter you +have for the general may do very well to impress any officers of +militia or newly raised troops we may meet on the road, and would +certainly pass us as two orderlies conveying despatches, it would +be just as well not to have to appear before the general himself. +Our swords and belts would probably be noticed at once by any +cavalry officers. I know nothing about the English army, and do +not know how much the yeomanry swords and belts may differ from +those of the line. However, it is certain the less observation we +attract from the soldiers the better; but as to civilians we can +ride straight on through towns and villages with light +hearts."</p> + +<p>"We may as well breathe our horses a bit, Malcolm, now there +is no occasion for haste, and we can jog along at our own pace. +There is no probability of pursuit, for when they find that we +and the warders are missing and see the rope from our window they +will be sure that we shall have started early and are far away by +the time they find out we are gone."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they travelled quietly north, boldly riding +through small towns and villages, putting up at little inns, and +chatting freely with the villagers who came in to talk over the +news, for the north was all excitement. Orders had been issued +for all the militia to turn out, but there was little response, +for although few had any desire to risk their lives in the cause +of the Stuarts, fewer still had any intention of fighting for the +Hanoverians.</p> + +<p>When they arrived within a few miles of Newcastle they left +the main road and struck across country, their object being to +come down upon the road running north from Carlisle, for they +thought it likely that parties of General Wade's troops would be +scattered far over the country north of Newcastle. At a farm +house they succeeded in buying some civilian clothes, giving out +that they were deserters, and as they were willing to pay well, +the farmer, who had no goodwill towards the Hanoverians, had no +difficulty in parting with two of his best suits.</p> + +<p>They were now in a country perfectly well known to Malcolm, +and travelling by byways across the hills they crossed the +Cheviots a few miles south of Carter Fell, and then rode down the +wild valleys to Castletown and thence to Canobie of the Esk. As +they entered the little town they found the wildest excitement +prevailing. An officer with two orderlies had just ridden in to +say that quarters were to be prepared for Prince Charles, and a +quantity of bullocks and meal got in readiness for the use of the +army, which would arrive late that evening. Ronald soon found the +officer who had brought the order and recognized him as one of +Lord Perth's aides de camp. He did not know Ronald in his present +dress, but greeted him heartily as soon as he discovered who he +was.</p> + +<p>"How is it the troops are coming this way?" Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"They are marching through Liddesdale from Kelso. We halted +there for two days, and orders were sent forward to Wooler to +prepare quarters. This was to throw Wade off the scent and induce +him to march north from Newcastle to oppose us on that road, +while, as you see, we have turned west and shall cross into +Cumberland and make a dash at Carlisle."</p> + +<p>A few hours later the prince arrived with his army, and as +soon as he entered the quarters prepared for him Ronald proceeded +there and made his report.</p> + +<p>"I could wish it had been better, Captain Leslie," the prince +said; "but the die is cast now, and I cannot think that our +friends in the north, who proved so loyal to our cause in '15, +will hang back when we are among them. When they see that Charles +Ratcliff and other gentlemen whom you have visited range +themselves under our banner I believe the common people will join +us also. Now give me a full account of your mission."</p> + +<p>Ronald gave the list of the gentry he had visited, and +described his arrest and imprisonment in Manchester and the +manner in which Mr. Ratcliff had contrived his escape.</p> + +<p>"You have done all that is possible, sir," the prince said, +"and at an early opportunity I will show you I appreciate your +services."</p> + +<p>On the next day, the 8th of November, the corps crossed the +border; on the 9th they were joined by another column, which had +marched from Edinburgh by the western road, and the united force +marched to Carlisle and sat down before it. The walls of the city +were old and in bad condition, the garrison was ill prepared for +a siege. It consisted of a company of invalids in the castle, +under the command of Colonel Durand, and a considerable body of +Cumberland Militia. The walls, however, old as they were, could +for some time have resisted the battery of four pounder guns +which formed the prince's sole artillery.</p> + +<p>The mayor returned no answer to the prince's summons and +orders were issued to begin to throw up trench works, but +scarcely had the operations begun when news arrived that Marshal +Wade was marching from Newcastle to relieve the city. The siege +was at once abandoned, and the prince marched out with the army +to Brampton and took up a favourable position there to give +battle. The news proved incorrect, and the Duke of Perth with +several regiments were sent back to resume the siege.</p> + +<p>On the 13th the duke began to raise a battery on the east side +of the town, but after a few shots had been fired from the walls +the courage of the besieged failed them. The white flag was hung +out, and the town and castle surrendered on the condition that +the soldiers and militia might march away, leaving their arms and +horses behind and engaging not to serve again for a year. On the +17th the prince made a triumphal entry into the place, but was +received with but little show of warmth on the part of the +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>A halt was made at Carlisle and a council was held to +determine upon the next step to be taken. The news which had been +received from Scotland was very unfavourable. Lord Strathallan, +who had been appointed by the prince as commander in chief, and +directed to raise as many troops as possible, had collected +between two and three thousand men at Perth, and Lord Lewis +Gordon had raised three battalions in Aberdeenshire; but on the +other hand a considerable force had been collected at Inverness +for King George. The towns of Glasgow, Paisley, and Dumfries had +turned out their militia for the house of Hanover. The officers +of the crown had re-entered Edinburgh and two regiments of +cavalry had been sent forward by Marshal Wade to their +support.</p> + +<p>While even Scotland was thus wavering it seemed almost madness +for the little army to advance into England. The greater portion +of the Highlanders had from the first objected strongly to leave +their country, and upwards of a thousand had deserted and gone +home on the march down from Edinburgh. They had started less than +six thousand strong, and after leaving a garrison of two hundred +men in Carlisle, but four thousand five hundred were available +for the advance south, while Wade, with his ten thousand men, +would be in their rear and two English armies of nearly equal +strength be waiting to receive them. At the council the opinions +of the leaders were almost unanimous against an advance, but upon +Lord George Murray saying that if Prince Charles decided upon +advancing the army would follow him, he determined upon pressing +forward.</p> + +<p>The army began its advance on the 20th of November, and halted +a day at Penrith, upon the news that Marshal Wade was moving to +attack them; but the English general had not made any move, and +the Scotch again pushed on through Shap, Kendal, and Lancaster, +to Preston. During the march Prince Charles marched with his +troops clad in Highland garb, and with his target thrown across +his shoulder. He seldom stopped for dinner, but ate his food as +he walked, chatting gaily with the Highlanders, and by his +cheerfulness and example kept up their spirits. The strictest +discipline was enforced, and everything required by the troops +was paid for. At Preston the prince on his entry was cheered by +the mob, and a few men enlisted.</p> + +<p>From Preston the army marched to Wigan, and thence to +Manchester. The road was thronged with people, who expressed the +warmest wishes for the prince's success; but when asked to +enlist, they all hung back, saying they knew nothing about +fighting. Still the feeling in favour of the prince's cause +became stronger as he advanced south, and at Manchester he was +received with the acclamations of the inhabitants, the ringing of +the bells, and an illumination of the city in the evening. The +people mounted white cockades, and the next day about two hundred +men enlisted and were enrolled under the name of the Manchester +Regiment, the command of which was given to Mr. Francis Townley, +a Roman Catholic belonging to an old Lancashire family, who, with +Mr. Ratcliff and a few other gentlemen, had joined the army on +the advance.</p> + +<p>The leaders, however, of the prince's army were bitterly +disappointed at the general apathy of the people. Lancashire had +in '15 been the stronghold of the Jacobites, and the mere +accession of two or three hundred men was evident that nothing +like a popular rising was to be looked for, and they had but +themselves to rely upon in the struggle against the whole +strength of England. Marshal Wade was in full march behind them. +The Duke of Cumberland lay at Lichfield in their front with a +force of eight thousand veteran troops; while a third army, of +which the Royal Guards were the nucleus, was being formed at +Finchley. Large bodies of militia had been raised in several +districts. Liverpool had declared against them; Chester was in +the hands of the Earl of Cholmondeley; the bridges of the Mersey +had been broken down; difficulties and dangers multiplied on all +sides.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles, ever sanguine, was confident that he should be +joined by large numbers as he advanced south; but his officers +were now thoroughly alarmed, and the leaders in a body +remonstrated with Lord George Murray against any further advance. +He advised them, however, to offer no further opposition to the +prince's wishes until they came to Derby, promising that, unless +by that time they were joined by the Jacobites in considerable +numbers, he would himself, as general, propose and insist upon a +retreat. Ronald utilized the short halt at Manchester to obtain +new uniforms for himself and Malcolm, which he was glad to +exchange for the farmer's garb, which had been the occasion of a +good deal of joking and mirth among his fellow officers on the +downward march.</p> + +<p>On the first of December, Prince Charles, at the head of one +division, forded the Mersey near Stockport, where the water was +waist deep. The other division, with the baggage and artillery, +crossed lower down, at Cheadle, on a hastily constructed bridge, +and the two columns joined that evening at Macclesfield. Here +Lord George Murray succeeded in misleading the Duke of Cumberland +as to his intentions by a dexterous manoeuvre. Advancing with a +portion of his force he dislodged and drove before him the Duke +of Kingston and a small party of English horse posted at +Congleton, and pursued them some distance along the road towards +Newcastle under Tyne.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Cumberland, supposing that the prince's army were +on their march either to give him battle or to make their way +into Wales, where the Jacobite party were extremely strong, +pushed forward with his main body to Stone. Lord George Murray, +however, having gained his object, turned sharp off to the left, +and after a long march arrived at Ashborne, where the prince, +with the other division of the army, had marched direct. The next +afternoon they arrived at Derby, having thus altogether evaded +the Duke of Cumberland, and being nearly three days' march nearer +London than was his army.</p> + +<p>The prince that night was in high spirits at the fact that he +was now within a hundred and thirty miles of London, and that +neither Wade's nor Cumberland's forces interposed between him and +the capital. But his delight was by no means shared by his +followers, and early next morning he was waited upon by Lord +George Murray and all the commanders of battalions and squadrons, +and a council being held, they laid before the prince their +earnest and unanimous opinion that an immediate retreat to +Scotland was necessary.</p> + +<p>They had marched, they said, so far on the promise either of +an English rising or a French descent upon England. Neither had +yet occurred. Their five thousand fighting men were insufficient +to give battle to even one of the three armies that surrounded +them--scarcely adequate, indeed, to take possession of London +were there no army at Finchley to protect it. Even did they gain +London, how could they hold it against the united armies of Wade +and Cumberland? Defeat so far from home would mean destruction, +and not a man would ever regain Scotland.</p> + +<p>In vain the prince replied to their arguments, in vain +expostulated, and even implored them to yield to his wishes. +After several hours of stormy debate the council broke up without +having arrived at any decision. The prince at one time thought of +calling upon the soldiers to follow him without regard to their +officers; for the Highlanders, reluctant as they had been to +march into England, were now burning for a fight, and were +longing for nothing so much as to meet one or other of the +hostile armies opposed to them. The prince's private advisers, +however, Sheridan and Secretary Murray, urged him to yield to the +opinion of his officers, since they were sure that the clansmen +would never fight well if they knew that their chiefs were +unanimously opposed to their giving battle. Accordingly the +prince, heartbroken at the destruction of his hopes, agreed to +yield to the wishes of his officers, and at a council in the +evening gave his formal consent to a retreat.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XVII_A_Baffled_Plot_"></a>CHAPTER XVII: A Baffled +Plot.</h1> + +<p>Utterly disheartened and dispirited the army commenced its +march north. The prince himself was even more disappointed than +his soldiers, and showed by his manner how bitterly he resented +the decision at which his officers had arrived. It had seemed to +him that success was within his grasp, and that he had but to +march to London to overthrow the Hanoverian dynasty. And it is by +no means improbable that his instincts were more correct than the +calculations of his advisers. The news of his rapid march south +had sent a thrill through the country; and although so far the +number of those who had joined him was exceedingly small, at that +moment numbers of gentlemen in Wales and other parts of the +country were arming their tenants, and preparing to take the +field.</p> + +<p>There was no hostile force between himself and London, for the +force at Finchley was not yet organized, and could have offered +no effectual opposition. A panic reigned in the metropolis, and +the king was preparing to take ship and leave the country. Had +the little army marched forward there is small doubt that James +would have been proclaimed king in London. But it may be doubted +whether Prince Charles could have maintained the advantage he had +gained. Two armies, both superior to his own, were pressing on +his rear, and would have arrived in London but a few days after +himself; and although the Londoners might have accepted him, they +would hardly have risen in arms to aid him against Cumberland's +army. Had this halted at a distance, the reinforcements which +might have joined the prince would have been more than +counterbalanced by the regiments of English and Hanoverian troops +which the king could have sent over, and although the strife +might have been lengthened the result would in all probability +have been the same.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles had no ability in governing. His notions of the +absolute power of kings were as strong as those of his ancestors, +and, surrounded as he was by hotheaded Highlanders, he would +speedily have caused discontent and disgust even among those most +favourably inclined by hereditary tradition to the cause of the +Stuarts. But of all this he was ignorant, and in the retreat from +Derby he saw the destruction of his hopes.</p> + +<p>Hitherto he had marched on foot with the Highlanders, chatting +gaily as he went. Now he rode in rear of the column, and scarce +exchanged a word with even his most intimate advisers. The +Highlanders no longer preserved the discipline which had +characterized their southward march. Villages were plundered and +in some cases burned, and in retaliation the peasantry killed or +took prisoners stragglers and those left behind. Even at +Manchester, where the reception of the army had been so warm a +few days before, its passage was opposed by a violent mob, and +the prince was so offended at the conduct of the townspeople that +he imposed a fine of five thousand pounds upon the city.</p> + +<p>The next morning the march was continued. The Highlanders laid +hands on every horse they could find, and so all pressed on at +the top of their speed for the border. The Duke of Cumberland, +who had fallen back in all haste for the protection of London, +was close to Coventry when he heard that the Scotch had retreated +northward. With all his cavalry, and a thousand foot whom he +mounted on horses supplied by the neighbouring gentry, he set out +in pursuit. At Preston he was joined by another body of horse, +sent across the country from the army of Marshal Wade; but it was +not until he entered Westmoreland that he came up with the rear +guard of the insurgents, which was commanded by Lord George +Murray.</p> + +<p>Defeating some local volunteers who molested him, Lord George +learned from the prisoners that the duke with four thousand men +was close at hand, and he sent on the news to the prince, who +despatched two regiments, the Stuarts of Appin and the +Macphersons of Cluny, to reinforce him. It was nearly dark when +by the light of the moon Lord George saw the English infantry, +who had now dismounted, advancing. He at once charged them at the +head of the Macphersons and Stuarts, and in a few minutes the +English were completely defeated, their commander, Colonel +Honeywood, being left severely wounded on the field, with a +hundred killed or disabled men, while the loss of the Scotch was +but twelve.</p> + +<p>It was with great difficulty that the Highlanders could be +recalled from the pursuit, and Lord George himself sent an urgent +message to the prince begging for a further reinforcement, in +order that he might maintain his ground and defeat the whole +force of the duke. As usual his wishes were disregarded, and he +was ordered to fall back and join the main body at Penrith. The +check, however, was so effective that the duke made no further +attempt to harass the retreat of the Highlanders.</p> + +<p>Passing through Carlisle, some men of a Lowland regiment, and +Colonel Twonley with his regiment raised at Manchester, were left +there as a garrison, so that the road should be kept open for +another and, as the prince hoped, not far distant invasion. The +step was, however, a cruel one, for the Duke of Cumberland at +once laid siege to the place, battered a breach in its ancient +wall, and the garrison were forced to surrender. Many of them +were afterwards executed and imprisoned, and ruin fell upon +all.</p> + +<p>Charles with his army marched north to Glasgow, where they +remained eight days, requisitioning supplies from the town. +During their stay Ronald and Malcolm put up at the house of +Andrew Anderson.</p> + +<p>"What think you of the chances now, Malcolm?" Andrew asked his +brother, after hearing what had taken place since he had last +seen him.</p> + +<p>"I think no better and no worse of it than I did before, +brother. They have had more success than I looked for. I did not +think they would ever have got as far south as Derby. Who would +have thought that a few thousand Highlanders could have marched +half through England? But I see no prospect of success. The +prince is badly advised. He has but one really good soldier with +him, and he is set against him by the intrigues and spite of +Secretary Murray and his friends, and partly, it may be, by Lord +George's own frankness of speech. He has at his back but half the +Highlands, for the other portion stand aloof from him. In the +Lowlands he has found scarce an adherent, and but a handful in +England. The Highlanders are brave; but it is surely beyond human +expectation that five or six thousand Highlanders can vanquish a +kingdom with a brave and well trained army with abundant +artillery. Ronald and I mean to fight it out to the end; but I do +not think the end will be very far off."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for the young prince," Andrew said. "He is a fine +fellow, certainly--handsome and brave and courteous, and +assuredly clement. For three times his life has been attempted, +and each time he has released those who did it without +punishment. I could not but think, as I saw him ride down the +street today, that it was sad that so fine a young man should be +doomed either to the block or to a lifelong imprisonment, and +that for fighting for what he has been doubtless taught to +consider his right. There are many here who are bitter against +him; but I am not one of them, and I am sorry for him, sorry for +all these brave gentlemen and clansmen, for I fear that there +will be a terrible vengeance for all that has been done. They +have frightened the English king and his ministers too sorely to +be ever forgiven, and we shall have sad times in Scotland when +this is all over."</p> + +<p>Two evenings later Ronald noticed that Andrew, who had been +absent for some time, and had only returned just in time for +supper, looked worried and abstracted, and replied almost at +random to any questions put to him.</p> + +<p>"It is of no use," he said suddenly when his wife had left the +room after the conclusion of the meal. "I am a loyal subject of +King George, and I wish him every success in battle, and am +confident that he will crush out this rebellion without +difficulty, but I cannot go as far as some. I cannot stand by and +see murder done on a poor lad who, whatever his faults, is +merciful and generous to his enemies. Malcolm, I will tell you +all I know, only bidding you keep secret as to how you got the +news, for it would cost me my life were it known that the matter +had leaked out through me."</p> + +<p>"This evening five of the council, knowing that I am a staunch +king's man, took me aside after the meeting was over, and told me +that there was a plan on foot to put an end to all the trouble by +the carrying off or slaying of Prince Charles. I was about to +protest against it, when I saw that by so doing I should, in the +first place, do no good; in the second, be looked upon as a +Jacobite; and in the third, be unable to learn the details of +what they were proposing. So I said that doubtless it was a good +thing to lay by the heels the author of all these troubles, and +that the life of one man was as nought in the balance compared to +the prosperity of the whole country. Whereupon they revealed to +me their plan, asking me for a subscription of a hundred pounds +to carry it out, and saying truly that I should get back the +money and great honour from the king when he learned I had done +him such service. After some bargaining I agreed for fifty +pounds."</p> + +<p>"But what is the plot, Andrew?" Malcolm said anxiously.</p> + +<p>"It is just this. The prince, as you know, goes about with +scant attendance, and though there are guards in front of his +house, there are but two or three beside himself who sleep there. +There is a back entrance to which no attention is paid, and it +will be easy for those who know the house to enter by that door, +to make their way silently to his chamber, and either to kill or +carry him off. I threw my voice in against killing, pointing out +that the king would rather have him alive than dead, so that he +might be tried and executed in due form. This was also their +opinion, for they had already hired a vessel which is lying in +the stream. The plan is to seize and gag him and tie his arms. +There will be no difficulty in getting him along through the +streets. There are few folks abroad after ten o'clock, and should +they meet anyone he will conclude that it is but a drunken +Highlander being carried home. You see, Malcolm, there is not +only honour to be gained from the king, but the thirty thousand +pounds offered for the prince's person. I pretended to fall in +with the plan, and gave them the fifty pounds which they lacked +for the hire of the vessel, the captain refusing to let them have +it save for money paid down. Now, Malcolm, I have told you and +Ronald all I know about the matter, and it is for you to see how +a stop may be put to it."</p> + +<p>"The scoundrels!" Malcolm said. "Their loyalty to the king is +but a veil to hide their covetousness for the reward. When is it +to take place, and how many men are likely to be engaged in +it?"</p> + +<p>"Six trusty men of the city watch and their five selves. I +said I would subscribe the money, but would have no active share +in the business. They might have all the honour, I would be +content with my share of the reward offered. Two of them with +four of the guards will enter the house and carry off the prince. +The rest will wait outside and follow closely on the way down to +the port ready to give aid if the others should meet with any +obstruction. The whole will embark and sail to London with +him."</p> + +<p>"And when is this plot to be carried out?" Malcolm asked.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow at midnight. Tide will be high half an hour later; +they will drop down the river as soon as it turns, and will be +well out to sea by the morning. And now I have told you all, I +will only ask you to act so that as little trouble as possible +may arise. Do not bring my name into the matter if you can avoid +doing so; but in any case I would rather run the risk of the ruin +and death which would alight upon me when this rebellion is over +than have such a foul deed of treachery carried out. There is not +a Scotchman but to this day curses the name of the traitor +Menteith, who betrayed Wallace. My name is a humble one, but I +would not have it go down to all ages as that of a man who +betrayed Charles Stuart for English gold."</p> + +<p>"Make yourself easy, brother; Ronald and I will see to that. +When once treachery is known it is easy to defeat, and Ronald and +I will see that your name does not appear in the matter."</p> + +<p>"Thank God that is off my mind!" Andrew said. "And I will off +to bed, or Janet will wonder what I am talking about so long. I +will leave you two to settle how you can best manage the affair, +which you can do without my help, for matters of this kind are +far more in your way than in mine."</p> + +<p>"This is a villainous business, Ronald," Malcolm said when +they were alone; "and yet I am not surprised. Thirty thousand +pounds would not tempt a Highlander who has naught in the world +save the plaid in which he stands up; but these money grubbing +citizens of Glasgow would sell their souls for gain. And now what +do you think had best be done in the matter, so that the plot may +be put a stop to, and that without suspicion falling upon Andrew? +It would be easy to have a dozen men hiding in the yard behind +the house and cut down the fellows as they enter."</p> + +<p>"I do not think that would do, Malcolm; it would cause a +tumult, and the fact could not be hidden. And besides, you know +what these Highlanders are; they already loathe and despise the +citizens of Glasgow, and did they know that there had been a plot +on foot to capture and slay the prince, nothing could prevent +their laying the town in ashes."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough. What do you propose then, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"I think it best that if there should be any fighting it +should be on board the ship, but possibly we may avoid even that. +I should say that with eight or ten men we can easily seize the +vessel, and then when the boat comes alongside capture the +fellows as they step on to the deck without trouble, and leave it +to the prince to settle what is to be done with them."</p> + +<p>"That is certainly the best plan, Ronald. I will get together +tomorrow half a dozen trusty lads who will ask no questions as to +what I want them to do, and will be silent about the matter +afterwards. We must get from Andrew tomorrow morning the name of +the vessel, and see where she is lying in the stream, and where +the boat will be waiting for the prince."</p> + +<p>The next night Ronald and Malcolm with six men made their way +one by one through the streets so as not to attract the attention +of the watch, and assembled near the strand. Not until the clock +struck twelve did they approach the stairs at the foot of which +the boat was lying. There were two men in it.</p> + +<p>"You are earlier than we expected," one said as they descended +the steps. "The captain said a quarter past twelve."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are a little early," Malcolm replied as he stepped +into the boat; "we are ready earlier than we expected."</p> + +<p>A moment later Malcolm suddenly seized one of the sailors by +the throat and dragged him down to the bottom of the boat, a +handkerchief was stuffed into his mouth, and his hands and feet +tied. The other was at the same time similarly secured.</p> + +<p>So suddenly and unexpected had been the attack that the +sailors had had no time to cry out or to offer any resistance, +and their capture was effected without the slightest sound being +heard. The oars were at once got out and the boat was rowed out +towards the vessel lying out in the middle of the stream with a +light burning at her peak. As they approached the side the +captain appeared at the gangway.</p> + +<p>"All is well, I hope?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Could not be better," Malcolm replied as he seized the rope +and mounted the gangway, the others closely following him. As he +sprang upon the deck he presented a pistol at the captain's +head.</p> + +<p>"Speak a word and you die," he said sternly.</p> + +<p>Taken by surprise, the captain offered no resistance, but +suffered himself to be bound. Two or three sailors on deck were +similarly seized and secured, the hatchway was fastened to +prevent the rest of the crew from coming on deck, and the ship +being thus in their possession two of the men at once took their +places in the boat and rowed back to the stairs.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later those on board heard a murmur of +voices on shore, and two or three minutes later the splash of +oars as the boat rowed back to the ship. Ronald put on the +captain's cap and stood at the gangway with a lantern.</p> + +<p>"All right, I hope?" he asked as the boat came alongside.</p> + +<p>"All right, captain! You can get up your anchor as soon as you +like."</p> + +<p>Two men mounted on to the deck, and then four others carried +up a figure and were followed by the rest. As the last one +touched the deck Ronald lifted the lantern above his head, and, +to the astonishment of the newcomers, they saw themselves +confronted by eight armed men.</p> + +<p>The six men of the watch, furious at the prospect of losing +the reward upon which they had reckoned, drew their swords and +rushed forward; but they were struck down with handspikes and +swords, for Ronald had impressed upon his men the importance of +not using their pistols, save in the last extremity. In two +minutes the fight was over. The five citizens had taken little +part in it, save as the recipients of blows; for Malcolm, furious +at their treachery, had bade the men make no distinction between +them and the watch, and had himself dealt them one or two heavy +blows with his handspike after he had seen that the guard was +overpowered.</p> + +<p>The whole of them were then bound, and warned that their +throats would be cut if they made the least noise. The prince was +released from his bonds, and he was at once conducted by Malcolm +and Ronald to the cabin, where a light was burning.</p> + +<p>The prince was so much bewildered by the events that had +occurred that he did not yet understand the state of the case. He +had been awoke by a gag being roughly forced into his mouth, +while at the same moment his hands were tightly bound. Then he +was lifted from his bed, some clothes were thrown on to him, a +man took his place on either side, and, thrusting their arms into +his, threatened him with instant death if he did not come along +with them without resistance. Then he had been hurried down +stairs and along the streets, two men keeping a little ahead and +others following behind. He had been forced into a boat and rowed +up to a ship, and on reaching the deck a desperate combat had +suddenly commenced all round him. Then the gag had been removed +and the bonds cut. Bewildered and amazed he gazed at the two men +who had accompanied him to the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Why, Captain Leslie!" he exclaimed. "Is it you? What means +all this scene through which I have passed?"</p> + +<p>"It means, your royal highness," Ronald said respectfully, +"that I and my friend Malcolm obtained information of a plot on +the part of some of the citizens to carry you off and sell you to +the English. We could have stopped it by attacking them as they +entered the house to seize you; but had we done so an alarm must +have been raised, and we feared that the Highlanders, when they +knew of the treachery that had been attempted against you, might +have fallen upon the citizens, and that a terrible uproar would +have taken place. Therefore we carried out another plan. We first +of all obtained possession of the ship in which you were to have +been taken away, and then overcame your captors as they brought +you on board. All this has been done without any alarm having +been given, and it now rests with you to determine what shall be +done with these wretches."</p> + +<p>"You have done well, indeed, Captain Leslie, and I thank you +and your friend not only for the great service you have rendered +me, but for the manner in which you have done it. I ought to have +foreseen this. Did not the Lowlanders sell King Charles to the +English? I might have expected that some at least would be +tempted by the reward offered me. As for punishment for these +men, they are beneath me. And, moreover, if I can trust my eyes +and my ears, the knocks which you gave them will be punishment +enough even did I wish to punish them, which I do not. I could +not do so without the story of the attempt being known, and in +that case there would be no keeping my Highlanders within bounds. +As it is they are continually reproaching me with what they call +my mistaken clemency, and there would be no restraining them did +they know of this. No, we had best leave them to themselves. We +will order the captain to put to sea with them at once, and tell +him he had best not return to Glasgow until I have left it. They +will have time to reflect there at leisure, and as, doubtless, +they have each of them given reasons at home for an absence of +some duration there will be no anxiety respecting them. And now, +gentlemen, will you fetch in those who have aided in my rescue. I +would thank every one of them for the service they have rendered, +and impress upon them my urgent desire that they should say +nothing to anyone of this night's work."</p> + +<p>While the prince was speaking to the men, Malcolm went out, +and having unbound the captain, ordered him to deliver up the sum +which he had received for the conveyance of the prince and his +captors to England.</p> + +<p>The captain did as he was ordered.</p> + +<p>"How much is there here?" Malcolm asked.</p> + +<p>"Three hundred pounds."</p> + +<p>Malcolm counted out fifty of it and placed them in his pocket, +saying to Ronald:</p> + +<p>"There is no reason Andrew should be a loser by the +transaction. That will leave two hundred and fifty, which I will +divide among our men when we get ashore."</p> + +<p>Malcolm then gave the prince's orders to the captain; that he +must, immediately they left the ship, get up his anchor as before +intended, and make out to sea; and that under pain of being tried +and executed for his share in this treacherous business, he was +not to return to Glasgow with his eleven passengers for the space +of a week.</p> + +<p>The prince and his rescuers then entered the boats and rowed +to shore, and the prince regained his apartment without anyone in +the house being aware that he had been absent from it. The next +day the prince sent for Ronald and Malcolm, and in a private +interview again expressed to them his gratitude for his rescue +from the hands of his enemies.</p> + +<p>"I have none but empty honour to bestow now," he said; "but +believe me, if I ever mount the throne of England you shall see +that Charles Edward Stuart is not ungrateful."</p> + +<p>The incident was kept a close secret, only two or three of the +prince's most intimate advisers ever informed of it. These were +unanimous in urging that an absolute silence should be maintained +on the subject, for the fact that the attempt would have +certainly been crowned with success had it not been for the +measures Ronald had taken, might encourage others to attempt a +repetition of it.</p> + +<p>Having rested his army by a stay of eight days at Glasgow, +Prince Charles set out on the 3rd of January, 1746, for Stirling, +where he was joined by Lords John Drummond, Lewis Gordon, and +Strathallan, the first named of whom had brought some battering +guns and engineers from France. Their following raised the force +to nearly nine thousand men--the largest army that Charles +mustered during the course of the campaign. The siege of Stirling +was at once commenced; but the castle was strong and well +defended, and the siege made but little progress.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland had been recalled with +the greater part of his force to guard the southern coasts of +England, which were threatened by an invasion by a French force +now assembled at Dunkirk, and which, had it sailed before the +Highlanders commenced their retreat from Derby, might have +altogether altered the situation of affairs. The command of the +English army in the north was handed by the duke to General +Hawley, a man after his own heart, violent in temper, brutal and +cruel in conduct.</p> + +<p>He collected at Edinburgh an army of nearly the same strength +as that of Prince Charles, and with these he matched out as far +as Falkirk to raise the siege of Stirling, and, as he confidently +boasted, to drive the rebels before him. Prince Charles, leaving +a few hundred men to continue the siege, matched out to +Bannockburn. The English did not move out from Falkirk, and the +prince, after waiting for a day, determined to take the +initiative.</p> + +<p>Hawley himself was stopping at Callendar House at some +distance from his army and General Huske remained in command of +the camp. To occupy his attention the prince despatched Lord John +Drummond, with all the cavalry, by the straight road by Stirling +to Falkirk, which ran north of the English camp. They displayed, +as they marched, the royal standard and other colours, which had +the desired effect of impressing Huske with the idea that the +prince with all his army was moving that way. In the meantime +Charles with his main force had crossed the river Carron to the +south and was only separated from the English by Falkirk Muir, a +rugged and rigid upland covered with heath.</p> + +<p>Just as the English were about to take their dinner some +country people brought in the news of the approach of the +Highlanders. Huske at once got his men under arms, but he had no +authority, in the absence of Hawley, to set them in motion. +Messengers, however, were sent off on horseback at once to +Callendar House, and the general presently galloped up in +breathless haste, and putting himself at the head of his three +regiments of dragoons, started for Falkirk Muir, which he hoped +to gain before the Highlanders could take possession of it. He +ordered the infantry to follow as fast as possible. A storm of +wind and rain beat in the face of the soldiers, and before they +could gain the crest of the muir the Highlanders had obtained +possession. The English then halted and drew up on somewhat lower +ground.</p> + +<p>Between them was a ravine which formed but a small depression +opposite the centre of the English line, but deepened towards the +plain on their right. The English artillery, in the hurry of +their advance, had stuck fast in a morass, but as the Highlanders +had brought no guns with them the forces were equal in this +respect. Lord John Drummond had from a distance been watching the +movements of the English, and as soon as he saw that they had +taken the alarm and were advancing against the prince, he made a +detour, and, riding round the English, joined the Highland +infantry. The prince's army was divided into two lines: its right +was commanded by Lord George Murray, the left by Lord John +Drummond; the prince, as at Preston, took up his station in the +centre of the second line on a conspicuous mound, still known by +the name of Charlie's Hill.</p> + +<p>The English infantry were also drawn up in two lines, with the +Argyle militia and the Glasgow regiment in reserve behind the +second line. The cavalry were in front under Colonel Ligonier, +who, at the death of Colonel Gardiner, had succeeded to the +command of his regiment. General Hawley commanded the centre and +General Huske the right.</p> + +<p>The battle commenced by a charge of Ligonier with his cavalry +upon the Highland right. Here the Macdonald clansmen were posted, +and these, at Lord George Murray's order, reserved their fire +until the dragoons were within ten yards, and then poured in a +scathing volley, under which numbers of the horsemen went down. +The two dragoon regiments, which had fled so shamefully at +Preston and Coltbridge, turned and galloped at once from the +field; but Cobham's regiment fought well, and when compelled to +retreat rallied behind the right of the line.</p> + +<p>Lord George Murray endeavoured to get the victorious +Macdonalds into line again; but these were beyond control and +rushing forward fell upon the flank of Hawley's two lines of +foot, which were at the same moment furiously assailed in front; +the Highlanders, after pouring in their fire, dropped their +muskets and charged broadsword in hand.</p> + +<p>The English, nearly blinded by the wind and rain, were unable +to withstand this combined assault. General Hawley, who at least +possessed the virtue of courage, rode hither and thither in their +front, trying to encourage them, but in vain, the whole centre +gave way and fled in confusion. On the right, however, the +English were defending themselves successfully. The three +regiments placed there, on the edge of the ravine, maintained so +steady a fire that the Highlanders were unable to cross it, and +Cobham's dragoons charged down upon the scattered and victorious +Highlanders in the centre and effectually checked their pursuit. +Prince Charles, seeing the danger, put himself at the head of the +second line and advanced against the three English regiments who +still stood firm.</p> + +<p>Unable to withstand so overwhelming a force these fell back +from the ground they had held, but did so in steady order, their +drums beating, and covering, in their retreat, the mingled mass +of fugitives. Had the Highlanders, at this critical moment, flung +themselves with their whole force upon these regiments the +English army would have been wholly destroyed; but night was +already setting in, and the Scottish leaders were ignorant how +complete was their victory, and feared an ambuscade. Lord John +Drummond, a general officer in the French service, especially +opposed the pursuit, saying, "These men behaved admirably at +Fontenoy; surely this must be a feint."</p> + +<p>The Highlanders remained stationary on the field until some +detachments, sent forward by the prince, brought back word that +the English had already retreated from Falkirk. They left behind +them on the field four hundred dead or dying, with a large +portion of officers, and a hundred prisoners; all their +artillery, ammunition, and baggage fell into the hands of the +Highlanders, whose total loss was only about a hundred. The +English, on their retreat, burned to the ground the royal palace +at Linlithgow.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII_Culloden_"></a>CHAPTER +XVIII: Culloden.</h1> + +<p>The victory of Falkirk brought but little advantage to Prince +Charles, and dissensions arose among the officers; Lord George +Murray being furious with Lord John Drummond for preventing the +complete destruction of the English army, while Lord John +Drummond severely criticised Lord George for the confusion which +had taken place among his troops after their success.</p> + +<p>Great numbers of the Highlanders, who had spent the night +after the battle in plundering the English camp and stripping the +slain, made off with their booty to the mountains, and the number +of desertions was increased by the withdrawal of the greater part +of Glengarry's clansmen. On the day after the battle the musket +of one of the Clanranald clansmen went off by accident and killed +the son of Glengarry. His clansmen loudly demanded life for life, +and Clanranald having reluctantly consented to surrender his +follower, the poor fellow was immediately led out and shot; but +even this savage act of vengeance was insufficient to satisfy the +Glengarry men, the greater part of whom at once left the army and +returned to their homes.</p> + +<p>After the battle the siege of Stirling was renewed; but owing +to the gross incompetence of a French engineer, who had come over +with Lord Drummond, the batteries were so badly placed that their +fire was easily silenced by that of the castle guns. The prince, +in spite of the advice of Lord George Murray and the other +competent authorities, and listening only to his favourite +councillors, Secretary Murray and Sir Thomas Sheridan, continued +the siege, although on the 30th of January the Duke of Cumberland +arrived in Edinburgh and took the command of the army.</p> + +<p>Never had Scotland a more bitter enemy. Relentless and savage +as General Hawley had been, his deeds were more than rivalled by +those of the Duke of Cumberland, who was justly branded by +contemporary historians with the name of "the butcher." He was, +however, an able general, of great activity and high personal +courage.</p> + +<p>After halting but one night in Edinburgh he set out at the +head of his army to meet the enemy; but these did not repeat +their tactics at Falkirk. Disgusted at the conduct of the prince +in slighting their advice and listening only to his unworthy +counsellors, Lord George Murray with all the principal military +leaders held a consultation, and presented a memorial to the +prince. In this they stated that, seeing the great numbers of +Highlanders who had gone home, they were of opinion that another +battle could not be fought with a chance of success, and +therefore recommended that the army should at once retire to the +Highlands, where a sufficient number of men could be kept +together to defy the efforts of the enemy at such a season of the +year, and that in the spring ten thousand Highlanders could be +got together to go wheresoever the prince might lead them. Prince +Charles was struck with grief and dismay at this decision, but as +all the military leaders had signed it he was forced to give +way.</p> + +<p>The army at once blew up its magazines, spiked its guns, and +marched for the north in two divisions with much confusion and +loss of order. The Duke of Cumberland pursued, but was unable to +come up to them, and halted at Perth.</p> + +<p>Ronald, who had, from the time he returned to the army, again +taken up his former appointment of aide de camp to Lord George +Murray, had during this time tried his best to reconcile the +differences which were constantly breaking out between that +general, the prince, and the clique who surrounded him. It was a +difficult task, for Lord George's impetuosity and outspoken +brusqueness, and his unconcealed contempt for Secretary Murray +and Sheridan, reopened the breach as fast as it was closed.</p> + +<p>Since the day when he had saved the prince from being carried +off at Glasgow the latter had shown a marked partiality for +Ronald's society, and the latter had therefore many opportunities +of intervening to prevent open quarrels from breaking out. The +prince himself was frequently greatly depressed in spirits, and +the light hearted gaiety which had distinguished him on the first +landing was now fitful and short lived. His disappointment at the +failure of a campaign in which he had won every battle was deep +and bitter. He had relied upon the aid of France, but no aid had +come. He had been grossly misinformed as to the willingness of +the Jacobites of England to take up arms in his favour; and +although a portion of the Highlanders of Scotland had warmly +embraced his cause, yet many on whom he had relied stood aloof or +were in arms against him, while in the Lowlands he had found but +few adherents.</p> + +<p>So far from gaining ground, he was losing it. Numbers of the +Highlanders had gone off to their homes. The retreat from Derby +had completely chilled the enthusiasm of his adherents, while the +waverers and time servers had been induced thereby to declare +against him. The Duke of Cumberland's army steadily increased, +and even had the advice of the Highland chiefs been followed and +the army dispersed to reassemble in the spring, the chances of +success would have been no more favourable than at present, for +now that the first surprise and panic were past England would put +forth her whole strength, and would by the spring have an army +assembled in Scotland against which the Highland clans, even if +unanimous, could not hope to cope.</p> + +<p>Ronald was perfectly alive to the hopelessness of final +success. He had seen the British infantry at Dettingen and +Fontenoy, and felt sure that although the wild Highland rush had +at first proved irresistible, this could nor continue, and that +discipline and training must eventually triumph over mere valour. +When he and Malcolm talked the matter over together they agreed +that there could be but one issue to the struggle, and that ruin +and disaster must fall upon all who had taken part in the +enterprise.</p> + +<p>"I feel thankful indeed," Ronald said one day, "that I am here +only as a private gentleman risking my own life. I do not know +what my feelings would be, if, like these Highland chiefs, I had +brought all my kinsmen and followers with me into the field. The +thought of the ruin and misery which would fall upon them would +be dreadful. I fear that the vengeance which will be taken after +this is over will be far greater and more widespread than that +which followed '15. All say that the Duke of Cumberland is brutal +and pitiless, and the fact that we were nearly successful will +naturally add to the severity with which the English government +will treat us if we fall into their power. Had the enterprise +been defeated at its commencement they could have afforded to be +lenient. As it is, I fear that they will determine to teach the +Highlands such a lesson as will ensure their never again +venturing to rise in arms against the house of Hanover."</p> + +<p>"And I don't know that they are altogether to be blamed," +Malcolm said. "I am not so young as I was, Ronald, and I see now +that I was wrong in teaching you to be a Jacobite. It is all very +well for men like Tullibardine, who knew the Stuarts on the +throne, to fight to put them back again; but to your generation, +Ronald, the Stuarts are after all only a tradition, and it is a +sort of generous madness for you to risk your life to set them +again on the throne of England. It cannot matter a brass pin to +you whether James or George rules at St. James's. It is not, as +in the case of the Royalists in England in Charles's time or of +the Covenanters of Scotland, that a great principle is involved--a +principle for which men may well risk their lives and all +they hold dear. It is a question of persons only, and although I +may hold that by right of descent Charles Edward is Prince of +Wales and rightful heir to the throne of England, that is no +reason why I should risk my life to place him there; and after +all it seems to me that if the majority in these islands +determine that they will be ruled by the house of Hanover instead +of the house of Stuart they have some right to make their own +choice."</p> + +<p>"You argue like a philosopher, Malcolm," Ronald said laughing, +"and do not remind me in the slightest degree of the Malcolm who +used to chat with me in Glasgow."</p> + +<p>"You are right there, lad. You see I was brought up a +Jacobite, and I have been a soldier all my life, accustomed to +charge when I was told to charge and to kill those I was told to +kill; but I own that since I have been out now I have got to look +at matters differently. The sight of all these poor Highland +bodies blindly following their chiefs and risking life and all +for a cause in which they have no shadow of interest has made me +think. A soldier is a soldier, and if he were to sit down to +argue about the justice of every cause in which he is ordered to +fight there would be an end to all discipline. But these poor +fellows are not soldiers, and so I say to myself, What concern +have they in this matter? Their chiefs would gain honours and +rewards, patents of high nobility, and additions to their estates +if the Stuarts conquered, but their followers would gain nothing +whatever. No, lad, if we get over this scrape I have done with +fighting; and I hope that no Stuart will ever again succeed in +getting Scotland to take up his cause. I shall go on fighting for +Prince Charles as long as there is a man left with him; but after +that there is an end of it as far as I am concerned, and I hope +as far as Scotland is concerned."</p> + +<p>"I hope so too, Malcolm. When Scotland is herself divided, +Ireland passive, and all England hostile, success is hopeless. +The Stuarts will never get such another chance again as they had +on the day when we turned our backs on London at Derby, and I +hope that they will not again make the attempt, especially as it +is manifest now that France has only used them as tools against +England, and has no idea of giving them any effectual aid."</p> + +<p>Charles on approaching Inverness found it toughly fortified +and held by Lord Loudon with a force of two thousand men. The +prince halted ten miles from the town at Moy Castle, where he was +entertained by Lady M'Intosh, whose husband was serving with Lord +Loudon, but who had raised the clan for Prince Charles. The +prince had but a few personal attendants with him, the army +having been halted at some distance from the castle.</p> + +<p>One evening Ronald had ridden over to Moy Castle with some +despatches from Lord George Murray to the prince, and had +remained there to dine with him. It was late before he mounted +his horse. He was, as usual, accompanied by Malcolm. They had +ridden but a short distance through the wood which surrounded the +castle when a shot was fired, and almost immediately afterwards +four or five men came running through the trees.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" Malcolm shouted.</p> + +<p>"The English army are upon us!" one of the M'Intoshes--for +they were clansmen who had been sleeping in the wood--answered.</p> + +<p>"They must intend to seize the prince," Ronald said, "and will +already have sent round a body of horse to cut off his retreat. +Scatter through the wood, men, and do each of you raise the war +cry of one of the clans as if the whole army were here. This may +cause a delay and enable the prince to ride off. Malcolm, do you +ride back with all speed to the castle and warn the prince of +Loudon's approach."</p> + +<p>The Highlanders at once obeyed Ronald's orders, and in a +minute or two the war cries of half a dozen of the principal +clans in Prince Charles's army rang through the woods, while at +the same time the Highlanders discharged their muskets. Ronald +also shouted orders, as to a large body of men.</p> + +<p>The English, who had made sure of effecting a successful +surprise, hesitated as they heard the war cries of the clans +ringing through the woods, and believing that the whole of Prince +Charles's army were at hand and they were about to be attacked in +overwhelming numbers, they retreated hastily to Inverness. No +sooner had Ronald discovered that they had fallen back than he +rode off to inform the prince that the danger was over.</p> + +<p>He found Prince Charles mounted, with Lady M'Intosh on +horseback by his side, and the retainers in the castle gathered +round, broadsword in hand, in readiness to cut their way through +any body of the enemy's horse who might intercept their retreat. +Charles laughed heartily when he heard of the strategy which +Ronald had employed to arrest the advance of the enemy, and +thanked him for again having saved him from falling into the +hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>The English made their retreat to Inverness in such confusion +and dismay that the affair became known in history as the "rout +of Moy."</p> + +<p>The next morning, the 17th of February, the prince called up +his army, and the next day advanced against Inverness. Lord +Loudon did not await his coming. The panic of his soldiers two +days before showed him that no reliance could be placed upon +them, and embarking with them in boats he crossed the Moray Frith +to Cromarty, where the troops shortly afterwards disbanded upon +hearing that the Earl of Cromarty was marching against them with +some Highland regiments.</p> + +<p>The town of Inverness was occupied at once, and the citadel +surrendered in a few days. The army, now in a barren and +mountainous region, were deprived of all resources. Many ships +with supplies were sent off from France, but few of them reached +their destination; several being captured by British cruisers, +and others compelled to go back to French ports.</p> + +<p>The supply of money in the treasury was reduced to the lowest +ebb, and Charles was obliged to pay his troops in meal, and even +this was frequently deficient, and the men suffered severely from +hunger. Many deserted, and others scattered over the country in +search of subsistence.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland's army was receiving +powerful reinforcements. In February Prince Frederick of Hesse +Cassel, with five thousand of his troops, who had been hired by +the British government, landed at Leith. These troops were placed +in garrison in all the towns in the south of Scotland, thus +enabling the Duke of Cumberland to draw together the whole of the +English forces for his advance into the Highlands.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of April he set out from Aberdeen with eight +thousand foot and nine hundred horse. He marched along the coast +accompanied by the fleet, which landed supplies as needed. At the +Spey, Lord John Drummond had prepared to defend the fords, and +some works had been thrown up to protect them; but the English +cannon were brought up in such numbers that Lord John, +considering the position untenable, retired to Inverness, while +the English army forded the Spey, and on the 14th entered Nairn, +where some skirmishing took place between their advance guard and +the Highland rear.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles and his principal officers rested that night at +Culloden House and the troops lay upon the adjacent moor. On the +morning of the 15th they drew up in order of battle. The English, +however, rested for the day at Nairn, and there celebrated the +Duke of Cumberland's birthday with much feasting, abundant +supplies being landed from the fleet.</p> + +<p>The Highlanders, on the other hand, fasted, only one biscuit +per man being issued during the day. Consequently many straggled +away to Inverness and other places in search of food. Lord +Cromarty, with the regiments under his command, were absent, so +that barely five thousand men were mustered in the ranks. At a +council of war Lord George Murray suggested that a night surprise +should be made on the duke's camp at Nairn, and as this was the +prince's own plan it was unanimously agreed to.</p> + +<p>Before, however, the straggling troops could be collected it +was eight o'clock at night. Nairn was twelve miles distant, and +the men, weakened by privation and hunger, marched so slowly +across the marshy ground that it was two o'clock in the morning +before the head of the columns arrived within four miles of the +British camp, while the rear was still far away, and many had +dropped out of the ranks from fatigue.</p> + +<p>It was now too late to hope that a surprise could be effected +before daylight, and the army retraced its steps to Culloden +Moor. Worn out and exhausted as they were, and wholly without +supplies of provisions, Lord George Murray and the other military +officers felt that the troops could not hope to contend +successfully against a vastly superior army, fresh, well fed, and +supported by a strong force of artillery, on the open ground, and +he proposed that the army should retire beyond the river Bairn, +and take up a position there on broken ground inaccessible to +cavalry.</p> + +<p>The prince, however, supported by Sir Thomas Sheridan and his +other evil advisers, overruled the opinion of the military +leaders, and decided to fight on level ground. The Highlanders +were now drawn up in order of battle in two lines. On the right +were the Athole brigade, the Camerons, the Stuarts, and some +other clans under Lord George Murray; on the left the Macdonald +regiments under Lord John Drummond. This arrangement, +unfortunately, caused great discontent among the Macdonalds, just +as their being given the post of honour at Falkirk had given +umbrage to the other clans.</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock the English army was seen approaching. It +was formed in three lines, with cavalry on each wing, and two +pieces of cannon between every two regiments of the first line. +The battle began with an artillery duel, but in this the +advantage was all on the side of the English, the number of their +pieces and the skill of their gunners being greatly superior.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles rode along the front line to animate his men, +and as he did so several of his escort were killed by the English +cannonade. A storm of snow and hail had set in, blowing full in +the face of the Highlanders. At length Lord George Murray, +finding that he was suffering heavily from the enemy's artillery +fire, while his own guns inflicted but little damage upon them, +sent to Prince Charles for permission to charge.</p> + +<p>On receiving it he placed himself at the head of his men, and +with the whole of the right wing and centre charged the enemy. +They were received with a tremendous musketry fire, while the +English artillery swept the ranks with grape; but so furious was +their onslaught that they broke through Munro and Burrel's +regiments in the first line and captured two pieces of cannon. +But behind were the second line drawn up three deep, with the +front rank kneeling, and these, reserving their fire until the +Highlanders were close at hand, opened a rolling fire so +sustained and heavy that the Highlanders were thrown into +complete disorder.</p> + +<p>Before they could recover themselves they were charged by +horse and foot on both flanks, and driven together till they +became a confused mass. In vain did their chiefs attempt to rally +them. Exhausted and weakened in body, swept by the continuous +fire of the English, they could do no more, and at last broke and +fled. In the meantime the Macdonalds on the left remained +inactive. In vain Lord John Drummond and the Duke of Perth called +upon them to charge, in vain their chief, Keppoch, rushed forward +with a few of his clansmen and died in front of them. Nothing +would induce them to fight, and when the right and centre were +defeated they fell back in good order, and, joining the remnants +of the second line, retired from the field unbroken.</p> + +<p>Charles, from the heights on which he stood with a squadron of +horse, could scarce believe the evidence of his eyes when he saw +the hitherto victorious Highlanders broken and defeated, and +would have ridden down himself to share their fate had not +O'Sullivan and Sheridan seized his horse by the bridle and forced +him from the field. Being pressed by the English, the retreating +force broke into two divisions. The smaller retreated to +Inverness, where they next day laid down their arms to the Duke +of Cumberland; the other, still preserving some sort of order, +marched by way of Ruthven to Badenoch.</p> + +<p>Fourteen colours, two thousand three hundred muskets, and all +their cannon fell into the hands of the English. The loss of the +victors in killed and wounded amounted to three hundred and ten +men, that of the Highlanders to a thousand. No quarter was given +to the stragglers and fugitives who fell into the hands of the +English. Their wounded were left on the ground till the following +day without care or food, and the greater portion of them were +then put to death in cold blood, with a cruelty such as never +before or since disgraced an English army.</p> + +<p>Some were beaten to death by the soldiers with the stocks of +their muskets, some were dragged out from the thicket or caverns +to which they had crawled and shot, while one farm building, in +which some twenty wounded men had taken refuge, was deliberately +set on fire and burned with them to the ground. In any case such +conduct as this would have inflicted eternal discredit upon those +who perpetrated it; but it was all the more unjustifiable and +abominable after the extreme clemency and kindness with which +Prince Charles had, throughout the campaign, treated all +prisoners who fell into his hands.</p> + +<p>Ronald had ridden close beside Lord George Murray as he led +the Highlanders to the charge; but he had, as they approached the +first English line, received a ball in the shoulder, while almost +at the same instant Malcolm's horse was shot under him. Ronald +reeled in the saddle, and would have fallen had not Malcolm +extricated himself from his fallen horse and run up to him.</p> + +<p>"Where are you hit, lad?" he asked in extreme anxiety.</p> + +<p>"In the shoulder, Malcolm. Help me off my horse, and do you +take it and go on with the troops."</p> + +<p>"I shall do nothing of the kind," Malcolm said. "One man will +make no difference to them, and I am going to look after +you."</p> + +<p>So saying he sprang up behind Ronald, and placing one arm +round him to support him, took the reins in the other and rode to +the rear. He halted on rising ground, and for a short time +watched the conflict.</p> + +<p>"The battle is lost," he said at last. "Lord George's troops +are in utter confusion. The Macdonalds show no signs of moving, +though I can see their officers are urging them to charge. Now, +Ronald, the first thing is to get you out of this, and beyond the +reach of pursuit."</p> + +<p>So saying he turned the horse and rode away from the field of +battle.</p> + +<p>"Does your shoulder hurt much?" he asked after they had gone a +short distance.</p> + +<p>"It does hurt abominably," Ronald said faintly, for he was +feeling almost sick from the agony he was suffering from the +motion of the horse.</p> + +<p>"I am a fool," Malcolm said, "not to have seen to it before we +started. I can't do much now; but at least I can fasten it so as +to hurt you as little as possible."</p> + +<p>He took off his scarf, and, telling Ronald to place his arm in +the position which was most comfortable to him, he bound it +tightly against his body.</p> + +<p>"That is better, is it not?" he asked as he again set the +horse in motion.</p> + +<p>"Much better, Malcolm. I feel that I can go on now, whereas +before I could not have gone much further if all Cumberland's +cavalry had been close behind. How far are you thinking of going? +I don't think my horse can carry double much further. Poor beast, +he has had as short rations as his master, and was on the move +all last night."</p> + +<p>"No. But we shall not have to make a very long journey. The +English marched twelve miles before they attacked us, and I do +not think they are likely to closely pursue far tonight; besides, +I have no intention of riding now that there is no fear of +immediate pursuit. I think that in another two miles we shall be +safe from any fear of the English cavalry overtaking us, for we +shall then reach a forest. Once in that we shall be safe from +pursuit, and shall soon be in the heart of the hills."</p> + +<p>On reaching the forest Malcolm dismounted, and leading the +horse turned off from the road. Following a little trodden path +they were soon in the heart of the forest, and after keeping on +for two hours, and crossing several hills, he stopped by the side +of a stream.</p> + +<p>"We are perfectly safe here," he said, "and can sleep as +securely as if we were in a palace."</p> + +<p>The saddle was taken off and the horse turned loose to graze. +Malcolm then removed Ronald's coat and shirt, bathed the wound +for some time with water, cut some pieces of wood to act as +splints, and tearing some strips off his sash bound these +tightly.</p> + +<p>"The ball has regularly smashed the bone, Ronald, and we must +be careful to keep the shoulder in its proper position or you +will never look square again."</p> + +<p>"That does not seem very important to me just at present, +Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"No. Just at present the most important question is that of +getting something to eat. We have had nothing today and not much +yesterday, and now that we are no longer in danger of pursuit one +begins to feel one is hungry. You stay here while I go and +forage. There ought to be a village somewhere among the hills nor +far away."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the country, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I never came by this path, lad; but I have travelled pretty +well all over the Highlands, and, just as you found to be the +case in Lancashire, there are few villages I do not know. I will +first pull you a couch of this dead bracken, and then be off; an +hour's sleep will do you almost as much good as a meal."</p> + +<p>Ronald lay down on the soft couch Malcolm prepared for him, +and before he had been alone for a minute he was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The sun was setting when he awoke. Malcolm stood beside +him.</p> + +<p>"Here is supper, lad. Not a very grand one, but there's enough +of it, which is more than has been the case for some weeks."</p> + +<p>So saying he laid down by Ronald's side a large loaf of black +bread, a cheese made of sheep's milk, and a bottle of +spirits.</p> + +<p>"The village is five miles away, which is farther than I +expected. However, I came back quicker than I went, for I had had +a bowl of milk and as much bread as I could eat. I found the +place in a state of wild excitement, for two or three of the men +had just come in from the battlefield, and brought the news with +them. They are all for the Stuarts there, and you would be well +entertained, but there is sure to be a search high and low, and +you would not be safe in any village. However, a lad has promised +to be here in the morning, and he will guide us to a lonely hut +in the heart of the hills, used by the shepherds in summer. You +will be perfectly safe there."</p> + +<p>"It is about three miles from the village, he said. So I can +go down two or three times a week and get food, and learn how +things are going on. The Highlanders may rally again and make +another fight of it; but I hardly expect they will. They are not +like regular troops, whose home is naturally with their colours, +and who, after the first rout, try to rejoin their regiments. +There is no discipline among these Highlanders. Each man does as +he likes, and their first impulse after a battle is to make for +their homes--if it is a victory, to carry home their spoil; if +they are defeated, for rest and shelter. At any rate, whether +they gather again or not, you will have to keep perfectly quiet +for a time. When your shoulder is perfectly healed we can act +according to circumstances, and make for the army if there be an +army, or for the seacoast if there is not."</p> + +<p>Although he had eaten but a short time before, Malcolm was +quite ready for another meal, and sitting down beside Ronald he +joined him in his assault upon the black bread and cheese. Then +he collected some more of the bracken, mixed himself a strong +horn of whiskey and water, and a much weaker one for Ronald, +after which the two lay down and were fast asleep.</p> + +<p>They were awake at sunrise, and shortly afterwards the lad +whom Malcolm had engaged to act as guide made his appearance. The +horse was saddled, Ronald mounted, and they started at once for +their destination among the hills. They followed the path which +Malcolm had taken the afternoon before for some three miles, and +then struck off to the left. Half an hour took them out of the +forest, and they journeyed for an hour along the bare hillsides, +until, lying in a sheltered hollow, they saw the hut which was +their destination.</p> + +<p>"They are not likely to find us here," Malcolm said +cheerfully, "even were they to scour the mountains. They might +ride within fifty yards of this hollow without suspecting its +existence. Where are we to get water?" he asked the lad in +Gaelic.</p> + +<p>"A quarter of a mile away over that brow is the head of a +stream," the lad replied. "You cannot well miss it."</p> + +<p>"That is all right," Malcolm said. "I don't mind carrying up +provisions or a bottle of spirits now and then; but to drag all +the water we want three miles would be serious."</p> + +<p>The door of the hut was only fastened by a latch, and they +entered without ceremony. It consisted of but a single room. +There were two or three rough wooden stools, and a heap of +bracken in one corner. Nor a large amount of furniture, but, in +the opinion of a Highlander, amply sufficient.</p> + +<p>"We shall do here capitally," Malcolm said. "Now, what do you +think about the horse, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"Of course he might be useful if we were obliged to move +suddenly; but we have no food to give him, and if we let him +shift for himself he will wander about, and might easily be seen +by anyone crossing these hills. A horse is always a prize, and it +might bring troops out into our neighbourhood who would otherwise +not have a thought about coming in this direction."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, Ronald. The lad had better take him +down to the village, and give him to the head man there. He can +sell him, or keep him, or get rid of him as he likes. At any rate +he will be off our hands."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX_Fugitives_"></a>CHAPTER +XIX: Fugitives.</h1> + +<p>For three weeks Ronald and Malcolm remained in hiding in the +hut among the hills. Every two or three days Malcolm went down to +the village and brought back food. He learned that the remains of +the army at Ruthven had entirely dispersed, the prince himself +seeing the hopelessness of any longer continuing the struggle. +Terrible tales of slaughter and devastation by Cumberland's +troops circulated through the hills. The duke had fixed his +headquarters at Fort Augustus, and thence his troops ravaged the +whole country of the clans lately in insurrection. Villages were +burned, cattle slaughtered, women subjected to the grossest +insult and ill treatment, and often wantonly slain, and the +fugitives among the mountains hunted like wild beasts, and slain +as pitilessly whenever overtaken.</p> + +<p>Ronald's arm was healing fast. Youth and a good constitution, +and the care and attention of Malcolm, aided perhaps by the pure +mountain air, did wonders for him. The splints had proved +efficacious, and although they had not yet been taken off, +Malcolm was confident that the injury would be completely +repaired. One morning Malcolm had left but half an hour for the +village when he returned.</p> + +<p>"The enemy are in the village," he said. "I can see clouds of +smoke rising in that direction. We had better be off at once. +They will be scouring all the hills here, as they have done +elsewhere, and we had better get out of the neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>There was no packing to be done, and taking with them what +remained of the food Malcolm had last brought, they started on +their way. They made first for the spring from which they had +drawn their water, and then followed the little stream on its way +down the hill, as it flowed in the opposite direction to the +village. An hour's walking took them into the forest.</p> + +<p>"Before we go further let us have a consultation," Malcolm +said. "We are safe now from pursuit, and had better settle upon +what course we intend to adopt. Shall we make for Glasgow, and +lie hid there until things blow over a little; or make for the +isles, and stay there until we get a chance of being taken off by +some French ship? That is what they say the prince has done; and +indeed as there would be no chance of his getting a ship on the +east coast, and all the Lowlands are against them, he is certain +to have made for the isles. The Clanranalds and most of the other +islemen are loyal to him, and would receive and shelter him. Skye +is hostile, but elsewhere he will be safe, and would move from +island to island or get across to the mainland by night if the +pursuit became too hot. What do you say, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"I would not try Glasgow unless as a last resource, Malcolm; +you are known to many there, and as I was there as one of the +prince's officers on two occasions I might easily be recognized. +You may be sure that there is a very strict lookout for +fugitives, and every stranger who enters a town will be closely +examined. After some time, when Prince Charles and the principal +chiefs and the leaders will either have escaped across the water +or been hunted down, things will calm down; but at present we +must not try to pass through the Lowlands."</p> + +<p>"At any rate we cannot try to do so till your shoulder is +completely healed, and you can use your arm naturally; but I do +not think that we had better try and cross to the isles just at +present. If Prince Charles is there, or is believed by the +English to be there, the search will be so keen that every +stranger would be hunted down; and although the Highlanders might +risk imprisonment and death for the prince himself, they could +not be expected to run the same risk for anyone else. If the +prince escapes it will be because the whole population are with +him, and every man, woman, and child is trying to throw the +pursuers off the scent. No, I think we should be safer in +Edinburgh itself than in the isles. We will make a shift to live +as we can for a month or so; by that time I hope you will be able +to use one arm as well as the other, and we will then boldly go +down into the Lowlands in our old characters as two drovers."</p> + +<p>"That will be the best plan, no doubt," Ronald agreed; "the +difficulty will be the getting over the next month."</p> + +<p>"We shall manage that," Malcolm said; "fortunately you have +still got some money left."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have over fifty pounds; it was lucky I was able to +draw it, as we returned north, from the man I left it with at +Carlisle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you wanted to give it back to the treasury," Malcolm +said, "and would have done it if I had not almost quarrelled with +you about it, saying that it had been given you for a certain +purpose, that you had carried out that purpose, and had, +therefore, a right to it, and that you would be only looked upon +as a fool if you offered to pay it back. However, there it is +now, and lucky it is you have got it. However hard the times, +however great the danger, a man will hardly starve in Scotland +with fifty pounds in his pocket; so now we will turn our faces +west, and make for the head of one of the lochs; there are plenty +of fish to be had for catching, and with them and a little +oatmeal and a bottle or two of whiskey we can live like +lords."</p> + +<p>They walked for some hours, and stopped for the night in the +hut of a shepherd, who received them hospitably, but could give +them but little food, his scanty supplies being almost exhausted, +for, as he told them, "the hills are full of fugitives, and those +who come all cry for meal; as for meat, there is no want of it. +Men won't starve as long as there are sheep and cattle to be had +for lifting them, and at present there are more of these than +usual in the hills, for they have all been driven up from the +villages lest they should fall into the hands of the troopers; +but meal is scarce, for men dare not go down to the villages to +buy, and we only get it when the women bring it up as they have a +chance."</p> + +<p>In the morning the shepherd gave them directions as to the way +they should take, and a few hours later they came down upon the +head of one of the many deep inlets on the western coast. A small +fishing boat stood on the shore, but they dared not descend into +this, but made their way to the point where, as the shepherd had +told them, a stream which flowed from a mountain tarn some miles +inland made its way down into the sea.</p> + +<p>The banks were thickly wooded for some two miles from its +outlet; beyond that was a moorland covered with heather. They +determined to encamp near the upper edge of the wood, and at once +set to with their swords to cut down branches and construct a +hut. This was completed before dusk, and Malcolm then started for +the village on the seashore. Ronald besought him to be most +careful.</p> + +<p>"There is likely," he said, "to be a party of soldiers in +every village round the coast, for they will know that all the +chiefs and officers would be making for the sea. The clansmen +have only to remain in the hills until this persecution dies out, +and then go quietly home again; but for the leaders the only hope +is escape by sea."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful, lad," Malcolm said. "I shall not enter the +village, but will hang about in its outskirts until I come across +someone, and with plenty of money in my pocket it is hard if I +cannot manage to get a bag of meal and a net, even if the place +is full of English soldiers."</p> + +<p>Three hours later Malcolm returned laden with a sack +containing forty pounds of meal, a jar with two gallons of +whiskey, and a net.</p> + +<p>"There," he said as he entered; "we can do for a month now, if +needs be. There is a party of militia in the village, and I hear +the whole coast is closely watched, and there are a number of +English cruisers among the islands."</p> + +<p>"How did you get the things?"</p> + +<p>"I waited till a woman came down with a bundle of faggots, and +told her what I wanted. She said at first it was impossible; but +when I said I was prepared to pay well she altered her tone, and +said she would send her husband out to me. He soon came, and +after some bargaining he agreed to bring me out the things I +wanted for three pounds, and here they are. I see you have got a +fire alight, so we will make some cakes at once. I have brought a +griddle and two horns with me."</p> + +<p>The next morning they set to work to fish. The net was +stretched across the lower end of a pool, and they then stripped +and waded in, splashing and throwing stones as they went. It was +just up to their necks in the deepest parts, shallowing to two +feet below. When they reached the net they found two fine salmon +caught there, and carrying these ashore they split one and placed +it above the fire. The net was then removed, and in half an hour +they were sitting down to a breakfast of grilled salmon and hot +oatmeal cakes, which Ronald thought the most delicious repast he +had ever tasted.</p> + +<p>For three weeks they remained at this spot. They were not +always alone, being sometimes joined for a day or two by other +fugitives, who, like themselves, were wandering near the sea +coast seeking escape. These seldom stayed long, for it was felt +unsafe to keep in parties of more than two or three at the +utmost. Some of the fugitives were in wretched condition, having +been wandering among the moors and forests for weeks, and as the +fishing was very successful, Ronald and Malcolm were able to give +them at parting a good supply of smoked salmon, and a portion of +meal, of which Malcolm from time to time brought a fresh supply +up from the village.</p> + +<p>The people there knew little of what was passing in the outer +world; but from the conversation of the soldiers they were sure +that Prince Charles had so far escaped capture, and an opinion +began to prevail that he had succeeded in making his escape by +sea, in spite of the vigilance of the English cruisers.</p> + +<p>By the end of the three weeks even Malcolm admitted that +Ronald's wound was completely cured. Two large blue scars showed +where the bullet had passed through, and beneath this could be +felt a lump where the broken bone had knitted together, and this +would in time become as strong as the rest of the shoulder. +Malcolm's splints had done their duty, and the eye could detect +no difference between the level or width of the two shoulders. +Ronald could move his arm freely in all directions, and, except +that he could not at present venture to put any strain upon the +arm, he might be considered as perfectly cured. They determined, +therefore, to continue their way. In the first place, however, it +was necessary to procure other clothes, for Ronald was still in +uniform, and although Malcolm's attire was not wholly military, +it yet differed materially from that of a countryman.</p> + +<p>"We shall have to get other clothes when we get south," +Malcolm said; "for a Highlander's dress would be looked upon with +as much suspicion in Glasgow as would that uniform of yours. But +until we get down to the Lowlands the native garb will be the +best."</p> + +<p>Accordingly he paid another visit to the village, and with the +utmost difficulty persuaded the man he had before dealt with to +bring him two suits of clothes, such as were worn by the +fishermen there. In these, although Malcolm's small stock of +Gaelic would betray them at once for other than they seemed to +the first clansman who might address them, they could pass muster +with any body of English troops they might meet by the way.</p> + +<p>Before starting they caught and smoked as many salmon as they +could carry, as the fishermen of the coast were in the habit of +exchanging fish for sheep with their inland neighbours. They cut +each a short pole, and slung some fish at each end, and then +placing it on their shoulder, started on their way. They kept +along the hillside until they struck the track--for it could +scarcely be called a road--leading from the village into the +interior, and then boldly followed this; for the difficulty of +travelling across the hilly and broken country was so great that +they preferred to run the slight extra risk of keeping to the +road, feeling certain that for the first day's march at least +their appearance and the fish they carried would answer for +themselves with any body of troops they might meet.</p> + +<p>Of this, however, they did not think there was much chance. +The authorities would have long since learned the futility of +hunting the fugitives among the hills, and would be confining +their efforts to the sea coast. They were now at a considerable +distance from the scene of the bloody persecutions of Cumberland +and Hawley, and although in other parts of Scotland severe +measures might be adopted against known adherents of the Stuarts, +it was among the Highland clans only that savage and wholesale +massacres were being carried into effect.</p> + +<p>Occasionally in the course of the day's walk they met with +clansmen passing along the road. These generally passed with a +brief word of greeting in Gaelic. One or two who stopped to speak +recognized at once by Malcolm's accent that the wayfarers were +not what they pretended to be; but they asked no questions, and +with a significant smile and an expression of good wishes went on +their way.</p> + +<p>At the village where they stopped, after a long day's journey, +the same line of conduct was observed towards them. The +inhabitants guessed at once that they were in disguise; but the +edicts against those who assisted fugitive insurgents were so +severe that none made any open sign of their recognition. They +paid for their night's lodging and food with a portion of their +fish, which they were indeed glad to get rid of.</p> + +<p>The next day they resumed their journey, and towards sunset +arrived at a village where they saw a party of English cavalry, +who had apparently but just arrived. The men were cleaning their +horses, and an officer was sitting on a bench in front of the +principal house in the village; for he had already made a close +inspection of every house in the village, and the angry faces of +the women and the sullen looks of a few men there were about +showed how they resented the disturbance of their households.</p> + +<p>It was too late to retreat, and Malcolm and Ronald walked +boldly to the public house in the centre of the village. The +officer at once rose and walked across to him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked; "and where do you come from?"</p> + +<p>Malcolm shook his head and said in Gaelic:</p> + +<p>"I do not understand English."</p> + +<p>"What fools these people are!" the officer exclaimed. "Ho, +within there!"</p> + +<p>The landlady came to the door.</p> + +<p>"Do you speak English?"</p> + +<p>"I speak a little," the woman said.</p> + +<p>"Just ask these men who they are and where they come +from."</p> + +<p>The woman asked the question in Gaelic, and Malcolm +replied:</p> + +<p>"We are, as you see, fishermen, and we come from Huish."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there was a slight change in the woman's face; but +it passed away, and she translated Malcolm's answer to the +officer.</p> + +<p>"But that is forty miles away," the officer said. "What do +they do with their fish at this distance from their home?"</p> + +<p>The question being put in Gaelic by the woman, Malcolm replied +that owing to the boats being seized by the soldiers, and trade +being at a standstill, they could no longer make a living at +home, and were therefore on their way to Glasgow to ship as +sailors. They were carrying their fish with them to pay for their +food and lodging on the way.</p> + +<p>The story was probable enough, and the officer's suspicion was +allayed.</p> + +<p>"They are fine looking fellows, both of them," he said to +himself as he returned to his bench. "Father and son, I suppose. +The young one would make a strapping soldier. Like enough he was +at Culloden. However, thank goodness, I have no grounds for +suspecting or detaining them. I am sick of this brutal business +of fugitive hunting. We are officers and not butchers, and this +slaying of brave men who have met us fairly in battle is a +disgrace to the British name."</p> + +<p>Ronald and Malcolm followed the woman into the house.</p> + +<p>"I am ready to buy some of your fish," she said in a loud tone +of voice in Gaelic, "for there will be many to feed this evening; +as my house is full of soldiers I cannot take you in, but if you +like you can sleep in that shed over there. I can cook one of +your fish for you, and let you have some black bread; but that is +all I can do. Now, how much do you want for the fish?"</p> + +<p>Malcolm named a low price, and the woman took three or four of +the largest. For these she offered him the price he had asked. He +glanced round, and seeing that they were not overlooked, he shook +his head.</p> + +<p>"We don't want money," he said. "We are well provided. Many +thanks for keeping our secret."</p> + +<p>The woman nodded, and without another word the two went out +and sat down on a stone bench outside until the landlady brought +out a platter with a fish and some black bread. This they ate +where they sat. Malcolm then went in to get some tobacco, and +returned with his pipe alight, and sat with Ronald watching with +apparent interest the operations of the soldiers until night +closed in. Then they retired to the shed the landlady had pointed +out, and found that a large bundle of freshly gathered rushes had +been shaken out to form a bed. Carrying in their poles with their +now diminished load of fish, they closed the door and threw +themselves down upon the rushes.</p> + +<p>"That has passed off well," Malcolm said. "Tomorrow we will +only go a mile or so out of the village, and stop in the first +wood we come to, and go on at night. Thirty miles will take us +close down to Dumbarton, and there we must manage to get some +fresh clothes."</p> + +<p>"We shall be able to leave our poles behind us," Ronald said, +"and that will be a comfort. Although my load of fish was not +nearly as heavy as yours, still carrying it on one shoulder was +no joke, and I shall be heartily glad to get rid of it."</p> + +<p>"I shall not be sorry myself," Malcolm said; "but there will +be no occasion to waste the fish. We shall be up and away long +before the soldiers are stirring, and we may as well hand them +over as a present to the landlady."</p> + +<p>This was done, and at an early hour in the morning they were +upon the road again. After an hour's walking they stopped in a +wood till evening and then continued on their way until they +reached Dumbarton, where they threw themselves down beside some +boats drawn up upon the shore, and slept till the morning.</p> + +<p>They then boldly entered the town, and as their garb was +similar to that of the men who brought down the fish caught at +the villages on the coast, no attention whatever was paid to +them. They had no difficulty in purchasing the clothes they +required, and carrying them out of the town they changed in the +first retired spot they reached, and, as two Lowland drovers, +tramped on to Glasgow. With their bonnets pulled well down over +their eyes they entered the town. They had little fear of +discovery, for none would be likely to recognize in Ronald the +gaily dressed young officer of Prince Charles.</p> + +<p>As to Malcolm, he felt safe from molestation. He was, of +course, known to many drovers and others, but they would not +concern themselves with what he had been doing since they last +saw him, and even had they noticed him when he was there with +Ronald, would not denounce an old comrade. He went, therefore, +boldly to the little inn where he had been in the habit of +staying when in the city.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Malcolm, is that you, man?" the landlord said as he +entered. "I didna think o' seeing you again. I thought it likely +ye were laying stiff and stark somewhere out on the muirs. Eh, +man, you are a foolish fellow to be mixing yourself up in the +affairs of ithers."</p> + +<p>"I have done with it now, Jock, for good and all," Malcolm +said, "and am going back to my old trade again."</p> + +<p>"I think you are a fule to come back here so soon. There's +mony a one marked ye as ye rode in behind that young officer of +the prince's, and if they denounce you now they would soon clap +you in between four walls."</p> + +<p>"Hoots, man!" Malcolm laughed; "who would trouble themselves +about a body like me!"</p> + +<p>"There are bleudy doings up i' the Highlands," the landlord +said gravely, "if a' they say is true."</p> + +<p>"It is true, Jock, more shame to them; but they wouldn't do in +Glasgow what they are doing there. They are hunting down the +clansmen like wild beasts; but here in the Lowlands they will not +trouble themselves to ask who was for King George and who was +against him, except among those who have got estates they can +confiscate."</p> + +<p>"May be no," the landlord replied. "Still, Malcolm, if you +will take my advice you won't show yourself much in the streets, +nor your friend either," he added significantly. "You may be +safe, but the citizens are smarting yet over the requisitions +that were made upon them, and your friend had best keep in his +room as long as ye stay here."</p> + +<p>Malcolm nodded.</p> + +<p>"He will be careful, Jock, never fear. We shall be off again +as soon as we get a chance. I will leave him here while I go down +the town and find whether there is a herd starting for England. +If there is we will go with it; if not, I shall try and get a +passage by sea."</p> + +<p>Malcolm could not hear of any drove of cattle going south. The +troubles had, for the time, entirely put a stop to the trade. +After it was dark he went to Andrew's. His brother's face +expressed both pleasure and dismay at seeing him.</p> + +<p>"Right glad I am to see you have got safely through it all, +Malcolm, but you must be mad to show yourself here again at +present. But how is the boy? We have troubled sorely over him. I +trust that he too has come safely through it?"</p> + +<p>"Safe and sound, Andrew, save that he had a bullet through his +shoulder at Culloden; but he is tight enough again now."</p> + +<p>"And what have you been doing ever since?"</p> + +<p>"Curing his shoulder and fishing;" Malcolm briefly related +their adventures since Culloden.</p> + +<p>"And is he with you here in Glasgow, Malcolm? Surely you are +not mad enough to bring him here, where he is known to scores of +people as one of the rebel officers!"</p> + +<p>"He is here, sure enough," Malcolm said, "and safer than he +has been for some time. It is nearly two months since Culloden, +and people are beginning to think of other things, except in the +Highlands, where those fiends Cumberland and Hawley are burning +and slaying. Ronald is dressed like a drover, and no one is +likely to recognize him. However, he will remain within doors. +And now, brother, I want you to take us a passage in the next +vessel sailing for London. If I go to a shipper he may ask +questions, and like enough it may be necessary to get passes +signed before we can go on board."</p> + +<p>"Certainly it is," Andrew said. "A strict lookout is kept to +prevent the rebel leaders from escaping, and no captain of a ship +is permitted to take a passenger unless he is provided with a +pass, signed by a magistrate, saying that he is a peaceable and +well known person."</p> + +<p>"But just at present we are both peaceable persons, Andrew, +and we can certainly claim to be well known citizens."</p> + +<p>"It is no joking matter, Malcolm, I can tell you," Andrew said +irritably; "but of course I will see what I can do. And now I +will put on my bonnet and come with you and have a chat with +Ronald. It will not do to bring him here tonight, but we must +arrange for him to come and see Janet before he sails. I shall +not tell her anything about it till he is ready to start, for you +know she is very particular, and I am afraid I shall have to say +what is not quite true to get the order. I can sign it myself, +but it must have the signature of the provost too."</p> + +<p>So saying he took his cap and accompanied Malcolm to the +lodging.</p> + +<p>"Stay here a moment, Andrew," Malcolm said when he arrived +within a few yards of the little inn. "I will see that there is +no one drinking within. It wouldna look well to see a decent +bailie of the city going into a liquor shop after dark. It will +be best for me to fetch him out here, for I doubt there's any +room where you could talk without fear of being overheard."</p> + +<p>Ronald, who was sitting with his cap pulled down over his eyes +as if asleep, in a corner of the room, where three or four +drovers were smoking and talking, was called out by Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"I am right glad to see you again," Andrew Anderson said +heartily. "Janet and I have passed an ill time since the battle +was fought. Elspeth has kept up our hopes all along. She said she +was sure that you were alive, quite downright sure; and though +neither Janet nor I have much faith in superstitions, the old +woman's assertions that she should assuredly know it if you were +dead did somehow keep up our spirits. Besides, I had faith in +Malcolm's knowledge of the country, and knew you were both famous +for getting into scrapes and out of them, so I thought that if +neither bullet nor sabre had stretched you on the moor of +Culloden you would manage to win your way out of the trouble +somehow. However, I think you are pretty safe here. The bloody +doings of Cumberland have shocked every Scotchman, and even those +who were strongest against the Stuarts now cry shame, and so +strong is the feeling that were the prince to appear now with a +handful of followers I believe the whole country would rise in +his favour. So deep is the wrath and grief at the red slaughter +among the Highlands there would not be many Scotchmen found who +would betray a fellow Scot into the hands of these butchers. I +will make inquiry tomorrow as to what ships are sailing, and will +get you a passage in the first. There may be some difficulty +about the permit; but if I can't get over it we must smuggle you +on board as sailors. However, I don't think the provost will ask +me any questions when I lay the permit before him for his +signature. He is heart and soul for the king, but, like us all, +he is sick at heart at the news from the North, and would, I +think, shut an eye if he saw a Jacobite making his escape. And +now, lad, I must be going back, for the hour is getting late and +Janet does not know why I am away. Come to us tomorrow evening as +soon as the shop closes. Janet and Elspeth will be delighted to +see you, and we will have a long talk over all that you have gone +through."</p> + +<p>On the following evening Ronald and Malcolm presented +themselves at Andrew's and were received with delight by Elspeth +and Mrs. Anderson. The latter had, while the rebellion appeared +to have a chance of success, been its bitter opponent, and had +spoken often and wrathfully against her husband's brother and +Ronald embarking in such an enterprise; but with its overthrow +all her enmity had expired, and she would have been ready to give +assistance not only to them, but to any other fugitive trying to +escape.</p> + +<p>"I have good news for you," Andrew said, when the first +greetings were over. "A vessel sails in the morning, and I have +taken passages for you in it; and what is more, have brought your +permits. I went to the provost and said to him, 'Provost, I want +you to sign these permits for two friends of mine who are wanting +to go up to London.'</p> + +<p>"'Who are they?' said he.</p> + +<p>"'They are just two drover bodies,' I said. He looked at me +hard.</p> + +<p>"'One question, Andrew. I know how you feel just at present. +You are a loyal man like myself, but we all feel the same. I will +sign your permit for any save one. Give me your word that neither +of these men is Charles Stuart. I care not who they may be +beside, but as a loyal subject of King George I cannot aid his +arch enemy to escape.'</p> + +<p>"'I give you my word, provost,' I said. 'One is--'</p> + +<p>"'I don't want to know who they are,' he interrupted. 'I had +rather not know. It is enough for me that you give me your word +that neither of them is Charles Stuart,' and he took the pen and +signed the permit. 'Between ourselves,' he went on, 'I shall be +glad to hear that the misguided young man is safe across the +water, but as Provost of Glasgow I could lend him no help to +go.'</p> + +<p>"'They say he has got safe away already,' I said.</p> + +<p>"'I think not, Andrew; the coast has been too closely watched +for that. The young man is hiding somewhere among the isles, +among the Clanranalds or Macdonalds. I fear they will have him +yet. I dread every day to get the news; but I hope beyond all +things, that if they do lay hands on him it will be through the +treachery of no Scot.'</p> + +<p>"'I hope not, provost,' I said. 'They haven't got over +throwing it in our teeth that we sold King Charles to Cromwell.' +So we just shook hands and said goodbye, and here is the +permit."</p> + +<p>They spent a long evening talking over the past.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I shall ever see you again, Ronald!" Mrs. +Anderson said, with tears in her eyes, as they rose to say +goodbye.</p> + +<p>"You need nor fear about that, Janet, woman," her husband +said. "Ronald and Malcolm aye fall on their legs, and we shall +see them back again like two bad pennies. Besides," he went on +more seriously, "there will be an end of these savage doings in +the north before long. Loyal men in Scotland are crying out +everywhere against them, and the feeling in England will be just +as strong when the truth is known there, and you will see that +before long there will be a general pardon granted to all except +the leaders. Fortunately Ronald and Malcolm are not likely to be +in the list of exceptions, and before a year is up they will be +able to come back if they will without fear of being tapped on +the shoulder by a king's officer."</p> + +<p>"I shall come back again if I can, you may be sure," Ronald +said. "Of course I do not know yet what my father and mother's +plans may be; but for myself I shall always look upon Scotland as +my home, and come back to it as soon as I have an +opportunity."</p> + +<p>"You do not intend to stay in the French army?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. After the treatment my father has received I +have no inclination to serve France. The chief reason why +Scotchmen have entered her service has been that they were driven +from home, and that they looked to France for aid to place the +Stuarts on the throne again. Now that the time has come, France +has done nothing to aid, and has seen the Stuart cause go down +without striking a blow to assist it. I consider that cause is +lost for ever, and shall never again draw my sword against the +House of Hanover. Nor have I had any reason for loving France. +After living in a free country like Scotland, who could wish to +live in a country where one man's will is all powerful--where +the people are still no better than serfs--where the nobles +treat the law as made only for them--where, as in my father's +case, a man may not even marry according to his own will without +incurring the risk of a life's imprisonment? No, I have had +enough of France; and if ever I get the opportunity I shall +return to Scotland to live."</p> + +<p>The next morning early Ronald and Malcolm embarked on board a +ship. Their permits were closely scrutinized before the vessel +started, and a thorough search was made before she was allowed to +sail. When the officers were satisfied that no fugitives were +concealed on board they returned to shore, and the vessel started +on her voyage for London.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XX_Happy_Days_"></a>CHAPTER +XX: Happy Days.</h1> + +<p>On arriving in London, after ten days' voyage, Ronald and +Malcolm obtained garments of the ordinary cut. The one attired +himself as an English gentleman, the other in a garb suitable to +a confidential attendant or steward, and after a stay of two or +three days they made their way by coach down to Southampton.</p> + +<p>Here they remained for a week, and then effected a bargain +with the captain of a fishing lugger to set them on shore in +France. As the two countries were at war this could only be done +by landing them at night at some quiet spot on the French coast. +The lugger cruised about a couple of days, and then, choosing a +quiet night when there was a mist on the water, she ran in as +closely as she dared, then the boat was lowered, and Malcolm and +Ronald were rowed to shore and landed a few miles south of +Boulogne.</p> + +<p>When it was light they made their way to a village; here but +few questions were asked them, for many refugees from Scotland +and England were crossing to France. As they had been well +provided with funds by Andrew they posted to Paris, and on +arriving there put up at the inn where they had stopped on the +occasion of their first visit.</p> + +<p>"We must be careful," Malcolm said, "how we stir out until we +know how things stand. The first thing to do is to find out +whether the regiment is still in Paris."</p> + +<p>This they were not long in doing, as their host was able to +inform them at once that it had left the capital several months +before, and on comparing dates they found that its departure had +followed within a day or two that of their own flight from +Paris.</p> + +<p>"It was no doubt meant as a punishment," Ronald said, "on +Colonel Hume for acting as my second in that affair with the +duke. I hope that no further ill befell him."</p> + +<p>His mind was set easy on this score by the news that Colonel +Hume had accompanied his regiment. On asking after Marshal Saxe +they learned that he was away on the frontier, where he had been +carrying on the war with great success, Antwerp, Mons, Namur, and +Charleroi all having been captured.</p> + +<p>The king was in person with the army. This being the case +Ronald saw that it was of no use remaining in Paris, as he was +without friend or protector there, and he dared not rejoin his +regiment until he learned whether the king's anger was as hot as +ever. He therefore started at once with Malcolm and travelled +down to La Grenouille.</p> + +<p>It was a joyful meeting between him and his parents, who were +in the greatest anxiety respecting him, for although he had +written several times, communication was uncertain owing to the +war, the only chance of sending letters being by such French +vessels as arrived at Scottish ports after running the gauntlet +with English cruisers. Some of these had been captured on the way +back, and only two of Ronald's letters had arrived safely. The +last of these had been written a few days after the battle of +Falkirk, and Ronald had then stated that he no longer had any +hope of the final success of the expedition. They had received +the news of the defeat at Culloden, and had since passed nearly +three months of painful suspense, relieved only by the arrival of +Ronald himself. He found his mother looking well and happy; his +father had somewhat recovered from his rheumatism, and looked a +younger man by some years than when he saw him last.</p> + +<p>"He will recover fast now," the countess said; "but he has +worried about you night and day, Ronald. I hope that you will +stay with us for a time. We have seen so little of you yet."</p> + +<p>Ronald learned that a few days after his flight an officer had +appeared at the chateau with the royal order for his arrest, and +it was from him that his parents had first learned the news of +his duel with the Duke of Chateaurouge and its result.</p> + +<p>"I could hardly believe my ears, Ronald," his father said; "to +think that my son, scarce a man yet, should have killed in fair +fight one of the first duellists in France. It seemed almost +incredible. Malcolm told me that you were a first rate swordsman, +but this seemed extraordinary indeed. The officer remained here +for three days, and then, convinced that you had not made in this +direction, left us. A day or two afterwards we received the +letter you wrote us from Nantes, saying that you were starting +for Scotland with the prince. I grumbled sorely over my +rheumatism, I can tell you, which prevented my drawing my sword +once more for the Stuarts; but it was no use my thinking of +it."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," the countess said; "and I can tell you, Ronald, +that had he been ever so well I should not have let him go. After +being separated from one's husband for sixteen years one is not +going to let him run off to figure as a knight errant at his +pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Your friend Colonel Hume wrote to us," the colonel said with +a smile at his wife's word, "giving us details of the duel, and +speaking of your conduct in the highest terms. He said that at +present the king was furious; but that he hoped in time he would +get over it. Colonel Hume had seen Marshal Saxe, who had promised +on the first opportunity to speak to the king, and to open his +eyes to the character of his late favourite, and to tell him of +the attempts which the duke had made to prevent the royal orders +for our release being carried out, and to remove you by +assassination. Two months ago he wrote again to us from Antwerp, +which had just fallen, saying that Marshal Saxe had bid him tell +us that the king was in a much more favourable disposition, and +that he had taken the opportunity when his majesty was in a good +humour to tell him the whole circumstances of your journey with +the orders for our release, and that in consequence the king had +made other inquiries respecting the late duke, and had +acknowledged that he had been greatly deceived as to his +character. At the same time, as your name had been by the king's +order removed from the list of officers of the Scottish Dragoons +immediately after the duel, he recommended that should you return +to France you should not put yourself in the king's way or appear +at all in public for the present.</p> + +<p>"'The marshal,' Colonel Hume wrote, 'has made your affair a +personal matter, and he, as is his habit in war, will persevere +until he succeeds. His reputation and influence are higher than +ever, and are daily rising; be assured that when the campaign is +over, and he reaps all the honours to which he is entitled, he +will push your claim as before.'"</p> + +<p>In the first week in October the suspense from which they had +suffered as to the fate of Prince Charles was relieved by the +news that on the 29th of September he had safely landed at the +little port of Roscoff near Morlaix. He made his way to Paris, +and Ronald, accompanied by Malcolm, took horse at once and rode +there to pay his respects to the prince, and congratulate him on +his escape. The prince received him with great warmth and +cordiality, and from his own lips Ronald learned the story of his +adventures.</p> + +<p>He had, eight days after Culloden, embarked for the cluster of +islets to which the common name of Long Island is applied. After +wandering from place to place and suffering greatly from hunger, +he gained South Uist, where his wants were relieved by +Clanranald. The English, suspecting or learning that he was +there, landed two thousand men on the island, and commenced an +active search for him. He must have been detected had not Flora +Macdonald--stepdaughter of a captain in a militia regiment +which formed part of the troops who had landed--upon being +appealed to by Lady Clanranald, nobly undertaken to save him.</p> + +<p>She obtained from her stepfather a passport to proceed to Skye +with a manservant and a maid. Charles was dressed in female +clothes, and passed as Betty Bourk, while a faithful Highlander, +Neil M'Eachan, acted as her servant. They started at night in an +open boat, and disembarked in Skye. Skye was ever a hostile +country, as its chief, Sir Alexander Macdonald, who had at first +wavered, was now a warm supporter of the Hanoverians, and was +with the Duke of Cumberland. Nevertheless Flora appealed to his +wife, Lady Margaret, a daughter of the Earl of Eglinton, and +informed her that her attendant was Prince Charles in disguise. +Lady Margaret nobly responded to her appeal. Her own house was +full of militia officers, and she intrusted Charles to the charge +of Macdonald of Kingsburgh, her husband's kinsman and factor, who +took the party to his house.</p> + +<p>The next day Charles took leave of Flora Macdonald with warm +expressions of gratitude, and passed over to the Isle of Rasay, +in the disguise of a male servant. Thence he made his way to the +mainland, where on landing he was compelled to lie in concealment +for two days cooped up within a line of sentries. After many +dangers he took refuge in a mountain cave inhabited by seven +robbers, who treated him with the greatest kindness, and supplied +his wants for the three weeks he remained with them. After many +other adventures he joined his faithful adherents Cluny and +Locheil, who were in hiding in a retreat on the side of Mount +Benalder, and here he lived in comparative comfort until he heard +that two French vessels under the direction of Colonel Warren of +Dillon's regiment had anchored in Lochnanuagh.</p> + +<p>Travelling by night he made his way to that place, and +embarked on the 20th of September, attended by Locheil, Colonel +Roy Stuart, and about a hundred other fugitives who had learned +of the arrival of the French vessels. It was almost precisely the +spot at which he had disembarked fourteen months before. A fog +concealed the vessel as she passed through the British fleet +lying to intercept her, and they reached Roscoff after a nine +days' voyage.</p> + +<p>Such was the tale which Prince Charles told to Ronald. He had +after Culloden entirely recovered his high spirits, and had borne +all his fatigues and hardships with the greatest cheerfulness and +good humour, making light of hunger, fatigue, and danger. Ronald +only remained two days in Paris, and then returned home.</p> + +<p>In October the campaign of Flanders ended with the complete +defeat of Prince Charles of Lorraine at Rancaux, and Marshal Saxe +returned to Paris, where he was received with enthusiasm by the +population. The royal residence of Chambord was granted him for +life, and he was proclaimed marshal general of the king's armies. +A fortnight later Colonel Leslie received a letter from him, +saying that he had received his majesty's command that he with +the countess and his son should present themselves in Paris, and +that he was happy to say that the king's disposition was most +favourable. They set off at once. On their arrival there they +called upon Marshal Saxe, who greeted the colonel as an old +friend, and refused to listen to the warm expression of gratitude +of Leslie and the countess.</p> + +<p>"Say nothing about it, madam," he exclaimed. "Your son won my +heart, and I was only too glad to be of service to him and my old +comrade here. What is the use of a man winning victories if he +cannot lend a helping hand to his friends!"</p> + +<p>The next day they went down to Versailles, where Marshal Saxe +presented them to the king in a private audience. Louis received +them graciously.</p> + +<p>"I fear, countess, that you and your husband have been treated +with some harshness; but our royal ear was deceived by one in +whom we had confidence. Your husband and yourself were wrong in +marrying without the consent and against the will of your father, +and such marriages cannot be permitted; but at the request of +Marshal Saxe, who has done so much for France that I cannot +refuse anything he asks, I have now consented to pardon and +overlook the past, and have ordered my chancellor to prepare an +order reinstating you in all the possessions and estates of the +countess, your mother. I hope that I shall often see you together +with your husband and son, both of whom have done good service as +soldiers of France, at my court; and now that I see you," he said +with a gracious smile, "I cannot but feel how great a loss our +court has suffered by your long absence from it."</p> + +<p>Upon leaving the king's private chamber and entering the great +audience hall Colonel Hume came up and grasped the hand of his +old friend, and was introduced by him to his wife; while many of +the courtiers, who were either connections or friends of the +family of the countess, also gathered round them, for the news +that she was restored to royal favour had spread quickly. The +countess knew how small was the real value of such advances, but +she felt that it was best for her husband and son's sake to +receive them amicably. For a few weeks they remained in Paris, +taking part in the brilliant fetes which celebrated the success +of the French arms, and they then retired to the handsome chateau +which was now the property of the countess.</p> + +<p>Here they lived quietly for two years, making occasional +visits to Paris. At the end of that time Ronald received a letter +from Andrew Anderson, to whom he had written several times since +his return to France. He told him that he had just heard that +Glenlyon and the rest of the property which had been confiscated +after the rising of 1715 was for sale. It had been bestowed upon +a neighbouring chief, who had been active in the Hanoverian +cause. He was now dead without leaving issue, and his wife, an +English lady, was anxious to dispose of the property and return +to England.</p> + +<p>"I do not know whether your father is disposed to buy back his +estates," Andrew wrote, "but I hear that a general amnesty will +very shortly be issued to all who took part in the insurrection, +saving only certain notorious persons. The public are sick of +bloodshed. There have been upwards of eighty trials and +executions, besides the hundreds who were slaughtered in the +Highlands. Besides this, thousands have been transported. But +public opinion is now so strong, and persons of all shades of +politics are so disgusted with the brutal ferocity which has been +shown, that it is certain government will ere long be compelled +to pass an act of amnesty. In the meantime, if it should be your +father's wish to purchase the property, I can buy it in my name. +The priced asked is very low. The income arising from it is +stated to be about four hundred a year, and four thousand pounds +will be accepted for it. I understand that as the late owner took +no part in the insurrection, and joined the Duke of Cumberland +when he came north, the property is in good condition and the +clansmen have escaped the harrying which befell all those who +sided with Charles Stuart."</p> + +<p>Ronald at once laid the letter before his father, who, after +reading it through, passed it, without a word, to the +countess.</p> + +<p>"You would like to return to Scotland?" she asked quietly, +when she read it. "Do not hesitate to tell me, dear, if you +would. It is no matter to me whether we live there or here, so +long as I have you and Ronald with me."</p> + +<p>Colonel Leslie was silent.</p> + +<p>"For Ronald's sake," she went on, "perhaps it would be better +so. You are both of opinion that the cause of the Stuarts is lost +for ever, and he is determined that he will never again take part +in any rising. He does not care again to enter the French army, +nor, indeed, is there any reason why Scotchmen should do so, now +that they no longer look for the aid of the King of France to set +the Stuarts on the English throne. I myself have no ties here. My +fifteen years of seclusion have separated me altogether from my +family, and although they are willing enough to be civil now, I +cannot forget that all those years they did nothing towards +procuring our liberty. The king has so far given way that he has +restored me my mother's estates, but it was only because he could +not refuse Marshal Saxe, and he does not like French lands to be +held by strangers; therefore I feel sure, that were I to ask his +permission to sell my estates and to retire with you to Scotland +he would at once grant my request."</p> + +<p>"No, Amelie, it would not be fair to accept your generous +offer."</p> + +<p>"But it would be no sacrifice," she urged. "I have little +reason to love France, and I can assure you I should be just as +happy in your country as in my own."</p> + +<p>"But it would be exile," the colonel said.</p> + +<p>"No more exile than you and Ronald are suffering here. +Besides, I suppose we should get as many comforts in Scotland as +here in France. Of course our estates here will fetch a sum many +times larger than that which would purchase Glenlyon, and we need +not live all our time among the mountains you tell me of, but can +go sometimes to Edinburgh or even to London. Even if you did not +wish it, I should say it would be far better to do so for +Ronald's sake. You have lived so long in France that you may have +become a Frenchman; but it is not so with Ronald."</p> + +<p>It was not until two or three days later that the discussion +came to an end and the countess had her way. Colonel Leslie had +resisted stoutly, but his heart beat at the thought of returning +to the home of his youth and ending his days among the clansmen +who had followed him and his fathers before him. Ronald had taken +no part whatever in the debate, but his mother read in his eyes +the delight which the thought of returning to Scotland occasioned +him. As soon as this was settled they went to Paris, and as the +countess had foreseen, the king was pleased at once to give his +consent to her disposing of her lands on his approval of the +purchaser.</p> + +<p>No difficulty was experienced on this score, as a noble whose +lands adjoined her own offered at once to purchase them. As soon +as this was arranged instructions were sent to Andrew to purchase +not only the Glenlyon property, but the other estates of its late +owner.</p> + +<p>In due time a letter was received from Andrew saying that he +had arranged for the purchase of the whole for the sum of +thirteen thousand pounds, and the money was at once sent over +through a Dutch banking house. Very shortly afterwards, at the +end of 1747, the act of general amnesty was passed, and as +Ronald's name was not among those excluded from its benefits they +at once prepared to return to Scotland. The journey was +facilitated by the fact that shortly after the passing of the +act, peace was concluded between England and France.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Malcolm, Colonel Leslie, the countess, and +Ronald sailed for Scotland. The colonel and his wife remained in +Edinburgh while Ronald and Malcolm went to Glasgow, where Andrew +had in readiness all the papers transferring the estates +purchased in his name to Colonel Leslie, who shortly afterwards +journeyed north with his wife and son and took possession of his +ancestral home amid the enthusiastic delight of the clansmen, who +had never ceased to regret the absence of him whom they +considered as their rightful chief.</p> + +<p>There is little more to tell. Colonel Leslie lived but a few +years after returning home, and Ronald then succeeded him as +Leslie of Glenlyon. He had before this married the daughter of a +neighbouring gentleman, and passed his time between Glenlyon and +Edinburgh, varied by an occasional visit to London.</p> + +<p>The countess never regretted her native land, but, happy in +the affection of her son and daughter in law and their children, +lived happily with them until nearly the end of the century. +Malcolm remained the faithful and trusty friend of the family; +and his brother and his wife were occasionally persuaded to pay a +visit to Glenlyon, where their kindness to Ronald as a child was +never forgotten. Happily the rising of '45 was the last effort on +behalf of the Stuarts. Scotland accepted the decision as final, +and the union between the two countries became close and +complete. Henceforth Scotchmen went no longer to fight in the +armies of France, but took service in that of their own country, +and more than one of Ronald's grandsons fought stoutly in Spain +under Wellington.</p> + +<p>The End.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bonnie Prince Charlie, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE *** + +***** This file should be named 7006-h.htm or 7006-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/0/0/7006/ + +Produced by Martin Robb + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bonnie Prince Charlie + A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Posting Date: June 1, 2012 [EBook #7006] +Release Date: December, 2004 +First Posted: February 21, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE *** + + + + +Produced by Martin Robb + + + + + + + + + +Bonnie Prince Charlie + +A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden + + +by G. A. Henty + + + +CHAPTER I: The Return of a Prodigal. + + +It was a dull evening in the month of September, 1728. The apprentices +had closed and barred the shutters and the day's work was over. Supper +was laid in the long room over the shop, the viands were on the table, +and round it were standing Bailie Anderson and his wife, his foreman John +Gillespie, and his two apprentices. The latter were furtively eying the +eatables, and wondering how much longer the grace which their master was +delivering would be. Suddenly there was a knock at the door below. No one +stirred until the bailie had finished his grace, before which time the +knock had been twice repeated. + +"Elspeth, woman," the bailie said when he had brought the grace to an +end, "go down below and see who knocks so impatiently; look through the +grille before you open the door; these are nor times when one opens to +the first stranger who knocks." + +The old servant, who had been standing behind her mistress, went +downstairs. The door was opened, and they heard an exclamation of +surprise at the answer to her question, "Who is it that's knocking as if +the house belonged to him?" + +Those gathered up stairs heard the bolts withdrawn. There was a confused +sound of talking and then a heavy step was heard ascending the stairs, +and without introduction a tall man, wrapped in a cloak and carrying a +child of some two years old, strode into the room. He threw his hat on to +a settle and advanced straight towards the bailie, who looked in surprise +at this unceremonious entry. + +"Don't you know me, Andrew?" + +"Heaven preserve us," the bailie exclaimed, "why it's Malcolm!" + +"Malcolm himself," the visitor repeated, "sound in wind and limb." + +"The Lord be praised!" the bailie exclaimed as he grasped the other's +hand and wrung it warmly. "I had thought you dead years and years ago. +Janet, this is my brother Malcolm of whom you have often heard me speak." + +"And of whom you can have heard little good, mistress, if my brother has +spoken the truth concerning me. I was ever a ne'er do well, while Andrew +struck hard and fast to our father's trade." + +"My husband has ever spoken with affection of you," Janet Anderson said. +"The bailie is not given to speak ill of any, much less of his own flesh +and blood." + +"And now sit down, Malcolm. Supper is waiting, and you are, I doubt not, +ready for it. It is ill talking to a fasting man. When you have done you +shall tell me what you have been doing for the last fifteen years, and +how it comes that you thus suddenly come back among us with your boy." + +"He is no boy of mine," Malcolm said; "but I will tell you all about it +presently. First let me lay him down on that settle, for the poor little +chap is fast asleep and dead tired out. Elspeth, roll up my cloak and +make a pillow for him. That's right, he will do nicely now. You are +changed less than any of us, Elspeth. Just as hard to look at, and, I +doubt not, just as soft at heart as you used to be when you tried to +shield me when I got into scrapes. And now to supper." + +Little was said during the meal; fortunately the table was bounteously +spread, for the newcomer's appetite was prodigious; but at last he was +satisfied, and after a long drink at the horn beside him, which Elspeth +had kept filled with ale, he said: + +"There's nothing like a Scottish meal after all, Andrew. French living is +well enough for a time, but one tires of it; and many a time when I have +been lying down supperless on the sod, after marching and fighting the +whole day, I have longed for a bowl of porridge and a platter well filled +with oatmeal cakes." + +Supper over, John and the apprentices retired. Elspeth went off to +prepare the guest's chamber and to make up a little bed for the child. + +"Now, brother, let us hear your story; but, first of all, perhaps you +want to light your pipe?" + +"That do I," Malcolm replied, "if Mistress Janet has no objection +thereto." + +"She is accustomed to it," the bailie said, answering for her. "I smoke +myself; I deem that tobacco, like other things, was given for our use, +and methinks that with a pipe between the lips men's brains work more +easily and that it leadeth to pleasant converse." + +Janet went to a cupboard, brought out two long pipes and a jar of +tobacco, placed two tumblers, a flat bottle, and a jug of water on the +table. + +"That is right," the bailie said. "I do not often touch strong waters. +The habit, as I see too plainly, is a harmful one, and in this good city +of Glasgow there are many, even of those so placed that they should be an +example to their fellows, who are given nightly to drink more than is +good for them; but on an occasion like the present I deem it no harm to +take a glass." + +"I should think not," Malcolm said heartily; "it is long since I tasted a +glass of real Scotch spirit, and I never need an excuse for taking a +glass of whatever it be that comes in my way. Not, Mistress Janet, that I +am a toper. I don't say that at the sack of a town, or at times when +liquor is running, so to speak, to waste, I am more backward than the +rest; but my hand wouldn't be as steady as it is if I had been one of +those who are never so happy as when they are filling themselves with +liquor. And now, Andrew, to my story. You know that when I saw you +last--just when the troubles in '15 began--in spite of all your warnings +to the contrary, I must needs throw myself into the thick of them. You, +like a wise man, stuck to your shop, and here you are now a bailie of +Glasgow; while I, who have been wandering over the face of the earth +fighting for the cause of France and risking my life a thousand times in +a matter which concerned me in no way, have returned just as penniless as +I set out." + +"It is said, brother Malcolm," Janet said mildly, "that a rolling stone +gathers no moss." + +"That is true enough," Malcolm assented; "and yet do you know there are +few rolling stones who, if their time were to come over again, would +remain fixed in their bed. Of course we have not the pleasures of home, +of wives and children; but the life of adventure has its own joys, which +I, for one, would not change for the others. However, brother, as you +know, I threw myself heart and soul into that business. + +"The last time I saw you was just as I was starting with a score of +others to make our way to join the Earl of Mar's army at Perth. I have +seen many an army since, but never did I see sixteen thousand finer +fighting men than were there assembled. The Laird of Mackintosh brought +five hundred clansmen from Inverness shire, the Marquis of Huntly had +five hundred horse and two thousand foot, and the Earl Marischal had a +thousand men. The Laird of Glenlyon brought five hundred Campbells, and +the Marquis of Tullibardine fourteen hundred, and a score of other chiefs +of less power were there with their clansmen. There were enough men there +to have done anything had they been properly armed and led; but though +arms and ammunition had been promised from France, none came, and the +Earl of Mar had so little decision that he would have wrecked the finest +army that ever marched. + +"The army lay doing nothing for weeks, and just before we were expecting +a movement, the company I belonged to was sent with a force of +Highlanders under Mackintosh to join the army under the Lords +Derwentwater, Kenmure, and Nithsdale. Lord Derwentwater had risen with a +number of other gentlemen, and with their attendants and friends had +marched against Newcastle. They had done nothing there but remained idle +near Hexham till, joined by a force raised in the Lowlands of Scotland by +the Earls of Nithsdale, Carnwath, and Wintoun, the united army marched +north again to Kelso, where we joined them. + +"We Scots soon saw that we had gained nothing by the change of +commanders. Lord Derwentwater was ignorant of military affairs, and he +was greatly swayed by a Mr. Forster, who was somehow at the head of the +business, and who was not only incompetent, but proved to be a coward, if +not, as most folks believed, a traitor. So dissension soon broke out, and +four hundred Highlanders marched away north. After a long delay it was +resolved to move south, where, it was said, we should be joined by great +numbers in Lancashire; but by this time all had greatly lost spirit and +hope in the enterprise. We crossed the border and marched down through +Penrith, Appleby, and Kendal to Lancaster, and then on to Preston. + +"I was little more than a lad, Andrew, but even to me it seemed madness +thus to march into England with only two thousand men. Of these twelve +hundred were foot, commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh; the others were +horse. There were two troops of Stanhope's dragoons quartered in Preston, +but these retired when we neared the town, and we entered without +opposition. Next day, which was, I remember, the 10th of November, the +Chevalier was proclaimed king, and some country gentlemen with their +tenants came in and joined us. + +"I suppose it would have come to the same thing in the end, but never +were things so badly managed as they were by Mr. Forster. + +"Preston was a strong natural position; an enemy coming from the south +could only reach it by crossing a narrow bridge over the river Ribble a +mile and a half away, and this could have been held by a company against +an army. From the bridge to the town the road was so narrow that in +several places two men could not ride abreast. It ran between two high +and steep banks, and it was here that Cromwell was nearly killed when he +attacked Charles's troops. + +"Well, all these places, where we might certainly have defended +ourselves, were neglected, and we were all kept in the town, where we +formed four main posts. One was in the churchyard, and this was commanded +by Brigadier Mackintosh. In support of this was the volunteer horse under +Derwentwater and the three other lords. Lord Charles Murray was in +command at a barricade at a little distance from the churchyard. Colonel +Mackintosh had charge of a post at a windmill; and the fourth was in the +centre of the town. + +"Lord Derwentwater was a poor general, but he was a brave man. He and his +two brothers, the Ratcliffs, rode about everywhere, setting an example of +coolness, animating the soldiers, and seeing to the work on the barriers. +Two days after we reached the town we heard that General Wilde was +approaching. Colonel Farquharson was sent forward with a portion of +Mackintosh's battalion to hold the bridge and the pass; but Mr. Forster, +who went out on horseback, no sooner saw the enemy approaching than he +gave orders to Farquharson and his men to retreat to the town. If I had +been in Farquharson's place I would have put a bullet through the +coward's head, and would have defended the bridge till the last. + +"After that everything was confusion; the Highlanders came back into the +town furious and disheartened. The garrison prepared to receive the +enemy. Mr. Forster was seen no more, and in fact he went straight back to +the house where he was lodging and took his bed, where he remained till +all was over. The enemy came on slowly. They could not understand why +strong posts should be left undefended, and feared falling in an +ambuscade. I was at the post commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh. I had +joined a company commanded by Leslie of Glenlyon, who had brought with +him some twenty men, and had made up his company with men who, like +myself, came up without a leader. His company was attached to +Mackintosh's regiment. + +"Presently the English came in sight, and as soon as they ascertained +that we were still there, which they had begun to doubt, they attacked +us. We beat them back handsomely, and Derwentwater with his cavalry +charged their dragoons so fiercely that he drove them out of the town. It +was late in the afternoon when the fight began, and all night the +struggle went on. At each of our posts we beat them back over and over +again. The town was on fire in half a dozen places, but luckily the night +was still and the flames did not spread. We knew that it was a hopeless +fight we were making; for, from some prisoners, we learned that three +regiments of dragoons were also coming up against us, and had already +arrived at Clitheroe. From some inhabitants, I suppose, the enemy learned +that the street leading to Wigan had nor been barricaded, and Lord +Forrester brought up Preston's regiment by this way, and suddenly fell on +the flank of our barrier. It was a tough fight, but we held our own till +the news came that Forster had agreed to capitulate. + +"I don't say that our case wasn't hopeless. We were outnumbered and had +no leader; sooner or later we must have been overpowered. Still, no +capitulation should have been made except on the terms of mercy to all +concerned. But Forster no doubt felt safe about himself, and that was all +he cared for; and the end showed that he knew what he was about, for +while all the brave young noblemen, and numbers of others, were either +executed or punished in other ways, Forster, who had been the leading +spirit who had persuaded them to rise, and led them into this strait, was +after a short imprisonment suffered to go free. I tell you, brother +Andrew, if I were to meet him now, even if it were in a church, I would +drive my dagger into his heart. + +"However, there we were. So furious were we that it was with difficulty +the officers could prevent us from sallying out sword in hand and trying +to cut our way through the enemy. As to Forster, if he had appeared in +the streets he would have been hewn to pieces. However, it was useless to +resist now; the English troops marched in and we laid down our arms, and +our battalions marched into a church and were guarded as prisoners. It +was not a great army they had taken, for there were but one thousand four +hundred and ninety captured, including noblemen, gentlemen, and officers. + +"Many of us were wounded more or less. I had got a slice on the shoulder +from a dragoon's sword. This I gained when rushing out to rescue Leslie, +who had been knocked down, and would have been slain by three dragoons +had I not stood over him till some of our men rushed out and carried him +in. He was not badly hurt, the sword having turned as it cut through his +bonnet. My action won his regard, and from that time until a month since +we have never been separated. Under a strong escort of soldiers we were +marched south. In most places the country people mocked us as we passed; +but here and there we saw among the crowds who gathered in the streets of +the towns through which we passed, faces which we passed, faces which +expressed pity and sympathy + +"We were not badly treated on the march by our guard, and had little to +complain of. When we reached Barnet we fell out as usual when the march +was over, and I went up to the door of a house and asked a woman, who +looked pityingly at us, for a drink of water. She brought me some, and +while I drank she said: + +"'We are Catholics and well wishers of the Chevalier; if you can manage +to slip in here after it is dark we will furnish you with a disguise, and +will direct you to friends who will pass you on until you can escape. + +"'Can you give me disguises for two?' I asked. 'I will not go without my +captain.' + +"'Yes,' she said, 'for two, but no more.' + +"'I will steal away after dark,' I said as I gave her back the jug. + +"I told Leslie what had happened, and he agreed to join me in time to +escape, for there was no saying what fate might befall us in London; and, +indeed, the very next morning severities commenced, the whole of the +troops being obliged to suffer the indignity of having their arms tied +behind them, and so being marched into London. + +"After it was dark Leslie and I managed to steal away from our guards, +who were not very watchful, for our uniform would at once have betrayed +us, and the country people would have seized and handed us over. The +woman was on the watch, and as soon as we neared the door she opened it. +Her husband was with her and received us kindly. He at once furnished us +with the attire of two countrymen, and, letting us out by a back way, +started with us across the country. + +"After walking twenty miles he brought us to the house of another +adherent of the Chevalier, where we remained all day. So we were passed +on until we reached the coast, where we lay hid for some days until an +arrangement was made with the captain of a fishing boat to take us to +sea, and either to land us at Calais or to put us on board a French +fishing boat. So we got over without trouble. + +"Long before that, as you know, the business had virtually come to an end +here. The Earl of Mar's army lay week after week at Perth, till at last +it met the enemy under Argyle at Sheriffmuir. + +"You know how that went. The Highland clans in the right and centre +carried all before them, and drove the enemy from the field, but on the +left they beat us badly. So both parties claimed the victory. But, +victory or defeat, it was fatal to the cause of the Chevalier. Half the +Highland clans went off to their homes that night, and Mar had to fall +back to Perth. + +"Well, that was really the end of it. The Chevalier landed, and for a +while our hopes rose. He did nothing, and our hopes fell. At last he took +ship and went away, and the affair was over, except for the hangings and +slaughterings. + +"Leslie, like most of the Scottish gentlemen who succeeded in reaching +France, took service with the French king, and, of course, I did the +same. It would have done your heart good to see how the Scottish +regiments fought on many a field; the very best troops of France were +never before us, and many a tough field was decided by our charge. Leslie +was a cornet. He was about my age; and you know I was but twenty when +Sheriffmuir was fought. He rose to be a colonel, and would have given me +a pair of colours over and over again if I would have taken them; but I +felt more comfortable among our troopers than I should have done among +the officers, who were almost all men of good Highland family; so I +remained Leslie's right hand. + +"A braver soldier never swung a leg over saddle; but he was always in +some love affair or another. Why he didn't marry I couldn't make out. I +suppose he could never stick long enough to one woman. However, some four +years ago he got into an affair more serious than any he had been in +before, and this time he stuck to it in right earnest. Of course she was +precisely one of the women he oughtn't to have fallen in love with, +though I for one couldn't blame him, for a prettier creature wasn't to be +found in France. Unfortunately she was the only daughter of the Marquis +de Recambours, one of the wealthiest and most powerful of French nobles, +and there was no more chance of his giving his consent to her throwing +herself away upon a Scottish soldier of fortune than to her going into a +nunnery; less, in fact. However, she was as much in love with Leslie as +he was with her, and so they got secretly married. Two years ago this +child was born, but she managed somehow to keep it from her father, who +was all this time urging her to marry the Duke de Chateaurouge. + +"At last, as ill luck would have it, he shut her up in a convent just a +week before she had arranged to fly with Leslie to Germany, where he +intended to take service until her father came round. Leslie would have +got her out somehow; but his regiment was ordered to the frontier, and it +was eighteen months before we returned to Paris, where the child had been +in keeping with some people with whom he had placed it. The very evening +of his return I was cleaning his arms when he rushed into the room. + +"'All is discovered,' he said; 'here is my signet ring, go at once and +get the child, and make your way with it to Scotland; take all the money +in the escritoire, quick!' + +"I heard feet approaching, and dashed to the bureau, and transferred the +bag of louis there to my pocket. An official with two followers entered. + +"'Colonel Leslie,' he said, 'it is my duty to arrest you by order of his +gracious majesty;' and he held out an order signed by the king. + +"'I am unconscious of having done any wrong, sir, to his majesty, whom I +have served for the last sixteen years. However, it is not for me to +dispute his orders;' thereupon he unbuckled his sword and handed it to +the officers. 'You will look after the things till I return, Malcolm. As +I am sure I can clear myself of any charge that may be brought against +me, I trust to be speedily back again. + +"'Your trooper need not trouble himself,' the officer said; 'the official +with me will take charge of everything, and will at once affix my seal to +all your effects.' + +"I went down stairs and saw the colonel enter a carriage with the two +officials, then I went straight to the major. 'Colonel Leslie has been +arrested, sir, on what charge I know not. He has intrusted a commission +to me. Therefore, if you find I am absent from parade in the morning you +will understand I am carrying out his orders.' + +"The major was thunderstruck at the news, but told me to do as the +colonel had ordered me, whatever it might be. I mounted the colonel's +horse at once and rode to the house where the child was in keeping. The +people knew me well, as I had often been there with messages from the +colonel. When I showed them the signet ring, and told them that I had +orders to take the child to his father, they made no opposition. I said I +would return for him as soon as it was dusk. I then went and purchased a +suit of civilian clothes, and returning to the house attired myself in +these, and taking the child on the saddle before me, rode for the +frontier. + +"Following unfrequented roads, travelling only at night, and passing a +day in a wood, I passed the frontier unmolested, and made my way to +Ostend, where I sold the horse and took passage in the first ship sailing +for Leith. I arrived there two days ago, and have walked here, with an +occasional lift in a cart; and here I am, brother Andrew, to ask you for +hospitality for a while for myself and Leslie's boy. I have a hundred +louis, but these, of course, belong to the child. As for myself, I +confess I have nothing; saving has never been in my line." + +"You are heartily welcome, Malcolm, as long as you choose to stop; but I +trust that ere long you will hear of Colonel Leslie." + +"I trust so," Malcolm said; "but if you knew the court of France as well +as I do you would not feel very sanguine about it. It is easier to get +into a prison than out of one." + +"But the colonel has committed no crime!" the bailie said. + +"His chance would be a great deal better if he had," Malcolm laughed. "A +colonel of one of his majesty's Scottish regiments can do a good deal in +the way of crime without much harm befalling him; but when it comes to +marrying the daughter of a nobleman who is a great personage at court, +without his consent, it is a different affair altogether, I can tell you. +Leslie has powerful friends, and his brother officers will do what they +can for him; but I can tell you services at the court of France go for +very little. Influence is everything, and as the nobleman the marquis +intended to be the husband of his daughter is also a great personage at +court and a friend of Louis's, there is no saying how serious a matter +they may make of it. Men have been kept prisoners for life for a far less +serious business than this." + +"But supposing he is released, does he know where to communicate with +you?" + +"I am afraid he doesn't," Malcolm said ruefully. "He knows that I come +from Glasgow, but that is all. Still, when he is freed, no doubt he will +come over himself to look for his son, and I am sure to hear of his being +here." + +"You might do, and you might not," the bailie said. "Still, we must hope +for the best, Malcolm. At any rate I am in no haste for the colonel to +come. Now I have got you home again after all these years, I do not wish +to lose you again in a hurry." + +Malcolm only remained for a few weeks at his brother's house. The +restraint of life at the bailie's was too much for him. Andrew's was a +well ordered household. The bailie was methodical and regular, a leading +figure in the kirk, far stricter than were most men of his time as to +undue consumption of liquor, strong in exhortation in season and out of +season. His wife was kindly but precise, and as outspoken as Andrew +himself. For the first day or two the real affection which Andrew had for +his younger brother, and the pleasure he felt at his return, shielded +Malcolm from comment or rebuke; but after the very first day the bailie's +wife had declared to herself that it was impossible that Malcolm could +long remain an inmate of the house. She was not inhospitable, and would +have made great sacrifices in some directions for the long missing +brother of her husband; but his conduct outraged all the best feelings of +a good Scotch housewife. + +Even on that first day he did not come punctually to his meals. He was +away about the town looking up old acquaintance, came in at dinner and +again at supper after the meal had already begun, and dropped into his +place and began to eat without saying a word of grace. He stamped about +the house as if he had cavalry spurs still on his heels; talked in a +voice that could be heard from attic to basement; used French and Flemish +oaths which horrified the good lady, although she did not understand +them; smoked at all hours of the day, whereas Andrew always confined +himself to his after supper pipe, and, in spite of his assertions on the +previous evening, consumed an amount of liquor which horrified the good +woman. + +At his meals he talked loudly, kept the two apprentices in a titter with +his stories of campaigning, spoke slightingly of the city authorities, +and joked the bailie with a freedom and roughness which scandalized her. +Andrew was slow to notice the incongruity of his brother's demeanour and +bearing with the atmosphere of the house, although he soon became dimly +conscious that there was a jarring element in the air. At the end of a +week Malcolm broached the subject to him. + +"Andrew," he said, "you are a good fellow, though you are a bailie and an +elder of the kirk, and I thank you for the hearty welcome you have given +me, and for your invitation to stay for a long time with you; but it will +not do. Janet is a good woman and a kindly, but I can see that I keep her +perpetually on thorns. In good truth, fifteen years of campaigning are +but an indifferent preparation for a man as an inmate of a respectable +household. I did not quite know myself how thoroughly I had become a +devil may care trooper until I came back to my old life here. The ways of +your house would soon be as intolerable to me as my ways are to your good +wife, and therefore it is better by far that before any words have passed +between you and me, and while we are as good friends as on the evening +when I returned, I should get out of this. I met an old friend today, one +of the lads who went with me from Glasgow to join the Earl of Mar at +Perth. He is well to do now, and trades in cattle, taking them in droves +down into England. For the sake of old times he has offered me +employment, and methinks it will suit me as well as any other." + +"But you cannot surely be going as a drover, Malcolm!" + +"Why not? The life is as good as any other. I would not sit down, after +these years of roving, to an indoor life. I must either do that or cross +the water again and take service abroad. I am only six and thirty yet, +and am good for another fifteen years of soldiering, and right gladly +would I go back if Leslie were again at the head of his regiment, but I +have been spoiled by him. He ever treated me as a companion and as a +friend rather than as a trooper in his regiment, and I should miss him +sorely did I enter any other service. Then, too, I would fain be here to +be ready to join him again if he sends for me or comes, and I should wish +to keep an eye always on his boy. You will continue to take charge of +him, won't you, Andrew? He is still a little strange, but he takes to +Elspeth, and will give little trouble when he once learns the language." + +"I don't like it at all, Malcolm," the bailie said. + +"No, Andrew, but you must feel it is best. I doubt not that ere this your +wife has told you her troubles concerning me." + +As the bailie on the preceding night had listened to a long string of +complaints and remonstrances on the part of his wife as to his brother's +general conduct he could not deny the truth of Malcolm's supposition. + +"Just so, Andrew," Malcolm went on; "I knew that it must be so. Mistress +Janet has kept her lips closed firm to me, but I could see how difficult +it was for her sometimes to do so. It could not be otherwise. I am as +much out of place here as a wolf in a sheepfold. As to the droving, I +shall not mention to all I meet that I am brother to one of the bailies +of Glasgow. I shall like the life. The rough pony I shall ride will +differ in his paces from my old charger, but at least it will be life in +the saddle. I shall be earning an honest living; if I take more than is +good for me I may get a broken head and none be the wiser, whereas if I +remain here and fall foul of the city watch it would be grief and pain +for you." + +The bailie was silenced. He had already begun to perceive that Malcolm's +ways and manners were incompatible with the peace and quiet of a +respectable household, and that Janet's complaints were not altogether +unreasonable. He had seen many of his acquaintances lift their eyebrows +in disapprobation at the roystering talk of his brother, and had foreseen +that it was probable trouble would come. + +At the same rime he felt a repugnance to the thought that after so many +years of absence his brother should so soon quit his house. It seemed a +reflection alike on his affection and hospitality. + +"You will take charge of the child, won't you?" Malcolm pleaded. "There +is a purse of a hundred louis, which will, I should say, pay for any +expense to which he may put you for some years." + +"As if I would take the bairn's money!" Andrew exclaimed angrily. "What +do you take me for, Malcolm? Assuredly I will take the child. Janet and I +have no bairn of our own, and it's good for a house to have a child in +it. I look upon it as if it were yours, for it is like enough you will +never hear of its father again. It will have a hearty welcome. It is a +bright little fellow, and in time I doubt not that Janet will take +greatly to it. The charge of a child is a serious matter, and we cannot +hope that we shall not have trouble with it, but there is trouble in all +things. At any rate, Malcolm, we will do our best, and if at the end of a +year I find that Janet has not taken to it we will see about some other +arrangement. And, Malcolm, I do trust that you will stay with us for +another week or two. It would seem to me as if I had turned you out of my +house were you to leave me so soon." + +So Malcolm made a three weeks' stay at his brother's, and then started +upon his new occupation of driving Highland cattle down into Lancashire. +Once every two or three months he came to Glasgow for a week or two +between his trips. In spite of Andrew's entreaties he refused on these +occasions to take up his abode with him, but took a lodging not far off, +coming in the evening for an hour to smoke a pipe with his brother, and +never failing of a morning to come in and take the child for a long walk +with him, carrying him upon his shoulder, and keeping up a steady talk +with him in his native French, which he was anxious that the boy should +nor forget, as at some time or other he might again return to France. + +Some weeks after Malcolm's return to Scotland, he wrote to Colonel +Leslie, briefly giving his address at Glasgow; but making no allusion to +the child, as, if the colonel were still in prison, the letter would be +sure to be opened by the authorities. He also wrote to the major, giving +him his address, and begging him to communicate it to Colonel Leslie +whenever he should see him; that done, there was nothing for it but to +wait quietly. The post was so uncertain in those days that he had but +slight hope that either of his letters would ever reach their +destination. No answer came to either of his letters. + +Four years later Malcolm went over to Paris, and cautiously made +inquiries; but no one had heard anything of Colonel Leslie from the day +he had been arrested. The regiment was away fighting in the Low +Countries, and the only thing Malcolm could do was to call upon the +people who had had charge of the child, to give them his address in case +the colonel should ever appear to inquire of them. He found, however, the +house tenanted by other people. He learned that the last occupants had +left years before. The neighbors remembered that one morning early some +officers of the law had come to the house, and the man had been seized +and carried away. He had been released some months later, only to find +that his wife had died of grief and anxiety, and he had then sold off his +goods and gone no one knew whither. Malcolm, therefore, returned to +Glasgow, with the feeling that he had gained nothing by his journey. + + + +CHAPTER II: The Jacobite Agent. + + +So twelve years passed. Ronald Leslie grew up a sturdy lad, full of fun +and mischief in spite of the sober atmosphere of the bailie's house; and +neither flogging at school nor lecturing at home appeared to have the +slightest effect in reducing him to that state of sober tranquillity +which was in Mrs. Anderson's eyes the thing to be most desired in boys. +Andrew was less deeply shocked than his wife at the discovery of Ronald's +various delinquencies, but his sense of order and punctuality was +constantly outraged. He was, however, really fond of the lad; and even +Mrs. Anderson, greatly as the boy's ways constantly disturbed and ruffled +her, was at heart as fond of him as was her husband. She considered, and +not altogether wrongly, that his wilderness, as she called it, was in no +slight degree due to his association with her husband's brother. + +Ronald looked forward to the periodical visits of the drover with intense +longing. He was sure of a sympathetic listener in Malcolm, who listened +with approval to the tales of the various scrapes into which he had got +since his last visit; of how, instead of going to school, he had played +truant and with another boy his own age had embarked in a fisherman's +boat and gone down the river and had not been able to get back until next +day; how he had played tricks upon his dominie, and had conquered in +single combat the son of Councillor Duff, the butcher, who had spoken +scoffing words at the Stuarts. Malcolm was, in fact, delighted to find, +that in spite of repression and lectures his young charge was growing up +a lad of spirit. He still hoped that some day Leslie might return, and he +knew how horrified he would be were he to find that his son was becoming +a smug and well conducted citizen. No small portion of his time on each +of his visits to Glasgow Malcolm spent in training the boy in the use of +arms. + +"Your father was a gentleman," he would say to him, "and it is fitting +that you should know how to handle a gentleman's arms. Clubs are well +enough for citizens' apprentices, but I would have you handle rapier and +broadsword as well as any of the young lairds. When you get old enough, +Ronald, you and I will cross the seas, and together we will try and get +to the bottom of the mystery of your father's fate, and if we find that +the worst has come to the worst, we will seek our your mother. She will +most likely have married again. They will be sure to have forced her into +it; but even if she dare not acknowledge you as her son, her influence +may obtain for you a commission in one of the king's regiments, and even +if they think I'm too old for a trooper I will go as your follower. There +are plenty of occasions at the court of France when a sharp sword and a +stout arm, even if it be somewhat stiffened by age, can do good service." + +The lessons began as soon as Ronald was old enough to hold a light blade, +and as between the pauses of exercise Malcolm was always ready to tell +stories of his adventures in the wars of France, the days were full of +delight to Ronald. When the latter reached the age of fourteen Malcolm +was not satisfied with the amount of proficiency which the lad was able +to gain during his occasional visits, and therefore took him for further +instruction to a comrade who had, like himself, served in France, and had +returned and settled down in Glasgow, where he opened a fencing school, +having been a maitre d'armes among the Scotch regiments. + +The arrangement was, however, kept a profound secret from Andrew and his +wife; but on half holidays, and on any other days when he could manage to +slip away for an hour, Ronald went to his instructor and worked hard and +steadily with the rapier. Had Mrs. Anderson had an idea of the manner in +which he spent his time she would have been horrified, and would +certainly have spared her encomiums on his improved conduct and the +absence of the unsatisfactory reports which had before been so common. + +The cloud of uncertainty which hung over his father's fate could not but +have an influence upon the boy's character, and the happy carelessness +and gaiety which were its natural characteristics were modified by the +thought that his father might be languishing in a dungeon. Sometimes he +would refuse to accompany his school fellows on their rambles or fishing +expeditions, and would sit for hours thinking over all sorts of wild +plans by which he might penetrate to him and aid him to escape. He was +never tired of questioning Malcolm Anderson as to the prisons in which, +if still alive, his father would be likely to be confined. He would ask +as to their appearance, the height of their walls, whether they were +moated or not, and whether other houses abutted closely upon them. One +day Malcolm asked him the reason of these questions, and he replied, "Of +course I want to see how it will be possible to get my father out." And +although Malcolm tried to impress upon him that it would be an almost +impossible task even to discover in which prison his father was kept, he +would not allow himself to be discouraged. + +"There must be some way of finding out, Malcolm. You tell me that +prisoners are not even known by their name to the warders, but only under +a number. Still someone must know--there must be lists kept of those in +prison, and I shall trust to my mother to find out for me. A great lady +as she is must be able to get at people if she sets about it, and as +certainly she must have loved my father very very much, or she never +would have married him secretly, and got into such trouble for it. I am +sure she will do her best when she finds that you and I have come over to +get him out. When we know that, I think we ought to be able to manage. +You could get employment as a warder, or I could go disguised as a woman, +or as a priest, or somehow. I feel sure we shall succeed if we do but +find out that he is alive and where he is." + +Malcolm knew too much about the strong and well guarded prisons of France +to share in the boy's sanguine hopes, but he did not try to discourage +him. He thought that with such an object in life before him the boy would +devote himself all the more eagerly to exercises which would strengthen +his arm, increase his skill with weapons, and render him a brave and +gallant officer, and in this he was right. As the time went on Ronald +became more and more serious. He took no part whatever in the school boy +games and frolics in which he had been once a leader. He worked hard at +his school tasks the sooner to be done with them, and above all devoted +himself to acquiring a mastery of the sword with a perseverance and +enthusiasm which quite surprised his instructor. + +"I tell you, Malcolm, man," he said one day to his old comrade, after +Ronald had been for upwards of two years his pupil, "if I had known, when +you first asked me to teach the lad to handle a sword, how much of my +time he was going to occupy, I should have laughed in your face, for ten +times the sum you agreed to pay me would not have been enough; but, +having begun it for your sake, I have gone on for the lad's. It has been +a pleasure to teach him, so eager was he to learn--so ready to work +heart and soul to improve. The boy's wrist is as strong as mine and his +eye as quick. I have long since taught him all I know, and it is practice +now, and not teaching, that we have every day. I tell you I have work to +hold my own with him; he knows every trick and turn as well as I do, and +is quicker with his lunge and riposte. Were it not that I have my extra +length of arm in my favour I could not hold my own. As you know, I have +many of the officers of the garrison among my pupils, and some of them +have learned in good schools, but there is not one of them could defend +himself for a minute against that boy. If it were not that the matter has +to be kept secret I would set him in front of some of them, and you would +see what short work he would make of them. Have you heard the rumours, +Malcolm, that the young Chevalier is likely to follow the example of his +father, thirty years back, and to make a landing in Scotland?" + +"I have heard some such rumours," Malcolm replied, "though whether there +be aught in them I know not. I hope that if he does so he will at any +rate follow the example of his father no further. As you know, I hold to +the Stuarts, but I must own they are but poor hands at fighting. Charles +the First ruined his cause; James the Second threw away the crown of +Ireland by galloping away from the battle of the Boyne; the Chevalier +showed here in '15 that he was no leader of men; and unless this lad is +made of very different stuff to his forefathers he had best stay in +France." + +"But if he should come, Malcolm, I suppose you will join him? I am afraid +I shall be fool enough to do so, even with my fifty years on my head. And +you?" + +"I suppose I shall be a fool too," Malcolm said. "The Stuarts are Scotch, +you see, and with all their faults I would rather a thousand times have a +Scottish king than these Germans who govern us from London. If the +English like them let them keep them, and let us have a king of our own. +However, nought may come of it; it may be but a rumour. It is a card +which Louis has threatened to play a score of times, whenever he wishes +to annoy England. It is more than likely that it will come to nought, as +it has so often done before." + +"But they tell me that there are agents travelling about among the +Highland clans, and that this time something is really to be done." + +"They have said so over and over again, and nothing has come of it. For +my part, I don't care which way it goes. After the muddle that was made +of it thirty years ago it does not seem to me more likely that we shall +get rid of the Hanoverians now. Besides, the hangings and slaughterings +then, would, I should think, make the nobles and the heads of clans think +twice ere they risked everything again." + +"That is true, but when men's blood is up they do not count the cost; +besides, the Highland clans are always ready to fight. If Prince Charles +comes you will see there will not be much hanging back whatever the +consequences may be. Well, you and I have not much to lose, except our +lives." + +"That is true enough, old friend; and I would rather die that way than +any other. Still, to tell you the truth, I would rather keep my head on +my shoulders for a few years if I can." + +"Well, nothing may come of it; but if it does I shall strike a blow again +for the old cause." + +At home Ronald heard nothing but expressions of loyalty to the crown. The +mere fact that the Highlanders espoused the cause of the Stuarts was +sufficient in itself to make the Lowlanders take the opposite side. The +religious feeling, which had always counted for so much in the Lowlands, +and had caused Scotland to side with the Parliament against King Charles, +had not lost its force. The leanings of the Stuarts were, it was known, +still strongly in favour of the Catholic religion, and although Prince +Charles Edward was reported to be more Protestant in feelings than the +rest of his race, this was not sufficient to counterbalance the effect of +the hereditary Catholic tendency. Otherwise there was no feeling of +active loyalty towards the reigning king in Scotland. The first and +second Georges had none of the attributes which attract loyal affection. +The first could with difficulty speak the language of the people over +whom he ruled. Their feelings and sympathies were Hanoverian rather than +English, and all court favours were bestowed as fast as possible upon +their countrymen. They had neither the bearing nor manner which men +associate with royalty, nor the graces and power of attraction which +distinguished the Stuarts. Commonplace and homely in manner, in figure, +and in bearing, they were not men whom their fellows could look up to or +respect; their very vices were coarse, and the Hanoverian men and women +they gathered round them were hated by the English people. + +Thus neither in England nor Scotland was there any warm feeling of +loyalty for the reigning house; and though it was possible that but few +would adventure life and property in the cause of the Stuarts, it was +equally certain that outside the army there were still fewer who would +draw sword for the Hanoverian king. Among the people of the Lowland +cities of Scotland the loyalty which existed was religious rather than +civil, and rested upon the fact that their forefathers had fought against +the Stuarts, while the Highlanders had always supported their cause. +Thus, although in the household and in kirk Ronald had heard King George +prayed for regularly, he had heard no word concerning him calculated to +waken a boyish feeling of loyalty, still less of enthusiasm. Upon the +other hand he knew that his father had fought and suffered for the +Stuarts and was an exile in their cause, and that Hanoverians had handed +over the estate of which he himself would now be the heir to one of their +adherents. + +"It is no use talking of these matters to Andrew," Malcolm impressed upon +him; "it would do no good. When he was a young man he took the side of +the Hanoverians, and he won't change now; while, did Mistress Janet guess +that your heart was with the Stuarts, she would say that I was ruining +you, and should bring you to a gallows. She is not fond of me now, though +she does her best to be civil to her husband's brother; but did she know +that you had become a Jacobite, like enough she would move Andrew to put +a stop to your being with me, and there would be all sorts of trouble." + +"But they could nor prevent my being with you," Ronald said indignantly. +"My father gave me into your charge, not into theirs." + +"That's true enough, laddie; but it is they who have cared for you and +brought you up. When you are a man you can no doubt go which way it +pleases you; but till then you owe your duty and respect to them, and not +to me, who have done nought for you but just carry you over here in my +cloak." + +"I know they have done everything for me," Ronald said penitently. "They +have been very good and kind, and I love them both; but for all that it +is only natural that my father should be first, and that my heart should +be in the cause that he fought for." + +"That is right enough, Ronald, and I would not have it otherwise, and I +have striven to do my best to make you as he would like to see you. Did +he never come back again I should be sorry indeed to see Colonel Leslie's +son growing up a Glasgow tradesman, as my brother no doubt intends you to +be, for I know he has long since given up any thought of hearing from +your father; but in that you and I will have a say when the time comes. +Until then you must treat Andrew as your natural guardian, and there is +no need to anger him by letting him know that your heart is with the king +over the water, any more than that you can wield a sword like a +gentleman. Let us have peace as long as we can. You are getting on for +sixteen now; another two years and we will think about going to Paris +together. I am off again tomorrow, Ronald; it will not be a long trip +this time, but maybe before I get back we shall have news from France +which will set the land on fire." + +A short time after this conversation, as Ronald on his return from +college (for he was now entered at the university) passed through the +shop, the bailie was in conversation with one of the city magistrates, +and Ronald caught the words: + +"He is somewhere in the city. He came down from the Highlands, where he +has been going to and fro, two days since. I have a warrant out against +him, and the constables are on the lookout. I hope to have him in jail +before tonight. These pestilent rogues are a curse to the land, though I +cannot think the clans would be fools enough to rise again, even though +Charles Stuart did come." + +Ronald went straight up to his room, and for a few minutes sat in +thought. The man of whom they spoke was doubtless an emissary of Prince +Charles, and his arrest might have serious consequences, perhaps bring +ruin on all with whom he had been in communication. Who he was or what he +was like Ronald knew not; but he determined at any rate to endeavour to +defeat the intentions of the magistrate to lay hands on him. Accordingly +a few minutes later, while the magistrate was still talking with Andrew, +he again went out. + +Ronald waited about outside the door till he left, and then followed him +at a short distance. The magistrate spoke to several acquaintances on the +way, and then went to the council chamber. Waiting outside, Ronald saw +two or three of the magistrates enter. An hour later the magistrate he +was watching came out; but he had gone but a few paces when a man +hurrying up approached him. They talked earnestly for a minute or two. +The magistrate then re-entered the building, remained there a few +minutes, and then joined the man who was waiting outside. Ronald had +stolen up and taken his stand close by. + +"It is all arranged," the magistrate said; "as soon as night has fallen a +party will go down, surround the house, and arrest him. It is better not +to do it in daylight. I shall lead the party, which will come round to my +house, so if the men you have left on watch bring you news that he has +changed his hiding place, let me know at once. + +The magistrate walked on. Ronald stood irresolute. He had obtained no +clue as to the residence of the person of whom they were in search, and +after a moment's thought he determined to keep an eye upon the constable, +who would most likely join his comrade on the watch. This, however, he +did not do immediately. He had probably been for some time at work, and +now took the opportunity of going home for a meal, for he at once made +his way to a quiet part of the city, and entered a small house. + +It was half an hour before he came out again, and Ronald fidgeted with +impatience, for it was already growing dusk. When he issued out Ronald +saw that he was armed with a heavy cudgel. He walked quickly now, and +Ronald, following at a distance, passed nearly across the town, and down +a quiet street which terminated against the old wall running from the +Castle Port to a small tower. When he got near the bottom of the street a +man came out from an archway, and the two spoke together. From their +gestures Ronald felt sure that it was the last house on the left hand +side of the street that was being watched. He had not ventured to follow +far down the street, for as there was no thoroughfare he would at once be +regarded with suspicion. The question now was how to warn the man of his +danger. He knew several men were on the watch, and as only one was in the +street, doubtless the others were behind the house. If anything was to be +done there was no time to be lost, for the darkness was fast closing in. + +After a minute's thought he went quickly up the street, and then started +at a run, and then came down upon a place where he could ascend the wall, +which was at many points in bad repair. With some difficulty he climbed +up, and found that he was exactly opposite the house he wished to reach. +It was dark now. Even in the principal streets the town was only lit by +oil lamps here and there, and there was no attempt at illumination in the +quiet quarters, persons who went abroad after nightfall always carrying a +lantern with them. There was still sufficient light to show Ronald that +the house stood at a distance of some fourteen feet from the wall. The +roof sloped too steeply for him to maintain his holding upon it; but +halfway along the house was a dormer window about three feet above the +gutter. It was unglazed, and doubtless gave light to a granary or store +room. + +Ronald saw that his only chance was to alight on the roof close enough to +this window to be able to grasp the woodwork. At any other moment he +would have hesitated before attempting such a leap. The wall was only a +few feet wide, and he could therefore get but little run for a spring. +His blood was, however, up, and having taken his resolution he did not +hesitate. Drawing back as far as he could he took three steps, and then +sprang for the window. Its sill was some three feet higher than the edge +of the wall from which he sprang. + +The leap was successful; his feet struck just upon the gutter, and the +impetus threw forward his body, and his hands grasped the woodwork of the +window. In a moment he had dragged himself inside. It was quite dark +within the room. He moved carefully, for the floor was piled with disused +furniture, boxes, sacking, and rubbish. He was some time finding the +door, but although he moved as carefully as he could he knocked over a +heavy chest which was placed on a rickety chair, the two falling with a +crash on the floor. At last he found the door and opened it. As he did so +a light met his eyes, and he saw ascending the staircase a man with a +drawn sword, and a woman holding a light above her head following +closely. The man uttered an exclamation on seeing Ronald appear. + +"A thief!" he said. "Surrender, or I will run you through at once." + +"I am no thief," Ronald replied. "My name is Ronald Leslie, and I am a +student at the university. I have come here to warn someone, whom I know +not, in this house that it is watched, and that in a few minutes at the +outside a band of the city watch will be here to capture him." + +The man dropped the point of his sword, and taking the light from the +woman held it closer to Ronald's face. + +"How came you here?" he asked. "How did you learn this news?" + +"The house is watched both sides below," Ronald said, "and I leapt from +the wall through the dormer window. I heard a magistrate arranging with +one of the constables for a capture, and gathered that he of whom they +were in search was a Jacobite, and as I come of a stock which has always +been faithful to the Stuarts, I hastened to warn him." + +The woman uttered a cry of alarm. + +"I thank you with all my heart, young sir. I am he for whom they are in +search, and if I get free you will render a service indeed to our cause; +but there is no time to talk now, if what you tell me be true. You say +the house is watched from both sides?" + +"Yes; there are two men in the lane below, one or more, I know not how +many, behind." + +"There is no escape behind," the man said; "the walls are high, and other +houses abut upon them. I will sally out and fight through the men in +front." + +"I can handle the sword," Ronald put in; "and if you will provide me with +a weapon I will do my best by your side." + +"You are a brave lad," the man said, "and I accept your aid." + +He led the way down stairs and entered a room, took down a sword from +over the fireplace, and gave it to Ronald. + +As he took it in his hand there was a loud knocking at the door. + +"Too late!" the man exclaimed. "Quick, the light, Mary! At any rate I +must burn my papers." + +He drew some letters from his pocket, lit them at the lamp, and threw +them on the hearth; then opening a cabinet he drew forth a number of +other papers and crumpling them up added them to the blaze. + +"Thank God that is safe!" he said; "the worst evil is averted." + +"Can you not escape by the way by which I came hither?" Ronald said. "The +distance is too great to leap; but if you have got a plank, or can pull +up a board from the floor, you could put it across to the wall and make +your escape that way. I will try to hold the stairs till you are away." + +"I will try at least," the man said. "Mary, bring the light, and aid me +while our brave friend does his best to give us time." + +So saying he sprang upstairs, while Ronald made his way down to the door. + +"Who is making such a noise at the door of a quiet house at this time of +night?" he shouted. + +"Open in the king's name," was the reply; "we have a warrant to arrest +one who is concealed here." + +"There is no one concealed here," Ronald replied, "and I doubt that you +are, as you say, officers of the peace; but if so, pass your warrant +through the grill, and if it be signed and in due form I will open to +you." + +"I will show my warrant when need be," the voice answered. "Once more, +open the door or we will break it in." + +"Do it at your peril," Ronald replied. "How can I tell you are not +thieves who seek to ransack the house, and that your warrant is a +pretence? I warn you that the first who enters I will run him through the +body." + +The reply was a shower of blows on the door, and a similar attack was +begun by a party behind the house. The door was strong, and after a +minute or two the hammering ceased, and then there was a creaking, +straining noise, and Ronald knew they were applying a crowbar to force it +open. He retreated to a landing halfway up the stairs, placed a lamp +behind him so that it would show its light full on the faces of those +ascending the stairs, and waited. A minute later there was a crash; the +lock had yielded, but the bar still held the door in its place. Then the +blows redoubled, mingled with the crashing of wood; then there was the +sound of a heavy fall, and a body of men burst in. + +There was a rush at the stairs, but the foremost halted at the sight of +Ronald with his drawn sword. + +"Keep back," he shouted, "or beware! The watch will be here in a few +minutes, and then you will all be laid by the heels." + +"Fools! We are the watch," one of the men exclaimed, and, dashing up the +stairs, aimed a blow at Ronald. He guarded it and ran the man through the +shoulder. He dropped his sword and fell back with a curse. + +At this moment the woman ran down stairs from above and nodded to Ronald +to signify that the fugitive had escaped. + +"You see I hold to my word," Ronald said in a loud voice. "If ye be the +watch, which I doubt, show me the warrant, or if ye have one in authority +with you let him proclaim himself." + +"Here is the warrant, and here am I, James M'Whirtle, a magistrate of +this city." + +"Why did you not say so before?" Ronald exclaimed, lowering his sword. +"If it be truly the worshipful Mr. M'Whirtle let him show himself, for +surely I know him well, having seen him often in the house of my +guardian, Bailie Anderson." + +Mr. M'Whirtle, who had been keeping well in the rear, now came forward. + +"It is himself." Ronald said. "Why did you not say you were here at once, +Mr. M'Whirtle, instead of setting your men to break down the door, as if +they were Highland caterans on a foray?" + +"We bade you open in the king's name," the magistrate said, "and you +withstood us, and it will be hanging matter for you, for you have aided +the king's enemies." + +"The king's enemies!" Ronald said in a tone of surprise. "How can there +be any enemies of the king here, seeing there are only myself and the +good woman up stairs? You will find no others." + +"Search the house," the magistrate said furiously, "and take this +malapert lad into custody on the charge of assisting the king's enemies, +of impeding the course of justice, of withstanding by force of arms the +issue of a lawful writ, and with grievously wounding one of the city +watch." + +Ronald laughed. + +"It is a grievous list, worshipful sir; but mark you, as soon as you +showed your warrant and declared yourself I gave way to you. I only +resisted so long as it seemed to me you were evildoers breaking into a +peaceful house." + +Two of the watch remained as guard over Ronald; one of the others +searched the house from top to bottom. No signs of the fugitive were +discovered. + +"He must be here somewhere," the magistrate said, "since he was seen to +enter, and the house has been closely watched ever since. See, there are +a pile of ashes on the hearth as if papers had been recently burned. +Sound the floors and the walls." + +The investigation was particularly sharp in the attic, for a board was +here found to be loose, and there were signs of its being recently +wrenched out of its place, but as the room below was unceiled this +discovery led to nothing. At last the magistrate was convinced that the +fugitive was not concealed in the house, and, after placing his seals on +the doors of all the rooms and leaving four men in charge, he left the +place, Ronald, under the charge of four men, accompanying him. + +On the arrival at the city Tolbooth Ronald was thrust into a cell and +there left until morning. He was then brought before Mr. M'Whirtle and +two other of the city magistrates. Andrew Anderson was in attendance, +having been notified the night before of what had befallen Ronald. The +bailie and his wife had at first been unable to credit the news, and were +convinced that some mistake had been made. Andrew had tried to obtain his +release on his promise to bring him up in the morning, but Mr. M'Whirtle +and his colleagues, who had been hastily summoned together, would not +hear of it. + +"It's a case of treason, man. Treason against his gracious majesty; +aiding and abetting one of the king's enemies, to say nought of brawling +and assaulting the city watch." + +The woman found in the house had also been brought up, but no precise +charge was made against her. The court was crowded, for Andrew, in his +wrath at being unable to obtain Ronald's release, had not been backward +in publishing his grievance, and many of his neighbours were present to +hear this strange charge against Ronald Leslie. + +The wounded constable and another first gave their evidence. + +"I myself can confirm what has been said," Mr. M'Whirtle remarked, +"seeing that I was present with the watch to see the arrest of a person +against whom a warrant had been issued." + +"Who is that person?" Ronald asked. "Seeing that I am charged with aiding +and abetting his escape it seems to me that I have a right to know who he +is." + +The magistrates looked astounded at the effrontery of the question, but +after a moment's consultation together Mr. M'Whirtle said that in the +interest of justice it was unadvisable at the present moment to state the +name of the person concerned. + +"What have you to say, prisoner, to the charge made against you? In +consideration of our good friend Bailie Anderson, known to be a worthy +citizen and loyal subject of his majesty, we would be glad to hear what +you have to say anent this charge." + +"I have nothing to say," Ronald replied quietly. "Being in the house when +it was attacked, with as much noise as if a band of Border ruffians were +at the gate, I stood on the defence. I demanded to see what warrant they +had for forcing an entry, and as they would show me none, I did my best +to protect the house; but the moment Mr. M'Whirtle proclaimed who he was +I lowered my sword and gave them passage." + +There was a smile in the court at the boy's coolness. + +"But how came ye there, young sir? How came ye to be in the house at all, +if ye were there for a good motive?" + +"That I decline to say," Ronald answered. "It seems to me that any one +may be in a house by the consent of its owners, without having to give +his reasons therefor." + +"It will be the worse for you if you defy the court. I ask you again how +came you there?" + +"I have no objection to tell you how I came there," Ronald said. "I was +walking on the old wall, which, as you know, runs close by the house, +when I saw an ill looking loon hiding himself as if watching the house, +looking behind I saw another ruffianly looking man there." Two gasps of +indignation were heard from the porch at the back of the court. "Thinking +that there was mischief on hand I leapt from the wall to the dormer +window to warn the people of the house that there were ill doers who had +designs upon the place, and then remained to see what came of it. That is +the simple fact." + +There was an exclamation of incredulity from the magistrates. + +"If you doubt me," Ronald said, "you can send a man to the wall. I felt +my feet loosen a tile and it slid down into the gutter." + +One of the magistrates gave an order, and two of the watch left the +court. + +"And who did you find in the house?" + +"I found this good woman, and sorely frightened she was when I told her +what kind of folk were lurking outside." + +"And was there anyone else there?" + +"There was a man there," Ronald said quietly, "and he seemed alarmed +too." + +"What became of him?" + +"I cannot say for certain," Ronald replied; "but if you ask my opinion I +should say, that having no stomach for meeting people outside, he just +went out the way I came in, especially as I heard the worshipful +magistrate say that a board in the attic had been lifted." + +The magistrates looked at each other in astonishment; the mode of escape +had not occurred to any, and the disappearance of the fugitive was now +explained. + +"I never heard such a tale," one of the magistrates said after a pause. +"It passes belief that a lad, belonging to the family of a worthy and +respectable citizen, a bailie of the city and one who stands well with +his fellow townsmen, should take a desperate leap from the wall through a +window of a house where a traitor was in hiding, warn him that the house +was watched, and give him time to escape while he defended the stairs. +Such a tale, sure, was never told in a court. What say you, bailie?" + +"I can say nought," Andrew said. "The boy is a good boy and a quiet one; +given to mischief like other boys of his age, doubtless, but always +amenable. What can have possessed him to behave in such a wild manner I +cannot conceive, but it seems to me that it was but a boy's freak." + +"It was no freak when he ran his sword through Peter Muir's shoulder," +Mr. M'Whirtle said. "Ye will allow that, neighbour Anderson." + +"The man must have run against the sword," the bailie said, "seeing the +boy scarce knows one end of a weapon from another." + +"You are wrong there, bailie," one of the constables said; "for I have +seen him many a time going into the school of James Macklewain, and I +have heard a comrade say, who knows James, that the lad can handle a +sword with the best of them." + +"I will admit at once," Ronald said, "that I have gone to Macklewain's +school and learned fencing of him. My father, Colonel Leslie of Glenlyon, +was a gentleman, and it was right that I should wield a sword, and James +Macklewain, who had fought in the French wars and knew my father, was +good enough to teach me. I may say that my guardian knew nothing of +this." + +"No, indeed," Andrew said. "I never so much as dreamt of it. If I had +done so he and I would have talked together to a purpose." + +"Leslie of Glenlyon was concerned in the '15, was he not?" Mr. M'Whirtle +said; "and had to fly the country; and his son seems to be treading in +his steps, bailie. I doubt ye have been nourishing a viper in your +bosom." + +At this moment the two constables returned, and reported that certainly a +tile was loose as the prisoner had described, and there were scratches as +if of the feet of someone entering the window, but the leap was one that +very few men would undertake. + +"Your story is so far confirmed, prisoner; but it does not seem to us +that even had you seen two men watching a house it would be reasonable +that you would risk your neck in this way without cause. Clearly you have +aided and abetted a traitor to escape justice, and you will be remanded. +I hope, before you are brought before us again, you will make up your +mind to make a clean breast of it, and throw yourself on the king's +mercy." + +Ronald was accordingly led back to the cell, the bailie being too much +overwhelmed with surprise at what he had heard to utter any remonstrance. + + + +CHAPTER III: Free. + + +After Ronald had been removed from the court the woman was questioned. +She asserted that her master was away, and was, she believed, in France, +and that in his absence she often let lodgings to strangers. That two +days before, a man whom she knew not came and hired a room for a few +days. That on the evening before, hearing a noise in the attic, she went +up with him, and met Ronald coming down stairs. That when Ronald said +there were strange men outside the house, and when immediately afterwards +there was a great knocking at the door, the man drew his sword and +ordered her to come up stairs with him. That he then made her assist him +to pull up a plank, and thrust it from the attic to the wall, and ordered +her to replace it when he had gone. She supposed he was a thief flying +from justice, but was afraid to refuse to do his bidding. + +"And why did you not tell us all this, woman, when we came in?" Mr. +M'Whirtle asked sternly. "Had ye told us we might have overtaken him." + +"I was too much frightened," the woman answered. "There were swords out +and blood running, and men using words contrary both to the law and +Scripture. I was frighted enough before, and I just put my apron over my +head and sat down till the hubbub was over. And then as no one asked me +any questions, and I feared I might have done wrong in aiding a thief to +escape, I just held my tongue." + +No cross questioning could elicit anything further from the woman, who +indeed seemed frightened almost out of her senses, and the magistrate at +last ordered her to return to the house and remain there under the +supervision of the constable until again sent for. + +Andrew Anderson returned home sorely disturbed in his mind. Hitherto he +had told none, even of his intimates, that the boy living in his house +was the son of Colonel Leslie, but had spoken of him as the child of an +old acquaintance who had left him to his care. The open announcement of +Ronald that he was the son of one of the leaders in the last rebellion, +coming just as it did when the air was thick with rumours of another +rising, troubled him greatly; and there was the fact that the boy had, +unknown to him, been learning fencing; and lastly this interference, +which had enabled a notorious emissary of the Pretender to escape arrest. + +"The boy's story may be true as far as it goes," he said to his wife when +relating to her the circumstances, "for I have never known him to tell a +lie; but I cannot think it was all the truth. A boy does not take such a +dreadful leap as that, and risk breaking his neck, simply because he sees +two men near the house. He must somehow have known that man was there, +and went to give him warning. Now I think of it, he passed through the +shop when Peter M'Whirtle was talking to me about it, though, indeed, he +did not know then where the loon was in hiding. The boy went out soon +afterwards, and must somehow have learned, if indeed he did not know +before. Janet, I fear that you and I have been like two blind owls with +regard to the boy, and I dread sorely that my brother Malcolm is at the +bottom of all this mischief." + +This Mrs. Anderson was ready enough to credit, but she was too much +bewildered and horrified to do more than to shake her head and weep. + +"Will they cut off his head, Andrew?" she asked at last. + +"No, there's no fear of that; but they may imprison him for a bit, and +perhaps give him a good flogging--the young rascal. But there, don't +fret over it, Janet. I will do all I can for him. And in truth I think +Malcolm is more to blame than he is; and we have been to blame too for +letting the lad be so much with him, seeing that we might be sure he +would put all sorts of notions in the boy's head." + +"But what is to be done, Andrew? We cannot let the poor lad remain in +prison." + +"We have no choice in the matter, Janet. In prison he is, and in prison +he has to remain until he is let out, and I see no chance of that. If it +had only been a brawl with the watch it could have been got over easily +enough; but this is an affair of high treason--aiding and abetting the +king's enemies, and the rest of it. If it were in the old times they +would put the thumb screws on him to find out all he knew about it, for +they will never believe he risked his life in the plot; and the fact that +his father before him was in arms for the Chevalier tells that way. I +should not be surprised if an order comes for him to be sent to London to +be examined by the king's councillors; but I will go round now and ask +the justices what they think of the matter." + +His tidings when he returned were not encouraging; the general opinion of +the magistrates being that Ronald was certainly mixed up in the Jacobite +plot, that the matter was altogether too serious to be disposed of by +them, being of the nature of high treason, and that nothing could be done +until instructions were received from London. No clue had been obtained +as to the whereabouts of the man who had escaped, and it was thought +probable that he had at once dropped beyond the walls and made for the +west. + +Malcolm arrived ten days later from a journey in Lancashire, and there +was a serious quarrel between him and Andrew on his presenting himself at +the house. + +"It is not only that you led the lad into mischief, Malcolm, but that you +taught him to do it behind my back." + +"You may look at it in that way if you will, Andrew, and it's natural +enough from your point of view; but I take no blame to myself. You treated +the boy as if he had been your son, and I thank you with all my heart for +your kindness to him; but I could not forget Leslie of Glenlyon, and I do +not blame myself that I have kept the same alive in his mind also. It was +my duty to see that the young eagle was not turned into a barn door fowl; +but I never thought he was going to use his beak and his claws so soon." + +"A nice thing you will have to tell his father, that owing to your +teachings his son is a prisoner in the Tower, maybe for life. But +there--there's no fear of that. You will never have to render that account, +for there's no more chance of your ever hearing more of him than there is +of my becoming king of Scotland. It's bad enough that you have always +been a ne'er do well yourself without training that unfortunate boy to +his ruin." + +"Well, well, Andrew, I will not argue with you, and I don't blame you at +being sore and angry over the matter; nor do I deny what you have said +about myself; it's true enough, and you might say worse things against me +without my quarreling with ye over it. However, the less said the better. +I will take myself off and think over what's to be done." + +"You had better come up and have your supper with us," Andrew said, +mollified by his brother's humility. + +"Not for twenty golden guineas, Andrew, would I face Mistress Janet. She +has borne with me well, though I know in her heart she disapproves of me +altogether; but after this scrape into which I have got the boy I daren't +face her. She might not say much, but to eat with her eye upon me would +choke me." + +Malcolm proceeded at once to the establishment of his friend Macklewain. + +"This is a nice kettle of fish, Malcolm, about young Leslie. I have had +the justices down here, asking me all sorts of questions, and they have +got into their minds that I taught him not only swordplay but treason, +and they have been threatening to put me in the stocks as a vagabond; but +I snapped my fingers in their faces, saying I earned my money as honestly +as they did, and that I concern myself in no way in politics, but teach +English officers and the sons of Glasgow tradesmen as well as those of +Highland gentlemen. They were nicely put out, I can tell you; but I +didn't care for that, for I knew I was in the right of it. But what on +earth made the young cock meddle in this matter? How came he to be mixed +up in a Jacobite plot? Have you got your finger in it?" + +"Not I, James; and how it happens that he is concerned in it is more than +I can guess. I know, of course, his heart is with the king over the +water; but how he came to get his hand into the pie is altogether beyond +me." + +"The people here are well nigh mad about it. I know not who the gallant +who has escaped is; but it is certain that his capture was considered a +very important one, and that the justices here expected to have gained no +small credit by his arrest, whereas now they will be regarded as fools +for letting him slip through their fingers." + +"I cannot for the life of me make out how he came to be mixed up in such +a matter. No one but you and I could have known that he was a lad of +mettle, who might be trusted in such a business. It can hardly be that +they would have confided any secrets to him; still, the fact that he was +in the house with the man they are in search of, and that he drew and +risked his life and certain imprisonment to secure his escape, shows that +he must have been heart and soul in the plot." + +"And what do you think of doing, Malcolm?" + +"I shall get him out somehow. I can lay hands on a score or two or more +of our old comrades here in Glasgow, and I doubt not that they will all +strike a blow with me for Leslie's son, to say nothing of his being a +follower of the Stuarts." + +"You are not thinking, man, of attacking the jail! That would be a +serious matter. The doors are strong, and you would have the soldiers, to +say nought of the town guard and the citizens, upon you before you had +reached him." + +"No, no, James, I am thinking of no such foolishness. I guess that they +will not be trying him for withstanding the watch, that's but a small +matter; they will be sending him south for the king's ministers to get +out of him what he knows about the Jacobite plot and the names of all +concerned, and it's upon the road that we must get him out of their +hands. Like enough they will only send four troopers with him, and we can +easily master them somewhere in the dales." + +"It's more like, Malcolm, they will send him by ship. They will know well +enough that if the lad knows aught there will be plenty whose interest it +is to get him out of their hands. I think they will take the safer way of +putting him on board ship." + +"Like enough they will," Malcolm agreed, "and in that case it will be a +harder job than I deemed it. But at any rate I mean to try. Ronald's not +the lad to turn traitor; he will say nothing whatever they do to him, you +may be sure, and he may lie for years in an English prison if we do not +get him out of their hands before he gets there. At any rate what we have +got to do now is to mark every ship in the port sailing for London, and +to find out whether passages are taken for a prisoner and his guard in +any of them. I will make that my business, and between times get a score +of trusty fellows together in readiness to start if they should send him +by land; but I doubt not that you are right, and that he will be taken +off by ship." + +The days of waiting passed slowly to Ronald, and Andrew Anderson once or +twice obtained permission to see him. The bailie wisely abstained from +any reproaches, and sought only to persuade him to make a clean breast of +the business, and to tell all he knew about a plot which could but end in +failure and ruin to all concerned. Although his belief in Ronald's +truthfulness was great he could not credit that the story which he had +told contained all the facts of the matter. To the bailie it seemed +incredible that merely from an abstract feeling in favour of the Stuarts +Ronald would have risked his life and liberty in aiding the escape of a +Jacobite agent, unless he was in some way deeply involved in the plot; +and he regarded Ronald's assurances to the contrary as the outcome of +what he considered an entirely mistaken sense of loyalty to the Stuart +cause. + +"It's all very well, Ronald," he said, shaking his head sadly; "but when +they get you to London they will find means to make you open your mouth. +They have done away with the thumb screws and the rack, but there are +other ways of making a prisoner speak, and it would be far better for you +to make a clean breast of it at once. Janet is grieving for you as if you +were her own son, and I cannot myself attend to my business. Who would +have thought that so young a lad should have got himself mixed up in such +sair trouble!" + +"I have really told you all, bailie, though you will not believe me, and +I am sorry indeed for the trouble I have brought upon you and my aunt"--for +Ronald had from the first been taught to address the bailie and his +wife as if Malcolm Anderson had been his real father; "anyhow I wish they +would settle it. I would rather know the worst than go on from day to day +expecting something that never happens." + +"You have to wait, Ronald, till word comes from London. If they write +from there that your case can be dealt with merely for the assault upon +the watch I can promise you that a few weeks in jail are all that you are +like to have; but I fear that there is little chance of that. They are +sure to send for you to London, and whether you will ever come back alive +the gude Lord only knows. We know what came of treason thirty years ago, +and like enough they will be even more severe now, seeing that they will +hold that folks have all the less right to try and disturb matters so +long settled." + +"Have you seen Malcolm?" Ronald asked, to change the conversation. + +"Ay, lad, I have seen him, and the meeting was not altogether a pleasant +one for either of us." + +"I hope you have not quarrelled with him on my account!" Ronald said +eagerly. + +"We have not exactly quarrelled, but we have had words. I could not but +tell him my opinion as to his learning you to take such courses, but we +parted friends; but I doubt it will be long before Janet can see him with +patience." + +The jailer, who was present at the interview, here notified that the +bailie's time was up. + +"I shall see you again, Ronald, before they take you south. I would that +I could do more to help you besides just coming to see you." + +"I know you cannot, uncle. I have got into the scrape and must take the +consequences; but if I were placed in the same position I should do it +again." + +A few days afterwards, as he was eating his ration of prison bread, +Ronald found in it a small pellet of paper, and on opening it read the +words: "Keep up your courage, friends are at work for you. You will hear +more yet of M. A." + +Ronald was glad to know that his old friend was thinking of him, but, +knowing how strong was the prison, he had little hopes that Malcolm would +be able to effect anything to help him. Still the note gave him comfort. + +Three days later Andrew called again to bid him goodbye, telling him that +orders had been received from London that he was to be sent thither by +ship. + +"I should like to have seen Malcolm before I went, if I could," Ronald +said. + +"I have not seen him for several days," the bailie said. "I have sent +down several times to the house where he lodges, but he is always away; +but, whether or no, there would be no chance of your seeing him. I myself +had difficulty in getting leave to see you, though a bailie and known to +be a loyal citizen. But Malcolm knows that there would be no chance of +one with such a character as his getting to see you, and that it would +draw attention to him even to ask such a thing, which, if he has a hand +in this mad brain plot, he would not wish." + +"Malcolm would not mind a straw whether they kept a watch on him or not," +Ronald said. "Will you tell him, when you see him next, that I got his +message?" + +"What message? I have given you no message that I know of." + +"He will know what I mean. Tell him, whether aught comes of it or not I +thank him, and for all his kindness to me, as I do you and Aunt Janet." + +At the same time with the order that Ronald should be sent to London the +authorities of Glasgow received an intimation that the ministers felt +great surprise at the lukewarmness which had been shown in allowing so +notorious and important an enemy of his majesty to escape, and that the +king himself had expressed marked displeasure at the conduct of the city +authorities in the matter. Greatly mortified at the upshot of an affair +from which they had hoped to obtain much credit from government, and +believing it certain that there were many greatly interested in getting +Ronald out of the hands of his captors, the authorities took every +precaution to prevent it. He was taken down to the river side under a +strong escort, and in addition to the four warders who were to be in +charge of the prisoner as far as London, they put on board twelve men of +the city guard. These were to remain with the ship until she was well out +at sea, and then to return in a boat which the vessel was to tow behind +her. + +Ronald could not but smile when he saw all these formidable preparations +for his safety. At the same time he felt that any hope he had entertained +that Malcolm might, as the message hinted, make an attempt at rescue were +blighted. The vessel dropped down with the tide. The orders of the +justices had been so strict and urgent that the whole of the men placed +on board kept a vigilant watch. + +Just as they were abreast of Dumbarton the sound of oars was heard, and +presently a boat was seen approaching. As it got nearer two men were seen +to be rowing, and two others seated in the stern; but as the craft was a +large one there was room for others to be lying in the bottom. The +constable in charge shouted to the boat to keep them off. + +"Stop rowing," he cried, "and come no nearer. If you do we fire, and as I +don't want to shed your blood I warn you that I have sixteen armed men +here." + +As his words were emphasized by the row of men, who with levelled muskets +ranged themselves along at the side of the ship, the boat ceased rowing. + +"What are you afraid of?" one of the men in the stern shouted. "Cannot a +fisherman's boat row out without being threatened with shooting? What are +you and your sixteen armed men doing on board? Are you expecting a French +fleet off the coast? And do you think you will beat them off if they +board you? How long have the Glasgow traders taken to man their ships +with fighting men?" + +Ronald was in the cabin under the poop; it opened on to the waist, and +received its light from an opening in the door, at which two armed men +had stationed themselves when the boat was heard approaching. Had the +cabin possessed a porthole through which he could have squeezed himself +he would long before have jumped overboard and tried to make his escape +by swimming under cover of the darkness. He now strove to force the door +open, for he recognized Malcolm's voice, and doubted not that his friend +had spoken in order to let him know that he was there, that he might if +possible leap over and swim to the boat; but it was fastened strongly +without, and the guards outside shouted that they would fire unless he +remained quiet. + +No reply was made to the taunts of the man in the boat, and slowly, for +the wind was but just filling her sails, the vessel dropped down the +river, and the boat was presently lost sight of. + +In the morning the breeze freshened. It was not till the ship was eight +miles beyond the mouth of the river that the boat was pulled up +alongside, and the guard, taking their places on board, hoisted sail and +started on their return to Glasgow. + +Once fairly at sea Ronald was allowed to leave his cabin. Now that he was +enjoying the fresh air his spirits soon recovered the tone which they had +lost somewhat during his three weeks' confinement in prison, and he +thoroughly enjoyed his voyage. The man who was in charge of the guard had +at first wished to place some restriction on his going about on board as +he chose; but the crew sided with the young prisoner, and threw such +ridicule on the idea that four warders and a head constable were afraid, +even for a moment, to lose sight of a boy on board a ship at sea, that he +gave way, and allowed Ronald free liberty of action, although he warned +his subordinates that they must nor relax their caution for a moment. + +"The crew are all with him. They think it a shame that a lad like this +should be hauled to London as a prisoner charged with treasonable +practices; and sailors, when they once get an idea into their head, are +as obstinate as Highland cattle. I have told them that he drew a sword +and held the staircase against us all while a noted traitor made his +escape, and that he ran one of us through the shoulder, and they only +shouted with laughter, and said he was a brave young cock. Like as not, +if they had a chance, these men would aid him to escape, and then we +should have to answer for it, and heavily too; loss of place and +imprisonment would be the least of what we might expect; so though, while +at sea and in full daylight he can do as he pleases, we must be doubly +vigilant at night, or in port if the vessel should have to put in." + +Accordingly, to the great disgust of the sailors the watch by turns stood +sentry outside Ronald's door at night, thereby defeating a plan which the +sailors had formed of lowering a boat the first night they passed near +land, and letting Ronald make his escape to shore. + +The wind was favourable until the vessel rounded the Land's End. After +that it became baffling and fickle, and it was more than three weeks +after the date of her sailing from Glasgow that the vessel entered the +mouth of the Thames. By this time Ronald's boyish spirits had allayed all +suspicion on the part of his guards. He joked with the sailors, climbed +about the rigging like a cat, and was so little affected by his position +that the guards were convinced that he was free from the burden of any +state secret, and that no apprehension of any serious consequence to +himself was weighing upon him. + +"Poor lad!" the head warder said; "he will need all his spirits. He will +have hard work to make the king's council believe that he interfered in +such a matter as this from pure love of adventure. He will have many a +weary month to pass in prison before they free him, I reckon. It goes +against my heart to hand over such a mere laddie as a prisoner; still it +is no matter of mine. I have my duty to do, and it's not for me to +question the orders I have received, or to argue whether a prisoner is +innocent or guilty." + +As the vessel anchored off Gravesend to wait for the turn of the tide to +take her up, a boat rowed by a waterman, and with a man sitting in the +stern, passed close by the ship. The head warder had now redoubled his +vigilance, and one of the guards with loaded musket was standing on the +deck not far from Ronald, who was standing on the taffrail. As the boat +passed some twenty yards astern of the ship the man who was not rowing +turned round for a moment and looked up at Ronald. It was but a momentary +glance that the lad caught of his face, and he suppressed with difficulty +a cry of surprise, for he recognized Malcolm Anderson. The rower +continued steadily to ply his oars, and continued his course towards +another ship anchored lower down the river. Ronald stood watching the +boat, and saw that after making a wide sweep it was rowed back again to +Gravesend. + +Ronald had no doubt that Malcolm had come south in hopes of effecting his +escape, and guessed that he had taken up his post at Gravesend with the +intention of examining every ship as she passed up until the one in which +he knew he had sailed made its appearance. What his next step would be he +could not tell; but he determined to keep a vigilant lookout, and to +avail himself instantly of any opportunity which might offer. + +As the captain did nor care about proceeding up the river after dark it +was not until the tide turned, just as morning broke, that the anchor was +weighed. There was a light breeze which just sufficed to give the vessel +steerage way, and a mist hung on the water. Ronald took his favourite +seat on the taffrail, and kept a vigilant watch upon every craft which +seemed likely to come near the vessel. + +Greenwich was passed, and the vessel presently approached the crowded +part of the Pool. It was near high tide now, and the captain was +congratulating himself that he should just reach a berth opposite the +Tower before it turned. Presently a boat with two rowers shot out from +behind a tier of vessels and passed close under the stern of the Glasgow +Lass. A man was steering whom Ronald instantly recognized. + +"Jump!" he cried, and Ronald without a moment's hesitation leaped from +the taffrail. + +He came up close to the boat, and was instantly hauled on board by +Malcolm. Just at that moment the guard, who had stood stupefied by +Ronald's sudden action, gave a shout of alarm and discharged his piece. +The ball struck the boat close to Ronald. It was already in motion; the +men bent to their oars, and the boat glided towards the Surrey side of +the river. Loud shouts arose from on board the vessel, and four bullets +cut the water round the boat; but before the muskets could be reloaded +Malcolm had steered the boat through a tier of vessels, whose crews, +attracted by the firing, cheered the fugitives lustily. + +A minute later they had reached some landing steps. Malcolm tossed some +money to the rowers, and then sprang ashore with Ronald, and handed the +latter a long coat which would reach to his heels and conceal the +drenched state of his clothing from notice. + +"We have tricked them nicely, dear boy," he said; "we are safe now. Long +before they can lower a boat and get here we shall be safe in shelter, +and our five Glasgow bodies will have something to do to look for us +here." + +Moderating his pace so as to avoid attracting attention, Malcolm +proceeded along several streets and lanes, and presently stopped at the +door of a little shop. + +"I am lodging here," he said, "and have told the people of the house that +I am expecting a nephew back from a cruise in the Mediterranean." + +As he passed through the shop he said to the woman behind the counter: + +"Here he is safe and sound. He's been some days longer than I expected, +but I was nor so very far wrong in my calculations. The young scamp has +had enough of the sea, and has agreed to go back again with me to his own +people." + +"That's right," the woman said. "My own boy ran away two years ago, and I +hope he will have come to his senses by the time he gets back again." + +When they were together in their room up stairs Malcolm threw his arms +round Ronald's neck. + +"Thank God, my dear boy, I have got you out of the clutches of the law! +You do not know how I have been fretting since I heard you were caught, +and thought that if ill came to you it would be all my fault. And now +tell me how you got into this scrape, for it has been puzzling me ever +since I heard it. Surely when I saw you last you knew nothing about any +Jacobite goings on?" + +Ronald related the whole particulars of his adventure, and said that even +now he was absolutely ignorant who was the man whom he had aided to +escape. + +"I know no more than you do, Ronald, but they must have thought his +capture an important one by the fuss they made over his escape. And now, +to think that you have slipped out of their hands too!" and Malcolm broke +into a loud laugh. "I would give a month's earnings to see the faces of +the guard as they make their report that they have arrived empty handed. +I was right glad when I saw you. I was afraid you might have given them +the slip on the way, and then there would have been no saying when we +might have found each other again." + +"The sailors would have lowered a boat at night and let me make for the +land," Ronald said, "but there was a good guard kept over me. The door +was locked and a sentry always on watch, and I had quite given up all +hope until I saw you at Gravesend. And now, what do you intend to do? +Make our way back to Scotland?" + +"No, no, lad, that would never do. There will be a hue and cry after you, +and all the northern routes will be watched. No, I shall make a bargain +with some Dutch skipper to take us across the water, and then we will +make our way to Paris." + +"But have you got money, Malcolm?" + +"I have got your purse, lad. I went to Andrew and said that I wanted it +for you, but that he was to ask no questions, so that whatever came of it +he could say that he knew nothing. He gave it me at once, saying only: + +"'Remember, Malcolm, you have done the boy some harm already with your +teaching, see that you do him no further harm. I guess you are bent on +some hare brained plan, but whatever it be I wish you success.'" + + + +CHAPTER IV: In France. + + +The next day Malcolm went out alone, and on his return told Ronald that +there were placards on the walls offering a reward of a hundred pounds +for his apprehension. + +"You don't think the people below have any suspicion, Malcolm?" + +"Not they," Malcolm replied. "I was telling them last night after you had +gone to bed all about the places you have been voyaging to, and how +anxious your father, a snug farmer near Newcastle, was to have you back +again. I had spoken to them before so as to prepare them for your coming, +and the old woman takes quite an interest in you, because her son at sea +is a lad just about your age. I have brought you in a suit of sailor +clothes; we will go down and have a chat with them after the shop is +closed of a night. You will remember Newcastle and the farm, and can tell +them of your escape from Greek pirates, and how nearly you were taken by +a French frigate near the straits." + +The consternation of the watch at Ronald's escape was extreme. The shot +which the man on guard had fired was their first intimation of the event, +and seizing their muskets they had hastily discharged them in the +direction of the fugitive, and had then shouted for a boat to be lowered. +But never was a boat longer getting into the water than was that of the +Glasgow Lass upon this occasion. The captain gave his orders in a +leisurely way, and the crew were even slower in executing them. Then +somehow the fall stuck and the boat wouldn't lower. When at last she was +in the water it was found that the thole pins were missing; these being +found she was rowed across the river, the five constables undergoing a +running fire of jokes and hilarity from the sailors of the ships they +passed near. In answer to their inquiries where the fugitives landed, +some of the sailors shouted that she had pulled up the river behind the +tier of vessels, others insisted that she had sunk with all hands close +by. + +Completely bewildered, the chief of the party told the sailors to put +them ashore at the first landing. When the party gained the streets they +inquired eagerly of all they met whether they had seen aught of the +fugitives. Few of those they questioned understood the broad Scotch in +which the question was asked, others laughed in their faces and asked how +they were to know the man and boy they wanted from any others; and after +vainly looking about for some time they returned to the stairs, only to +find that the boat had returned to the ship. + +A waterman's boat was now hired, and the rower, who had heard what had +happened, demanded a sum for putting them on board which horrified them; +but at last, after much bargaining, they were conveyed back to the ship. +An hour later the chief of the party went ashore, and repairing to the +Tower, where he had been ordered to conduct the prisoner, reported his +escape. He was at once taken into custody on the charge of permitting the +escape of his prisoner, and it was not until three days later, upon the +evidence of his men and of the captain and officers of the ship, that he +was released. + +His four men were put on board a ship returning to Glasgow next day, +while he himself was kept to identify the fugitive should he be caught. + +A week later Malcolm told Ronald that he had made arrangements with the +captain of a Dutch vessel to take them over to Holland. + +"We are to go on board at Gravesend," he said, "for they are searching +all ships bound for foreign ports. It is not for you especially, but +there are supposed to be many Jacobites going to and fro, and they will +lay hands on anyone who cannot give a satisfactory account of himself. So +it is just as well for us to avoid questioning." + +Accordingly the next day they walked down to Gravesend, and taking boat +there boarded the Dutch vessel when she came along on the following day. +The Dutch captain received them civilly; he had been told by Malcolm that +they wished to leave the country privately, and guessed that they were in +some way fugitives from the law, but as he was to be well paid this gave +him no concern. There were no other passengers, and a roomy cabin was +placed at their disposal. They passed down the river without impediment, +and anchored that night off Sheerness. + +"These Dutch traders are but slow craft," Malcolm said as he walked +impatiently up and down the deck next morning, watching the slow progress +which they made past the shore. "I wish we could have got a passage +direct to France, but of course that is impossible now the two nations +are at war." + +"What is the war about, Malcolm? I heard at home that they were fighting, +but yet that somehow the two countries were not at war." + +"No, I don't know how that comes about," Malcolm said. "England has a +minister still at Paris; but for all that King George is at the head of a +number of British troops in Germany fighting against the French there." + +"But what is it about, Malcolm?" + +"Well, it is a matter which concerns Hanover more than England; in fact +England has no interest in the matter at all as far as I can see, except +that as France takes one side she takes the other, because she is afraid +of France getting too strong. However, it is a German business, and +England is mixed up in it only because her present king is a Hanoverian +and not an Englishman. This is the matter as far as I can make it out. +Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, died in October, 1740. It had been +arranged by a sort of general agreement called the Pragmatic Sanction--" + +"What an extraordinary name, Malcolm! What does it mean?" + +"I have not the least idea in the world, lad. However, that is what it is +called. It was signed by a lot of powers, of whom England was one, and by +it all parties agreed that Charles's daughter Maria Theresa was to become +Empress of Austria. However, when the emperor was dead the Elector of +Bavaria claimed to be emperor, and he was supported by France, by Spain, +and by Frederick of Prussia, and they marched to Vienna, enthroned the +elector as Duke of Austria, and drove Maria Theresa to take refuge in +Hungary, where she was warmly supported. + +"The English parliament voted a large sum to enable the empress to carry +on the war, and last year sixteen thousand men under the Earl of Stair +crossed the seas to cooperate with the Dutch, who were warm supporters of +the empress, and were joined by six thousand Hessians and sixteen +thousand Hanoverians in British pay; but after all nothing was done last +year, for as in the last war the Dutch were not ready to begin, and the +English army were in consequence kept idle." + +"Then it seems that everyone was against the empress except England and +these three little states." + +"That is pretty nearly so," Malcolm said; "but at present the empress has +bought off the Prussians, whose king joined in the affair solely for his +own advantage, by giving him the province of Silesia, so that in fact at +present it is England and Hanover, which is all the same thing, with the +Dutch and Hessians, against France and Bavaria, for I don't think that at +present Spain has sent any troops." + +"Well, it seems to me a downright shame," Ronald said indignantly; "and +though I have no great love for the English, and hate their Hanoverian +George and his people, I shouldn't like to fight with one of the Scotch +regiments in the French service in such a quarrel." + +Malcolm laughed. + +"My dear lad, if every soldier were to discuss the merits of the quarrel +in which he is ordered to fight there would be an end of all discipline." + +"Yes, I see that," Ronald agreed; "if one is once a soldier he has only +to obey orders. But one need not become a soldier just at the time when +he would be called upon to fight for a cause which he considers unjust." + +"That is so, Ronald, and it's fortunate, if your feelings are in favour +of Maria Theresa, that we are not thinking of enlisting just at present, +for you would be puzzled which side to take. If you fought for her you +would have to fight under the Hanoverian; if you fight against the +Hanoverian you are fighting against Maria Theresa." + +"Well, we don't want to fight at all," Ronald said. "What we want to do +is to find out something about my father. I wish the voyage was at an +end, and that we had our faces towards Paris." + +"It will not be so easy to cross from Holland into France," Malcolm said. +"I wish our voyage was at an end for another reason, for unless I mistake +there is a storm brewing up." + +Malcolm's prediction as to the weather was speedily verified. The wind +rose rapidly, ragged clouds hurried across the sky, and the waves got up +fast, and by nightfall the sea had become really heavy, dashing in sheets +high in the air every time the bluff bowed craft plunged into it. Long +before this Ronald had gone below prostrate with seasickness. + +"It's just like the obstinacy of these Dutchmen," Malcolm muttered to +himself as he held on by a shroud and watched the labouring ship. "It +must have been clear to anyone before we were well out of the river that +we were going to have a gale, and as the wind then was nearly due south, +we could have run back again and anchored in shelter till it was over. +Now it has backed round nearly into our teeth, with every sign of its +getting into the north, and then we shall have the French coast on our +lee. It's not very serious yet, but if the wind goes on rising as it has +done for the last four or five hours we shall have a gale to remember +before the morning." + +Before the daylight, indeed, a tremendous sea was running, and the wind +was blowing with terrible force from the north. Although under but a rag +of canvas the brig was pressed down gunwale deep, and each wave as it +struck her broadside seemed to heave her bodily to leeward. Malcolm on +coming on deck made his way aft and glanced at the compass, and then took +a long look over the foaming water towards where he knew the French coast +must lie. The wind was two or three points east of north, and as the +clumsy craft would not sail within several points of the wind she was +heading nearly east. + +"She is making a foot to leeward for every one she forges ahead," he said +to himself. "If she has been at this work all night we cannot be far from +the coast." + +So the Dutch skipper appeared to think, for a few minutes afterwards he +gave orders to bring her about on the other tack. Three times they tried +and failed; each time the vessel slowly came up into the wind, but the +heavy waves forced her head off again before the headsails filled. Then +the skipper gave orders to wear her. Her head payed off to the wind until +she was nearly before it. Two or three great seas struck her stern and +buried her head deeply, but at last the boom swung over and her head came +up on the other tack. During the course of these manoeuvres she had made +fully two miles leeway, and when she was fairly under sail with her head +to the west Malcolm took another long look towards the south. + +"Just as I thought," he said. "There is white water there and a dark line +behind it. That is the French coast, sure enough." + +It would have been useless to speak, but he touched the arm of the +skipper and pointed to leeward. The skipper looked in this direction for +a minute and then gave the order for more sail to be put on the ship, to +endeavour to beat out in the teeth of the gale. But even when pressed to +the utmost it was evident to Malcolm that the force of the waves was +driving her faster towards the coast than she could make off it, and he +went below and told Ronald to come on deck. + +"I would rather lie here," Ronald said. + +"Nonsense, lad! The wind and spray will soon knock the sickness out of +you; and you will want all your wits about you, for it won't be many +hours before we are bumping on the sands, and stoutly built as the craft +is she won't hold together long in such a sea as this." + +"Do you really mean it, Malcolm, or are you only trying to get me on +deck?" + +"I mean it, lad. We are drifting fast upon the French coast, and there is +no hope of her clawing off in the teeth of such a gale as this." + +The news aroused Ronald effectually. He had not suffered at all on the +voyage down from Glasgow, and he was already beginning to feel better +when Malcolm went down to call him. He was soon on deck holding on by the +bulwark. + +"There it is, that long low black line; it looks a long way off because +the air is full of spray and the coast is low, but it's not more than +three or four miles; look at that broad belt of foam." + +For some hours the Dutch skipper did his best to beat to windward, but in +vain, the vessel drove nearer and nearer towards the shore; the anchors +were got in readiness, and when within a quarter of a mile of the line of +breakers the vessel's head was brought up into the wind, and the lashings +of the two anchors cut simultaneously. + +"Will they hold her, do you think?" Ronald asked. + +"Not a chance of it, Ronald. Of course the captain is right to try; but +no cables were ever made would hold such a bluff bowed craft as this in +the teeth of such a wind and sea." + +The cables ran out to the bitts. Just as they tightened a great sea +rolled in on the bow. Two dull reports were heard, and then her head +payed off. The jib was run up instantly to help her round, and under this +sail the brig was headed directly towards the shore. The sea was breaking +round them now; but the brig was almost flat bottomed and drew but little +water. All on board hung on to the shrouds and bulwarks, momentarily +expecting a crash, but she drove on through the surf until within a +hundred yards of the shore. Then as she went down in the trough of a wave +there was a mighty crash. The next wave swept her forward her own length. + +Then there was another crash even more tremendous than the first, and her +masts simultaneously went over the side. The next wave moved her but a +few feet; the one which followed, finding her immovable, piled itself +higher over her, and swept in a cataract down her sloping deck. Her stern +had swung round after the first shot, and she now lay broadside to the +waves. The Dutch skipper and his crew behaved with the greatest calmness; +the ship lay over at such an angle that it was impossible to stand on the +deck; but the captain managed to get on the upper rail, and although +frequently almost washed off by the seas, contrived to cut the shrouds +and ropes that still attached the masts to the ship there. Then he joined +the crew, who were standing breast high in the water on the lee side, the +floating masts were pulled in until within a few yards of the vessel, and +such of the crew as could swim made towards them. + +The skipper cut the last rope that bound them, and then plunged in and +joined his men. The distance was little over fifty yards to the shore, +and the wreck formed a partial shelter. A crowd of people were assembled +at the edge of the beach with ropes in readiness to give any assistance +in their power. Malcolm and Ronald were among those who had swum to the +masts, but when within a short distance of the shore the former shouted +in the latter's ear: + +"Swim off, lad, the masts might crush us." + +As soon as they neared the shore a number of ropes were thrown. Most of +the sailors, seeing the danger of being crushed, followed the example of +Malcolm, and left the masts. Malcolm and Ronald swam just outside the +point where the waves broke until a line fell in the water close to them. +They grasped it at once. + +"Give it a twist round your arm," Malcolm shouted, "or the backwash will +tear you from it." + +The sailors on shore watched their opportunity, and the instant a wave +passed beneath the two swimmers ran up the beach at full speed with the +rope. There was a crash. Ronald felt himself shot forward with great +rapidity, then as he touched the ground with his feet they were swept +from under him, and so great was the strain that he felt as if his arm +was being pulled from the socket. A few seconds later he was lying at +full length upon the sands, and before the next wave reached him a dozen +men had rushed down and seized him and Malcolm, and carried them beyond +its influence. For a minute or two Ronald felt too bruised and out of +breath to move. Then he heard Malcolm's voice: + +"Are you hurt, Ronald?" + +"No; I think not, Malcolm," he replied, making an effort to sit up. "Are +you?" + +"No, lad; bruised a bit, but no worse." + +One by one the sailors were brought ashore, one with both legs broken +from the force with which he was dashed down by the surf, and one man who +stuck to the mast was crushed to death as it was rolled over and over on +to the beach. The captain and three sailors were, like Malcolm and +Ronald, unhurt. There still remained four men on the wreck. Fortunately +she had struck just at high tide, and so stoutly was she built that she +held together in spite of the tremendous seas, and in an hour the four +sailors were able to wade breast high to the shore. + +They found that the spot where the vessel had struck was half a mile west +of Gravelines. They were taken to the town, and were hospitably +entertained. A small body of soldiers were quartered there, and the +officer in command told the Dutch skipper, that as the two nations were +at war he and his crew must be detained until he received orders +respecting them. On learning from Malcolm that he and Ronald were +passengers, and were Scotsmen making their way from England to escape +imprisonment as friends of the Stuarts, and that he had for twelve years +served in one of the Scotch regiments of Louis, and was now bound for +Paris, the officer said that they were free to continue their journey at +once. + +It was two or three days before they started, for they found the next +morning that they were both too severely bruised to set out at once on +the journey. As Malcolm had taken care to keep the purse containing +Ronald's money securely fastened to a belt under his clothes they had no +lack of funds; but as time was no object they started for Paris on foot. +Ronald greatly enjoyed the journey. Bright weather had set in after the +storm. It was now the middle of May, all nature was bright and cheerful, +the dresses of the peasantry, the style of architecture so different to +that to which he was accustomed in Scotland, and everything else were new +and strange to him. Malcolm spoke French as fluently as his own language, +and they had therefore no difficulty or trouble on the way. + +They arrived at Paris without any adventure. Malcolm went to a cabaret +which had at the time when he was in the French service been much +frequented by Scotch soldiers, being kept by a countryman of their own, +an ex-sergeant in one of the Scottish regiments. + +"Ah! Sandy Macgregor," Malcolm exclaimed as the proprietor of the place +approached to take their order. "So you are still in the flesh, man! +Right glad am I to see you again. + +"I know your face," Sandy replied; "but I canna just say what your name +might be." + +"Malcolm Anderson, of Leslie's Scotch regiment. It's fourteen years since +I left them now; but I was here again four years later, if you can +remember, when I came over to try and find out if aught had been heard of +the colonel." + +"Ay, ay," Sandy said, grasping Malcolm's outstretched hand warmly. "It +all comes back to me now. Right glad am I to see you. And who is the lad +ye have brought with you? A Scot by his face and bearing, I will be +bound, but young yet for the service if that be what he is thinking of." + +"He is the colonel's son, Sandy. You will remember I told you I had +carried him back to Scotland with me; but I need not tell ye that this is +betwixt ourselves, for those who have so badly treated his father might +well have a grudge against the son, and all the more that he is the +rightful heir to many a broad acre here in France." + +"I give you a hearty welcome, young sir," Sandy said. "Many a time I have +seen your brave father riding at the head of his regiment, and have +spoken to him too, for he and his officers would drop in here and crack a +cup together in a room I keep upstairs for the quality. Well, well, and +to think that you are his son! But what Malcolm said is true, and it were +best that none knew who ye are, for they have an unco quick way here of +putting inconvenient people out of the way." + +"Have you ever heard aught of my father since?" Ronald asked eagerly. + +"Not a word," Sandy replied. "I have heard it talked over scores of times +by men who were in the regiment that was once his, and none doubted that +if he were still alive he was lying in the Bastille, or Vincennes, or one +of the other cages where they keep those whose presence the king or his +favourites find inconvenient. It's just a stroke of the pen, without +question or trial, and they are gone, and even their best friends darena +ask a question concerning them. In most cases none know why they have +been put away; but there is no doubt why Leslie was seized. Three or four +of his fellow officers were in the secret of his marriage, and when he +had disappeared these talked loudly about it, and there was sair grief +and anger among the Scottish regiment at Leslie's seizure. But what was +to be done? It was just the king's pleasure, and that is enough in +France. Leslie had committed the grave offence of thwarting the wishes of +two of the king's favourites, great nobles, too, with broad lands and +grand connections. What were the likings of a Scottish soldier of fortune +and a headstrong girl in comparison! In Scotland in the old times a +gallant who had carried off a daughter of a Douglas or one of our +powerful nobles would have made his wife a widow ere many weeks were +over, and it is the same thing here now. It wouldna have been an easy +thing for his enemies to kill Leslie with his regiment at his back, and +so they got an order from the king, and as surely got rid of him as if +they had taken his life." + +"You have never heard whether my mother has married again?" Ronald asked. + +"I have never heard her name mentioned. Her father is still at court, but +his daughter has never been seen since, or I should have heard of it; but +more than that I cannot say." + +"That gives me hopes that my father is still alive," Ronald said. "Had he +been dead they might have forced her into some other marriage." + +"They might so; but she was plainly a lassie who had a will of her own +and may have held out." + +"But why did they not kill him instead of putting him in prison if he was +in their way?" + +"They might, as I said, have done it at once; but once in prison he was +beyond their reach. The king may grant a lettre de cachet, as these +orders are called, to a favourite; but even in France men are not put to +death without some sort of trial, and even Chateaurouge and De Recambours +could not ask Louis to have a man murdered in prison to gratify their +private spite, especially when that man was a brave Scottish officer +whose fate had already excited much discontent among his compatriots in +the king's service. Then again much would depend upon who was the +governor of the prison. These men differ like others. Some of them are +honourable gentlemen, to whom even Louis himself would not venture to +hint that he wanted a prisoner put out of the way; but there are others +who, to gratify a powerful nobleman, would think nothing of telling a +jailer to forget a fortnight to give food to a prisoner. So you see we +cannot judge from this. And now what are you thinking of doing, Malcolm, +and why are you over here?" + +"In the first place we are over here because young Leslie took after his +father and aided a Jacobite, whom George's men were in search of, to +escape, and drew his sword on a worshipful justice of Glasgow and the +city watch." + +"He has begun early," Sandy said, laughing; "and how did he get away?" + +"They brought him down a prisoner to London, to interrogate him as to the +plot. I had a boat in the Thames and he jumped over and swam for it; so +here we are. There are rumours in Scotland that King Louis is helping +Prince Charlie, and that an army is soon going to sail for Scotland." + +"It is talked of here, but so far nothing is settled; but as King George +is interfering in Louis's affairs, and is fighting him in Germany, I +think it more than likely that King Louis is going to stir up a coil in +Scotland to give George something to do at home." + +"Then if there's nothing to be done here I shall find out the old +regiment. There will be many officers in it still who have fought under +Leslie, and some of them may know more about him than you do, and will +surely be able to tell me what has become of the lad's mither." + +"That may well be so; but keep a quiet tongue, Malcolm, as to Leslie's +son, save to those on whose discretion you can rely. I tell you, if it +were known that he is alive and in France his life would not be worth a +week's purchase. They would not take the trouble to get a lettre de +cachet for him as they did for his father; it would be just a pistol +bullet or a stab on a dark night or in a lonely place. There would be no +question asked about the fate of an unknown Scotch laddie." + +"I will be careful, Sandy, and silent. The first thing is to find out +where the old regiment is lying." + +"That I can tell you at once. It is on the frontier with the Duc de +Noailles, and they say that there is like to be a great battle with +English George and his army." + +"Well, as we have nothing else to do we will set out and find them," +Malcolm said; "but as time is not pressing we will stop a few days here +in Paris and I will show the lad the sights. I suppose you can put us +up." + +"That can I. Times are dull at present. After '15 Paris swarmed with +Scotsmen who had fled to save their heads; but of late years but few have +come over, and the Scotch regiments have difficulty in keeping up their +numbers. Since the last of them marched for the frontier I have been +looking after empty benches, and it will be good news for me when I hear +that the war is over and they are on their way back." + +For some days Malcolm and Ronald wandered about the narrow streets of +Paris. Ronald was somewhat disappointed in the city of which he had heard +so much. The streets were ill paved and worse lighted, and were narrow +and winding. In the neighbourhood of the Louvre there were signs of +wealth and opulence. The rich dresses of the nobles contrasted strongly +indeed with the sombre attire of the Glasgow citizens, and the appearance +and uniform of the royal guards filled him with admiration; but beyond +the fashionable quarter it did not appear to him that Paris possessed +many advantages over Glasgow, and the poorer class were squalid and +poverty stricken to a far greater degree than anything he had seen in +Scotland. But the chief points of attraction to him were the prisons. The +Bastille, the Chatelet, and the Temple were points to which he was +continually turning; the two former especially, since, if he were in +Paris, it was in one of these that his father was most probably lying. + +The various plans he had so often thought over, by which, in some way or +other, he might communicate with his father and aid his escape, were +roughly shattered at the sight of these buildings. He had reckoned on +their resembling in some respect the prison in Glasgow, and at the sight +of these formidable fortresses with their lofty walls and flanking +towers, their moats and vigilant sentries, his hopes fell to zero. It +would, he saw at once, be absolutely impossible to open communication +with a prisoner of whose whereabouts he was wholly ignorant and of whose +very existence he was doubtful. The narrow slits which lighted the cell +in which he was confined might look into an inner court, or the cell +itself might be below the surface of the soil. The legend of the +troubadour who discovered King Richard of England's place of captivity by +singing without the walls had always been present in his mind, but no +such plan would be practicable here. He knew no song which his father, +and his father only, would recognize; and even did he know such a song, +the appearance of anyone loitering in the open space outside the moat +round the Bastille singing at intervals at different points would have +instantly attracted the attention of the sentries on the walls. Nor, even +did he discover that his father was lying a prisoner in one of the cells +facing outwards in the fortress, did he see any possibility of compassing +his escape. The slits were wide enough only for the passage of a ray of +light or the flight of an arrow. No human being could squeeze himself +through them, and even if he could do so he would need a long rope to +descend into the moat. + +One day Ronald talked over his ideas with Malcolm, who declared at once +that they were impossible of execution. + +"There is scarcely a case on record," he said, "of an escape from either +the Bastille or the Chatelet, and yet there have been scores of prisoners +confined in them with friends of great influence and abundant means. If +these have been unable, by bribing jailers or by other strategy, to free +their friends, how could a stranger, without either connection, +influence, or wealth, hope to effect the escape of a captive were he +certain that he was within the walls. Do not waste your thought on such +fancies, Ronald. If your father is still in prison it is by influence +only, and influence exerted upon the king and exceeding that of your +father's enemies, that his release can be obtained. + +"Such influence there is no possibility of our exerting. Your father's +comrades and countrymen, his position and services, availed nothing when +he was first imprisoned; and in the time which has elapsed the number of +those who know him and would venture to risk the king's displeasure by +pleading his cause must have lessened considerably. The only possibility, +mind I say possibility, of success lies in your mother. + +"So far it is clear that she has been powerless; but we know not under +what circumstances she has been placed. She may all this time have been +shut up a prisoner in a convent; she may be dead; but it is possible +that, if she is free, she may have powerful connections on her mother's +side, who might be induced to take up her cause and to plead with the +king for your father's liberty. She may have been told that your father +is dead. She is, no doubt, in ignorance of what has become of you, or +whether you are still alive. If she believes you are both dead she would +have had no motive for exerting any family influence she may have, and +may be living a broken hearted woman, firm only in the resolution to +accept no other husband." + +"Yes, that is possible," Ronald agreed. "At any rate, Malcolm, let us +lose no further time, but set out tomorrow for the frontier and try to +find out from my father's old comrades what has become of my mother." + + + +CHAPTER V: Dettingen. + + +After walking two or three miles Malcolm and Ronald came upon the rear of +a train of waggons which had set out from Paris an hour earlier. Entering +into conversation with one of the drivers they found that the convoy was +bound for the frontier with ammunition and supplies for the army. + +"This is fortunate," Malcolm said; "for to tell you the truth, Ronald, I +have looked forward to our meeting with a good many difficulties by the +way. We have no passes or permits to travel, and should be suspected of +being either deserters or thieves. We came down from the north easy +enough; but there they are more accustomed to the passage of travellers +to or from the coast. Going east our appearance if alone would be sure to +incite comment and suspicion. It is hard if among the soldiers with the +convoy I do not know someone who has friends in the old regiment. At any +rate we can offer to make ourselves useful in case of any of the drivers +falling ill or deserting by the way." + +As they walked along towards the head of the long line of waggons Malcolm +closely scrutinized the troopers who formed the escort, but most of them +were young soldiers, and he therefore went on without accosting them +until he reached the head of the column. Here two officers were riding +together, a captain and a young lieutenant. Malcolm saluted the former. + +"I am an old soldier of the 2d Regiment of Scottish Calvary, and am going +with my young friend here, who has relations in the regiment, to join +them. Will you permit us, sir, to journey with your convoy? We are ready, +if needs be, to make ourselves useful in case any of your drivers are +missing, no uncommon thing, as I know, on a long journey." + +The officer asked a few questions about his services, and said: "What +have you been doing since you left, as you say, fourteen years ago?" + +"I have been in Scotland, sir. I took this lad, who was then an infant, +home to my people, having had enough of soldiering, while my brother, his +father, remained with the regiment. We do not know whether he is alive or +dead, but if the former the lad wants to join as a trumpeter, and when +old enough to fight in the ranks." + +"Very well," the officer said. "You can march along with us, and if any +of these fellows desert you shall take their places, and of course draw +their pay." + +It was a short time indeed before Malcolm's services were called into +requisition, for the very first night several of the drivers, who had +been pressed into the service, managed to elude the vigilance of the +guard and slipped away. + +The next morning Malcolm, with Ronald as his assistant, took charge of +one of the heavy waggons, loaded with ammunition, and drawn by twelve +horses. + +"This is better than walking after all, Ronald. In the first place it +saves the legs, and in the second one is partly out of the dust." + +"But I think we should get on faster walking, Malcolm." + +"Yes, if we had no stoppages. But then, you see, as we have no papers we +might be detained for weeks by some pig headed official in a little +country town; besides, we are sure to push on as fast as we can, for they +will want the ammunition before a battle is fought. And after all a few +days won't make much difference to us; the weather is fine, and the +journey will not be unpleasant." + +In fact Ronald enjoyed the next three weeks greatly as the train of +waggons made its way across the plains of Champagne, and then on through +the valleys of Lorraine and Alsace until it reached Strasbourg. Malcolm +had speedily made friends with some of the soldiers of the escort, and of +an evening when the day's work was over he and Ronald sat with them by +the fires they made by the roadside, and Malcolm told tales of the +campaigns in which he had been engaged, and the soldiers sang songs and +chatted over the probabilities of the events of the war. None of them had +served before, having been but a few months taken from their homes in +various parts of France. But although, doubtless, many had at first +regretted bitterly being dragged away to the wars, they were now all +reconciled to their lot, and looked forward eagerly to joining their +regiment, which was at the front, when the duty of looking after the +convoy would be at an end. + +Little was known in Paris as to the position of the contending armies +beyond the fact that Lord Stair, who commanded the English army, sixteen +thousand strong, which had for the last year been lying inactive in +Flanders, had marched down with his Hanoverian allies towards the Maine, +and that the Duc de Noailles with sixty thousand men was lying beyond the +Rhine. But at Strasbourg they learned that the French army had marched +north to give battle to Lord Stair, who had at present with him but +twenty-eight thousand men, and was waiting to be joined by twelve +thousand Hanoverians and Hessians who were on their way. + +The convoy continued its journey, pushing forward with all speed, and on +the 26th of July joined the army of De Noailles. The French were on the +south side of the river, but having arrived on its banks before the +English they had possession of the bridges. As soon as the waggons had +joined the army, Malcolm obtained from the officer commanding the escort +a discharge, saying that he and Ronald had fulfilled their engagement as +drivers with the waggons to the front, and were now at liberty to return +to France. + +"Now we are our own masters again, Ronald," Malcolm said. "I have taken +part in a good many battles, but have never yet had the opportunity of +looking on at one comfortably. De Noailles should lose no time in +attacking, so as to destroy the English before they receive their +reinforcements. As he holds the bridges he can bring on the battle when +he likes, and I think that tomorrow or next day the fight will take +place." + +It was known in the camp that evening that the English had established +their chief magazines at Hanau, and were marching up the river towards +Aschaffenburg. In the early morning a portion of the French troops +crossed the river at that town, and took up a strong position there. +Ronald and Malcolm climbed a hill looking down upon the river from the +south side, and thence commanded the view of the ground across which the +English were marching. On the eastern side of the river spurs of the +Spessart Mountains came down close to its bank, inclosing a narrow flat +between Aschaffenburg and Dettingen. At the latter place the heights +approached so closely to the river as to render it difficult for an army +to pass between them. While posting a strong force at Aschaffenburg to +hold the passage across a stream running into the Maine there, De +Noailles marched his main force down the river; these movements were +hidden by the nature of the ground from the English, who were advancing +unconscious of their danger towards Dettingen. + +"De Noailles will have them in a trap," Malcolm said, for from their +position on the hill they could see the whole ground on the further bank, +Hanau lying some seven miles beyond Dettingen, which was itself less than +seven miles from Aschaffenburg. + +"I am afraid so," Ronald said. + +"Afraid!" Malcolm repeated. "Why, you should rejoice, Ronald." + +"I can't do that," Ronald replied. "I should like to see the Stuarts +instead of the Hanoverians reigning over us; but after all, Malcolm, +England and Scotland are one nation." + +"But there are Scotch regiments with the French army, and a brigade of +Irish." + +"That may be," Ronald said. "Scotchmen who have got into political +trouble at home may enter the service of France, and may fight heartily +against the Germans or the Flemings, or other enemies of France; but I +know that I should feel very reluctant to fight against the English army, +except, of course, at home for the Stuarts." + +"It will benefit the Stuarts' cause if the English are defeated here," +Malcolm said. + +"That may be or it may not," Ronald replied. "You yourself told me that +Louis cared nothing for the Stuarts, and would only aid them in order to +cripple the English strength at home. Therefore, if he destroys the +English army here he will have less cause to fear England and so less +motive for helping the Chevalier." + +"That is true enough," Malcolm agreed. "You are fast becoming a +politician, Ronald. Well, I will look on as a neutral then, because, +although the English are certainly more nearly my countrymen than are the +French, you must remember that for twelve years I fought under the French +flag. However, there can be no doubt what is going to take place. See, +the dark mass of the English army are passing through the defile of +Dettingen, and the French have begun to cross at Seligenstadt in their +rear. See, they are throwing three or four bridges across the river +there." + +In utter ignorance of their danger the English marched on along the +narrow plain by the river bank towards Aschaffenburg. + +"Look at their cavalry scouting ahead of them," Malcolm said. "There, the +French are opening fire!" And as he spoke puffs of musketry rose up from +the line of the stream held by the French. + +The English cavalry galloped back, but the columns of infantry still +advanced until within half a mile of the French position, and were there +halted, while some guns from the French lines opened fire. The bridges at +Seligenstadt were now completed, and masses of troops could be seen +pouring over. King George and the Duke of Cumberland had joined the Earl +of Stair just as the army passed through Dettingen, and were riding at +the head of the column when the French fire opened. A short time was +spent in reconnoitring the position of the enemy in front. The English +believed that the entire French army was there opposed to them, and that +the advance of the army into Franconia, which was its main objective was +therefore barred. After a short consultation it was resolved to fall back +at once upon the magazines at Hanau, which, from their ignorance of the +near proximity of the French, had been left but weakly guarded. Believing +that as they fell back they would be hotly pursued by the French army, +the king took the command of the rear as the post of danger, and the +columns, facing about, marched towards Dettingen. + +But the French had been beforehand with them. De Noailles had sent 23,000 +men under his nephew the Duke de Grammont across the river to occupy +Dettingen. He himself with his main army remained on the south side, with +his artillery placed so as to fire across the river upon the flank of the +English as they approached Dettingen; while he could march up and cross +at Aschaffenburg should the English, after being beaten back at +Dettingen, try to retreat up the river. + +De Grammont's position was a very strong one behind a swamp and a deep +ravine hollowed out by a stream from the hill. There seemed no +possibility of escape for the English army, who were as yet absolutely in +ignorance of the position of the French. As the head of the column +approached Dettingen, Grammont's artillery opened upon them in front, +while that of De Noailles smote them in flank. As soon as the king found +that his retreat was cut off he galloped from the rear of the column to +its head. His horse, alarmed by the fire of the artillery and whistling +of balls, ran away with him, and was with difficulty stopped just as he +reached the head of the column. He at once dismounted and announced his +intention of leading his troops on foot. + +There was a hasty council held between him, Lord Stair, and the Duke of +Cumberland, and it was agreed that the only escape from entire +destruction was by fighting their way through the force now in front of +them. This would indeed have been impossible had De Grammont held his +position; but when that officer saw the English troops halt he believed +he had only the advanced guard in front of him, and resolving to +overwhelm these before their main body arrived, he abandoned his strong +position, led the troops across the swamp, and charged the English in +front. + +De Noailles, from the opposite bank, seeing the error his nephew had +made, hurried his troops towards the bridges in order to cross the river +and render him assistance; but it was too late. + +The English infantry, headed by the king in person, hurled themselves +upon the troops of De Grammont. + +Every man felt that the only hope of escape from this trap into which +they had fallen lay in cutting their way through the enemy, and so +furiously did they fight that De Grammont's troops were utterly +overthrown, and were soon in full flight towards the bridges in the rear, +hotly pursued by the English. Before they could reach the bridges they +left behind them on the field six thousand killed and wounded. King +George, satisfied with his success, and knowing that the French army was +still greatly superior to his own, wisely determined to get out of his +dangerous position as soon as possible, and pushed on that night to +Hanau. + +Although Malcolm and Ronald were too far off to witness the incidents of +the battle, they made out the tide of war rolling away from them, and saw +the black masses of troops pressing on through Dettingen in spite of the +French artillery which thundered from the opposite bank of the river. + +"They have won!" Ronald said, throwing up his cap. "Hurrah, Malcolm! +Where is the utter destruction of the English now? See, the plain beyond +Dettingen is covered by a confused mass of flying men. The English have +broken out of the trap, and instead of being crushed have won a great +victory." + +"It looks like it certainly," Malcolm said. "I would not have believed it +if I had not seen it; their destruction seemed certain. And now let us go +round to the camp again." + +On their way down Malcolm said: + +"I think, on the whole, Ronald, that you are perhaps right, and the +French defeat will do good rather than harm to the Stuart cause. Had they +conquered, Louis would have been too intent on pushing forward his own +schemes to care much for the Stuarts. He has no real interest in them, +and only uses them as cat's paws to injure England. If he had beaten the +English and Hanoverians he would not have needed their aid. As it is, it +seems likely enough that he will try to create a diversion, and keep the +English busy at home by aiding the Stuarts with men and money to make a +landing in Scotland." + +"In that case, Malcolm, we need not grieve over the defeat today. You +know my sympathies are with the brave Empress of Austria rather than with +her enemies, and this defeat should go far towards seating her securely +on the throne. Now, what will you do, Malcolm? Shall we try and find my +father's friends at once?" + +"Nor for another few days," Malcolm said. "Just after a defeat men are +not in the best mood to discuss bygone matters. Let us wait and see what +is done next." + +The next morning a portion of the French army which had not been engaged +crossed the river and collected the French and English wounded, for the +latter had also been left behind. They were treated by the French with +the same care and kindness that was bestowed upon their own wounded. De +Noailles was about to advance against the English at Hanau, when he +received the news that the French army in Bavaria had been beaten back by +Prince Charles, and had crossed the Rhine into Alsace. As he would now be +exposed to the whole brunt of the attack of the allies he decided to +retreat at once. + +The next day the retreat recommenced. Many of the drivers had fled at the +first news of the defeat, and Malcolm without question assumed the post +of driver of one of the abandoned teams. For another week the army +retired, and then crossing the Rhine near Worms were safe from pursuit. + +"Now, Ronald, I will look up the old regiment, and we will see what is to +be done." + +The 2d Scotch Dragoons were posted in a little village a mile distant +from the main camp which had now been formed. Malcolm did nor make any +formal transfer of the waggon to the authorities, thinking it by no means +improbable that they would insist upon his continuing his self adopted +avocation as driver; but after seeing to the horses, which were picketed +with a long line of transport animals, he and Ronald walked quietly away +without any ceremony of adieu. + +"We must not come back again here," he said, "for some of the teamsters +would recognize me as having been driving lately, and I should have hard +work to prove that I was not a deserter; we must take to the old regiment +now as long as we are here." + +On reaching the village they found the street full of troopers, who were +busy engaged in cleaning their arms, grooming their horses, and removing +all signs of weather and battle. Ronald felt a thrill of pleasure at +hearing his native language spoken. He had now so far improved the +knowledge of French as to be able to converse without difficulty, for +Malcolm had from his childhood tried to keep up his French, and had +lately always spoken in that language to him, unless it was necessary to +speak in English in order to make him understand. + +These occasions had become more and more rare, and two months of constant +conversation with Malcolm and others had enabled Ronald by this time to +speak with some fluency in the French tongue. None of the soldiers paid +any attention to the newcomers, whose dress differed in no way from that +of Frenchmen, as after the shipwreck they had, of course, been obliged to +rig themselves out afresh. Malcolm stopped before an old sergeant who was +diligently polishing his sword hilt. + +"And how fares it with you all these years, Angus Graeme?" + +The sergeant almost dropped his sword in his surprise at being so +addressed in his own tongue by one whose appearance betokened him a +Frenchman. + +"You don't know me, Angus," Malcolm went on with a smile; "and yet you +ought to, for if it hadn't been for me the sword of the German hussar who +carved that ugly scar across your cheek would have followed it up by +putting an end to your soldiering altogether." + +"Heart alive, but it's Malcolm Anderson! Eh, man, but I am glad to see +you! I thought you were dead years ago, for I have heard nae mair of you +since the day when you disappeared from among us like a spook, the same +day that puir Colonel Leslie was hauled off to the Bastille. A sair day +was that for us a'! And where ha' ye been all the time?" + +"Back at home, Angus, at least in body, for my heart's been with the old +regiment. And who, think you, is this? But you must keep a close mouth, +man, for it must nor be talked of. This is Leslie's son. By his father's +last order I took him off to Scotland with me to be out of reach of his +foes, and now I have brought him back again to try if between us we can +gain any news of his father." + +"You don't say so, Malcolm! I never as much heard that the colonel had a +son, though there was some talk in the regiment that he had married a +great lady, and that it was for that that he had been hid away in prison. +And this is Leslie's boy! Only to think, now! Well, young sir, there +isn't a man in the regiment but wad do his best for your father's son, +for those who have joined us since, and in truth that's the great part of +us, have heard many a tale of Colonel Leslie, though they may not have +served under him, and not a tale but was to his honour, for a braver +officer nor a kinder one never stepped the earth. But come inside, +Malcolm. I have got a room to myself and a stoup of good wine; let's talk +over things fair and gentle, and when I know what it is that you want you +may be sure that I will do all I can, for the sake baith of the colonel +and of you, auld comrade." + +The trio were soon seated in the cottage, and Malcolm then gave a short +sketch of all that had taken place since he had left the regiment. + +"Well, well!" the sergeant said when he had ended; "and so the lad, young +as he is, has already drawn his sword for the Stuarts, and takes after +his father in loyalty as well as in looks, for now that I know who he is +I can see his father's face in his plain enough; and now for your plans, +Malcolm." + +"Our plans must be left to chance, Angus. We came hither to see whether +any of the colonel's friends are still in the regiment, and to learn from +them whether they have any news whatever of him; and secondly, whether +they can tell us aught of his mother." + +"Ay, there are six or eight officers still in the regiment who served +with him. Hume is our colonel now; you will remember him, Malcolm, well, +for he was captain of our troop; and Major Macpherson was a captain too. +Then there are Oliphant, and Munroe, and Campbell, and Graham, all of +whom were young lieutenants in your time, and are now old captains of +troops." + +"I will see the colonel and Macpherson," Malcolm said; "if they do not +know, the younger men are not likely to. Will you go along with us, +Angus, and introduce me, though Hume is like enough to remember me, +seeing that I was so much with Leslie?" + +"They will be dining in half an hour," the sergeant said; "we'll go after +they have done the meal. It's always a good time to talk with men when +they are full, and the colonel will have no business to disturb him then. +Our own dinner will be ready directly; I can smell a goose that I picked +up, as it might be by accident, at the place where we halted last night. +There are four or five of us old soldiers who always mess together when +we are not on duty with our troops, and if I mistake not, you will know +every one of them, and right glad they will be to see you; but of course +I shall say no word as to who the lad is, save that he is a friend of +yours." + +A few minutes later four other sergeants dropped in, and there was a +joyful greeting between them and Malcolm as soon as they recognized his +identity. The meal was a jovial one, as old jokes and old reminiscences +were recalled. After an hour's sitting Angus said: + +"Pass round the wine, lads, till we come back again. I am taking Anderson +to the colonel, who was captain of his troop. We are not likely to be +long, and when we come back we will make a night of it in honour of old +times, or I am mistaken." + +On leaving the cottage they waited for a while until they saw the colonel +and major rise from beside the fire round which, with the other officers, +they had been taking their meal, and walk to the cottage which they +shared between them. Angus went up and saluted. + +"What is it, Graeme?" the colonel asked. + +"There's one here who would fain have a talk with you. It is Malcolm +Anderson, whom you may remember as puir Colonel Leslie's servant, and as +being in your own troop, and he has brought one with him concerning whom +he will speak to you himself." + +"Of course I remember Anderson," the colonel said. "He was devoted to +Leslie. Bring him in at once. What can have brought him out here again +after so many years? Been getting into some trouble at home, I suppose? +He was always in some scrape or other when he was in the regiment, for, +though he was a good soldier, he was as wild and reckless a blade as any +in the regiment. You remember him, Macpherson?" + +"Yes, I remember him well," the major said. "The colonel was very fond of +him, and regarded him almost as a brother." + +A minute later Angus ushered Malcolm and Ronald into the presence of the +two officers, who had now taken seats in the room which served as kitchen +and sitting room to the cottage, which was much the largest in the +village. + +"Well, Anderson, I am glad to see you again," Colonel Hume said, rising +and holding out his hand. "We have often spoken of you since the day you +disappeared, saying that you were going on a mission for the colonel, and +have wondered what the mission was, and how it was that we never heard of +you again." + +"I came over to Paris four years later, colonel, but the regiment was +away in Flanders, and as I found out from others what I had come to +learn, there was no use in my following you. As to the colonel's mission, +it was this;" and he put his hand on Ronald's shoulder. + +"What do you mean, Anderson?" the colonel asked in surprise. + +"This is Colonel Leslie's son, sir. He bade me fetch him straight away +from the folk with whom he was living and take him off to Scotland so as +to be out of reach of his foes, who would doubtless have made even +shorter work with him than they did with the colonel." + +"Good heavens!" the colonel exclaimed; "this is news indeed. So poor +Leslie left a child and this is he! My lad," he said, taking Ronald's +hand, "believe me that anything that I can do for you, whatever it be, +shall be done, for the sake of your dear father, whom I loved as an elder +brother." + +"And I too," the major said. "There was not one of us but would have +fought to the death for Leslie. And now sit down, my lad, while Anderson +tells us your story." + +Malcolm began at the account of the charge which Colonel Leslie had +committed to him, and the manner in which he had fulfilled it. He told +them how he had placed the child in the care of his brother, he himself +having no fixed home of his own, and how the lad had received a solid +education, while he had seen to his learning the use of his sword, so +that he might be able to follow his father's career. He then told them +the episode of the Jacobite agent, and the escape which had been effected +in the Thames. + +"You have done well, Anderson," the colonel said when he had concluded; +"and if ever Leslie should come to see his son he will have cause to +thank you, indeed, for the way in which you have carried out the charge +he committed to you, and he may well be pleased at seeing him grown up +such a manly young fellow. As to Leslie himself, we know not whether he +be alive or dead. Every interest was made at the time to assuage his +majesty's hostility, but the influence of the Marquis of Recambours was +too strong, and the king at last peremptorily forbade Leslie's name being +mentioned before him. You see, although the girl's father was, of course, +at liberty to bestow her hand on whomsoever he pleased, he had, with the +toadyism of a courtier, asked the king's approval of the match with +Chateaurouge, which, as a matter of course, he received. His majesty, +therefore, chose to consider it as a personal offence against himself +that this Scottish soldier of fortune should carry off one of the richest +heiresses of France, whose hand he had himself granted to one of his +peers. At the same rime I cannot but think that Leslie still lives, for +had he been dead we should assuredly have heard of the marriage of his +widow with some one else. The duke has, of course, long since married, +and report says that the pair are ill-matched; but another husband would +speedily have been found for the widow." + +"Since the duke has married," Ronald said, "he should no longer be so +bitter against my father, and perhaps after so long an imprisonment the +king might be moved to grant his release." + +"As the duke's marriage is an unhappy one, I fear that you cannot count +upon his hostility to your father being in any way lessened, as he would +all the more regret the interference with his former plans." + +"Have you any idea where my mother is, sir?" + +"None," the colonel said. "But that I might find out for you. I will give +you a letter to the Count de Noyes, who is on intimate terms with the +Archbishop of Paris, who would, no doubt, be able to tell him in which +convent the lady is residing. You must not be too sanguine, my poor boy, +of seeing her, for it is possible that she has already taken the veil. +Indeed, if your father has died, and she has still refused to accept any +suitor whom the marquis may have found for her, you may be sure that she +has been compelled to take the veil, as her estates would then revert to +the nearest kinsman. This may, for aught we know, have happened years +ago, without a word of it being bruited abroad, and the affair only known +to those most concerned. However, we must look at the best side. We shall +be able, doubtless, to learn through the archbishop whether she is still +merely detained in the convent or has taken the veil, and you can then +judge accordingly whether your father is likely to be alive or dead. But +as to your obtaining an interview with your mother, I regard it as +impossible in the one case as the other. + +"At any rate it is of the highest importance that it should not be known +that you are in France. If it is proved that your father is dead and your +mother is secluded for life, we must then introduce you to her family, +and try and get them to bring all their influence to bear to have you +acknowledged openly as the legitimate heir of the marquis, and to obtain +for you the succession to at least a portion of his estates--say to +that of those which she brought him as her dowry. In this you may be sure +that I and every Scottish gentleman in the army will give you all the aid +and influence we can bring to bear." + +Ronald warmly thanked Colonel Hume for his kindness, and the next day, +having received the letter to the Count de Noyes, set out for Paris with +Malcolm. On his arrival there he lost no time in calling upon the count, +and presenting his letter of introduction. + +The count read it through twice without speaking. + +"My friend Colonel Hume," he said at last, "tells me that you are the +son, born in lawful wedlock, of Colonel Leslie and Amelie de Recambours. +I am aware of the circumstances of the case, being distantly related to +the lady's family, and will do that which Colonel Hume asks me, namely, +discover the convent in which she is living. But I warn you, young man, +that your position here is a dangerous one, and that were it known that +Colonel Leslie's son is alive and in France, I consider your life would +not be worth a day's purchase. When powerful people are interested in the +removal of anyone not favoured with powerful protection the matter is +easily arranged. There are hundreds of knives in Paris whose use can be +purchased for a few crowns, of if seclusion be deemed better than +removal, a king's favourite can always obtain a lettre-de-cachet, and a +man may linger a lifetime in prison without a soul outside the walls +knowing of his existence there. + +"You are an obstacle to the plans of a great noble, and that is in France +a fatal offence. Your wisest course, young man, would be to efface +yourself, to get your friend Colonel Hume to obtain for you a commission +in his regiment, and to forget for ever that you are the son of Colonel +Leslie and Amelie de Recambours. However, in that you will doubtless +choose for yourself; but believe me my advice is good. At any rate I will +do what my friend Colonel Hume asks me, and will obtain for you the name +of the convent where your mother is living. I do not see that you will be +any the better off when you have it, for assuredly you will nor be able +to obtain permission to see her. However, that again is your affair. If +you will give me the address where you are staying in Paris I will write +to you as soon as I obtain the information. Do not be impatient, the +archbishop himself may be in ignorance on the point; but I doubt not, +that to oblige me, he will obtain the information from the right quarter. + +A week later, Ronald, on returning one day to Le Soldat Ecossais, found a +note awaiting him. It contained only the words: + +"She has not taken the veil; she is at the convent of Our Lady at Tours." + +The next morning Ronald and Malcolm set out on their journey to Tours. + + + +CHAPTER VI: The Convent of Our Lady. + + +Arrived at Tours, Malcolm took a quiet lodging in a retired street. +Colonel Hume had furnished him with a regular discharge, testifying that +the bearer, Malcolm Anderson, had served his time in the 2d Scotch +Dragoons, and was now discharged as being past service, and that he +recommended him as a steady man for any employment for which he might be +suited. Malcolm showed this document to his landlord in order that the +latter might, as required by law, duly give notice to the police of the +name and occupation of his lodger, and at the same time mentioned that +the relations of his wife lived near Tours, and that he hoped through +them to be able to obtain some sort of employment. + +As soon as they were settled in their lodgings they went out, and after a +few inquiries found themselves in front of the convent of Our Lady. It +was a massive building, in a narrow street near the river, to which its +grounds, surrounded by a high wall, extended. None of the windows of the +building looked towards the street, upon which the massive gate, with a +small wicket entrance, opened. + +"What building is this?" Malcolm, in a careless tone, asked a woman who +was sitting knitting at her door nearly opposite the entrance. "I am a +stranger in Tours." + +"That needs no telling," the woman replied, "or you would have known that +that is the convent of Our Lady, one of the richest in Touraine, and they +say in all France. Though what they do with their riches is more than I +can tell, seeing that the rules are of the strictest, and that no one +ever comes beyond the gates. They have their own grounds down to the +river, and there is a walk along the wall there where they take the air +of an evening when the weather is fine. Poor things, I pity them from my +soul." + +"But I suppose they all came willingly," Malcolm said; "so there is no +need for pity." + +"I don't know about willingly," the woman said. "I expect most of them +took the veil rather than marry the men their fathers provided for them, +or because they were in the way of someone who wanted their lands, or +because their lovers had been killed in the war, just as if grief for a +lover was going to last one's life. Besides, they are not all sisters. +They say there's many a lady of good family shut up there till she will +do her father's will. 'Well, well,' I often says to myself, 'they may +have all the riches of France inside those walls, but I would rather sit +knitting at my door here than have a share of them.'" + +"You are a wise woman," Malcolm said. "There is nothing like freedom. +Give me a crust, and a sod for my pillow, rather than gold plates inside +a prison. I have been a soldier all my life, and have had my share of +hard knocks; but I never grumbled so long as I was on a campaign, though +I often found it dull work enough when in garrison." + +"Oh, you have been a soldier! I have a brother in the regiment of +Touraine. Perhaps you know him?" + +"I know the regiment of Touraine," Malcolm said; "and there are no braver +set of men in the king's service. What is his name?" + +"Pierre Pitou. I have not heard of him for the last two years. He is a +tall man, and broad, with a scar over the left eye." + +"To be sure, to be sure!" Malcolm said. "Of course, Pierre Pitou is one +of my best friends; and now I think of it, madam, I ought to know without +asking, so great is his resemblance to you. Why, his last words to me +were, 'If you go to Tours, seek out my sister, who lives in a house +nearly opposite the entrance to the convent of Our Lady;' and to think I +should have forgotten all about it till I saw you!" + +Malcolm remained for a quarter of an hour chatting with the woman about +her brother, and then, promising to call again the next day in the +evening to be introduced to her husband, he rejoined Ronald, who had been +waiting at the corner of the lane, and had been fidgeting with impatience +at the long interview between Malcolm and the woman. + +"What have you been talking about all this time, Malcolm, and what could +you have to say to a stranger?" + +"I have been telling her all about her brother, Pierre Pitou of the +Touraine regiment, and how he distinguished himself at Dettingen, and +will surely be made a sergeant, with a hope some day of getting to be a +captain. I have quite won her heart." + +"But who is Pierre Pitou, and when did you know him?" Ronald asked +surprised. + +"He is a tall man with broad shoulders and a scar over his left eye," +Malcolm said laughing, and he then related the whole conversation. + +"But why did you pretend to this poor woman that you knew her brother?" + +"Because she may be very useful to us, Ronald; and if you can't find a +friend in court, it's just as well to have one near court. She is a +gossiping woman, and like enough she may know some of the lay sisters, +who are, in fact, the servants of the convent, and come out to buy +supplies of food and other things, and who distribute the alms among the +poor. I don't know what advantage will come of it yet, Ronald; but I can +see I have done a great stroke of business, and feel quite an affection +for my friend Pierre Pitou." + +Malcolm followed up the acquaintance he had made, and soon established +himself as a friend of the family. Ronald did not accompany him on any of +his visits, for as the plan of proceeding was still undecided, he and +Malcolm agreed that it was better that he should not show himself until +some favourable opportunity offered. + +Sometimes towards evening he and Malcolm would take a boat and float down +the stream past the convent walls, and Ronald would wonder which of the +figures whose heads he could perceive as they walked upon the terrace, +was that of his mother. It was not until Malcolm had become quite at home +with Madame Vipon that he again turned the conversation towards the +convent. He learned that she had often been inside the walls, for before +her marriage she had worked at a farm whence the convent drew a portion +of its supplies; milk, butter, and eggs, and she had often carried +baskets to the convent. + +"Of course I never went beyond the outer court," she said; "but Farmer +Miron's daughter--it was he owned the farm--is a lay sister there. +She was crossed in love, poor girl. She liked Andre, the son of a +neighbouring farmer, but it was but a small place by the side of that of +Miron, and her father would not hear of it, but wanted her to marry +Jacques Dubois, the rich miller, who was old enough to be her father. +Andre went to the wars and was killed; and instead of changing when the +news came, as her father expected, and taking up with the miller, she +hated him worse than ever, and said that he was the cause of Andre's +death; so the long and short of it was, she came as a lay sister to the +convent here. Of course she never thought of taking the vows, for to do +that here one must be noble and be able to pay a heavy dowry to the +convent. + +"So she is just a lay sister, a sort of servant, you know, but she is a +favourite and often goes to market for them, and when she does she +generally drops in here for a few minutes for a talk; for though she was +only a child when I was at the farm we were great friends, and she hears +from me how all the people she used to know are getting on." + +"I suppose she knows all the ladies who reside in the convent as well as +the sisters?" + +"Oh, yes, and much better than the sisters! It is on them she waits. She +does not see much of the sisters, who keep to their own side of the +house, and have very little to do with the visitors, or as one might call +them the prisoners, for that is what most of them really are." + +"Now I think of it," Malcolm said, "one of the officers I served under +had a relation, a lady, whom I have heard him say, when he was talking to +another officer, is shut up here, either because she wouldn't marry some +one her father didn't want her to, I forget exactly what it was now. Let +me see, what was her name. Elise--no, that wasn't it. Amelie--Amelie +de Recambours--yes, that was it." + +"Oh, yes, I know the name! I have heard Jeanne speak of her. Jeanne said +it was whispered among them that she had really married somebody against +her father's will. At any rate she has been there ever so many years, and +they have not made her take the veil, as they do most of them if they are +obstinate and won't give way. Poor thing! Jeanne says she is very pretty +still, though she must be nearly forty now." + +"That is very interesting," Malcolm said; "and if you will not mind, +Madam Vipon, I will write to the officer of whom I spoke and tell him his +cousin is alive and well. I was his servant in the regiment, and I know, +from what I have heard him say, he was very much attached to her. There +can be no harm in that, you know," he said, as Madam Vipon looked +doubtful; "but if you would prefer it, of course I will not say how I +have heard." + +"Yes, that will be better," she agreed. "There is never any saying how +things come round; and though there's no harm in what I have told you, +still it's ill gossiping about what takes place inside convent walls." + +"I quite agree with you, my dear Madam Vipon, and admire your discretion. +It is singular how you take after your brother. Pierre Pitou had the +reputation of being the most discreet man in the regiment of Touraine." + +Ronald was very excited when he heard from Malcolm that he had actually +obtained news at second hand as to his mother, and it was with difficulty +that his friend persuaded him to allow matters to go on as he proposed. + +"It will never do to hurry things now, Ronald; everything is turning out +beyond our expectations. A fortnight ago it seemed absolutely hopeless +that you should communicate with your mother; now things are in a good +train for it." + +Accordingly Malcolm made no further allusion to the subject to Madame +Vipon until a fortnight had passed; then he said, on calling on her one +day: + +"Do you know, my dear Madam Vipon, I have had a letter from the gentleman +of whom I was speaking to you. He is full of gratitude at the news I sent +him. I did not tell him from whom I had heard the news, save that it was +from one of the kindest of women, the sister of an old comrade of mine. +He has sent me this"--and he took out a small box which he opened, and +showed a pretty gold broach, with earrings to match--"and bid me to +give it in his name to the person who had sent him this good news." + +"That is beautiful," Madam Vipon said, clapping her hands; "and I have so +often wished for a real gold broach! Won't my husband open his eyes when +he sees them!" + +"I think, if I might advise, my dear madam," Malcolm said, "I should not +give him the exact history of them. He might take it into his head that +you had been gossiping, although there is no woman in the world less +given to gossiping than you are. Still, you know what husbands are. +Therefore, if I were you I would tell him that your brother Pierre had +sent them to you through me, knowing, you see, that you could not have +read a letter even if he could have written one." + +"Yes, perhaps that would be the best," Madam Vipon said; "but you had +better write to Pierre and tell him. Otherwise when he comes home, and my +husband thanks him for them, he might say he had never sent them, and +there would be a nice affair." + +"I will do so," Malcolm said; "but in any case I am sure your wit would +have come to the rescue, and you would have said that you had in fact +bought them from your savings; but that thinking your husband might +grumble at your little economies you had thought it best to say that they +came from your brother." + +"Oh, fie, monsieur; I am afraid you are teaching me to tell stories." + +"That is a very hard word, my dear madam. You know as well as I do that +without a little management on both sides husbands and wives would never +get on well together; but now I want to tell you more. Not only does my +old master write to say how glad he is to hear of his cousin's welfare, +but he has told me a great deal more about the poor lady, and knowing +your kindness of heart I do not hesitate to communicate the contents of +his letter to you. The Countess Amelie de Recambours was secretly married +to a young officer, a great friend of my late master, and her father did +not discover it until after the birth of a child--a boy. Then she was +shut up here. The father got the boy safely away to Scotland, but he has +now come back to France. I do not suppose the poor lady has ever heard of +her little son since, and it would be an act of kindness and mercy to let +her know that he is alive and well." + +"Yes, indeed, poor creature," Madame Vipon said sympathetically. "Only to +think of being separated from your husband, and never hearing of your +child for all these years!" + +"I knew your tender heart would sympathize with her," Malcolm said; "she +is indeed to be pitied." + +"And what became of her husband?" + +"I fancy he died years ago; but my master says nothing about him. He only +writes of the boy, who it seems is so delighted with the news about his +mother that he is coming here to see if it is possible to have an +interview with her." + +"But it is not possible," Madam Vipon exclaimed. "How can he see her, +shut up as she is in that convent?" + +"Yes, it is difficult," Malcolm agreed; "but nothing is impossible, my +dear madam, when a woman of heart like yourself takes a matter in hand; +and I rely, I can tell you, greatly on your counsel; as to your goodwill, +I am assured of that beforehand." + +"But it is quite, quite, quite impossible, I assure you, my good Monsieur +Anderson." + +"Well, let us see. Now I know that you would suggest that the first +measure to be taken is to open communication between mother and son, and +there I heartily agree with you." + +"That would be the first thing of course, monsieur; but how is that to be +done?" + +"Now that is where I look to you, madam. Your friend Jeanne waits upon +her, you see, and I know your quick wit will already have perceived that +Jeanne might deliver a message. I am sure that she would never be your +friend had she not a warm heart like your own, and it will need very +little persuasion on your part, when you have told her this sad story, to +induce her to bring gladness to this unfortunate lady." + +"Yes; but think of the consequences, Monsieur Anderson: think what would +happen if it were found out." + +"Yes, if there were any talk of the countess running away from the +convent I would not on any condition ask you to assist in such a matter; +but what is this--merely to give a message, a few harmless words." + +"But you said an interview, Monsieur Anderson." + +"An interview only if it is possible, my dear madam, that is quite +another matter, and you know you said that it was quite impossible. All +that we want now is just a little message, a message by word of mouth +which not even the keenest eye can discover or prevent; there can be no +harm in that." + +"No, I don't think there can be much harm in that," Madam Vipon agreed; +"at any rate I will talk to Jeanne. It will be her day for going to +market tomorrow; I will tell her the story of the poor lady, and I think +I can answer beforehand that she will do everything she can." + +The following afternoon Malcolm again saw Madam Vipon, who told him that +although she had not actually promised she had no doubt Jeanne would +deliver the message. + +"She will be out again on Saturday, monsieur, at nine in the morning, and +if you will be here with the boy, if he has arrived by that time, you +shall speak to her." + +At the time appointed Malcolm, with Ronald, attired now as a young French +gentleman, arrived at the house of Madam Vipon, who was warmly thanked by +Ronald for the interest she had taken in him. + +"My friend here has spoken to me in the highest terms of you, Madam +Vipon, and I am sure that all that he has said is no more than the +truth." + +"I am sure I will do all I can," replied Madam Vipon, who was greatly +taken by Ronald's appearance and manner; "it's a cruel thing separating a +mother from a son so many years, and after all what I am doing is no +hanging matter anyway." + +A few minutes later Jeanne entered; she was a pleasant looking woman of +five or six and twenty, and even her sombre attire as a lay sister failed +to give a formal look to her merry face. + +"So these are the gentlemen who want me to become a conspirator," she +said, "and to run the risk of all sorts of punishment and penalties for +meddling in their business?" + +"Not so much my business as the business of my mother," Ronald said. "You +who have such true heart of your own, for madam has told us something of +your story, will, I am sure, feel for that poor lady shut up for fifteen +years, and knowing not whether her child is dead or alive. If we could +but see each other for five minutes, think what joy it would be to her, +what courage her poor heart would take." + +"See each other!" Jeanne repeated surprised. "You said nothing about +that, Francoise; you only said take a message. How can they possibly see +each other? That's a different thing altogether." + +"I want you to take a message first," Ronald said. "If nothing more can +be done that will be very much; but I cannot think but that you and my +mother between you will be able to hit upon some plan by which we might +meet." + +"But how," Jeanne asked in perplexity, "how could it possibly be?" + +"For example," Ronald suggested; "could I not come in as a lay sister? I +am not much taller than you, and could pass very well as a girl." + +Jeanne burst our laughing. + +"You do not know what you are saying, monsieur; it would be altogether +impossible. People do not get taken on as lay sisters in the convent of +Our Lady unless they are known; besides, in other ways it would be +altogether impossible, and even if it were not it might be years before +you could get to speak to the countess, for there are only two or three +of us who ever enter the visitors' rooms; and lastly, if you were found +out I don't know what would be done to both of us. No, that would never +do at all." + +"Well, in the next place, I could climb on to the river terrace at night, +and perhaps she could come and speak to me there." + +"That is more possible," Jeanne said thoughtfully; "but all the doors are +locked up at night." + +"But she might get out of a window," Ronald urged; "with a rope ladder +she could get down, and then return again, and none be the wiser." + +Jeanne sat silent for a minute, and then she asked suddenly: + +"Are you telling me all, monsieur, or are you intending that the countess +shall escape with you?" + +"No, indeed, on my honour!" Ronald exclaimed. "I have nowhere where I +could take my mother. She would be pursued and brought back, and her +position would be far worse than it is now. No; I swear to you that I +only want to see her and to speak to her, and I have nothing else +whatever in my mind." + +"I believe you, monsieur," Jeanne said gravely. "Had it been otherwise I +dare not have helped, for my punishment if I was discovered to have aided +in an escape from the convent would be terrible--terrible!" she +repeated with a shudder. "As to the other, I will risk it; for a gentler +and kinder lady I have never met. And yet I am sure she must be very, +very brave to have remained firm for so many years. At any rate I will +give her your message." + +Ronald took from a small leather bag, which he wore round his neck, a +tiny gold chain with a little cross. + +"I had this round my neck when I was taken away as a child to Scotland. +No doubt she put it there, and will recognize it. Say to her only: 'He +whom you have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, longing above +all things to speak to you;' that is all my message. Afterwards, if you +will, you can tell her what we have said, and how I long to see her. How +high is her room from the ground? Because if it is high it will be better +that I should climb to her window, than that she should descend and +ascend again." + +Jeanne shook her head. + +"That could not be," she said. "The visitors have all separate cells, but +the partitions do not go up to the ceiling; and even if you entered, not +a word could be spoken without being overheard. But fortunately she is on +the first floor, and I am sure she is not one to shrink from so little a +matter as the descent of a ladder in order to have an interview with her +son." + +That same afternoon as Amelie de Recambours was proceeding from the +refectory to her cell, following several of her fellow captives, her +attendant Jeanne came out from one of the cells. Glancing behind to see +that no one was following, she put her finger on her lips and then +whispered: "Make some excuse not to go into the garden with the others +this evening. It is most important." Then she glided back into the room +from which she had come. + +The countess followed the others in a state of almost bewilderment. For +sixteen years nothing had occurred to break the monotony of her +existence. At first occasional angry messages reached her from her +father, with orders to join an application to the pope for a divorce; but +when it had been found impossible to overcome her steady refusals the +messages had at last ceased, and for years no word from the outer world +had reached her, although she had learned from those who from time to +time came to share her captivity what was passing outside. Whether her +husband was alive or dead she knew not. They had told her over and over +again that he was dead; but the fact that she had never had the option +given her of accepting another husband or taking the final vows kept hope +alive. For she was convinced that if he was really dead, efforts would be +made to compel her to marry again. + +What, then, she wondered to herself, could this communication so secretly +given mean? She regarded the lay sister who attended upon her as a happy +looking young woman whose face was in strong contrast to most of those +within the walls of the convent; but she had exchanged but few words with +her, knowing that she would be but a short time about her. For the policy +of the abbess was to change the attendants upon the ladies in their +charge frequently, in order to prevent them from being tampered with, or +persuaded into conveying communications without the walls. + +"You look pale, Amelie," one of the other ladies said as they gathered in +a group for a moment before proceeding to their respective apartments, +where they were supposed to pass the afternoon in working, reading, and +meditation. + +"It is the heat," the countess said. "I have a headache." + +"You look it," the latter said. "It is not often that you have anything +the matter with you. You know we all say that you must have a +constitution of iron and the courage of a Roland to be sixteen years here +and yet to have no wrinkle on your forehead, no marks of weeping round +your eyes." + +The countess smiled sadly. + +"I wept the first six months almost without ceasing, and then I told +myself that if I would be strong and resist I must weep no more. If a +bird in a cage once takes to pining he is sure not to live long. There +are few of us here the news of whose death would not give pleasure to +those who shut us up, and I for one resolved that I would live in spite +of all." + +"Well, you must not get ill now, Amelie. We should miss you terribly in +the one hour of the day when we really live, the hour when we walk and +talk, and laugh if we can, on the river terrace. + +"I don't think I shall be able to come this evening," the countess said. +"I shall lie down and keep myself quiet. Tomorrow I hope to be myself +again. It is a mere passing indisposition." + +The hours passed slowly as Amelie lay on her couch and wondered over the +coming interview. There were so many things which she might hear--that +her father was dead; that her family had hopes at last of obtaining her +restoration to the world. That it could be a message from her husband she +had no hope, for so long as her father lived she was sure that his +release would never be granted. As to the child, she scarce gave it a +thought. That it had somehow been removed and had escaped the search that +had been made for it she was aware; for attempts had been made to obtain +from her some clue as to where it would most likely have been taken. She +was convinced that it had never been found, for if it had she would have +heard of it. It would have been used as a lever to work upon her. + +At last the hour when she was accustomed to go into the garden arrived, +and as the convent bell struck seven she heard the doors of the other +cells open, the sound of feet in the corridor, and then all became still. +In a few minutes a step approached, and one of the sisters entered to +inquire why she was not in the garden with the others. + +She repeated that her head ached. + +"You look pale," the sister said, "and your hand is hot and feverish. I +will send you up some tisane. It is the heat, no doubt. I think that we +are going to have thunder." + +In a few minutes a step was again heard approaching, and Jeanne entered +with the medicament. As she closed the door the countess started into a +sitting position. + +"What is it, Jeanne? What is it that you have to say to me?" + +"Calm yourself, I pray you, countess," Jeanne said. "For both our sakes I +pray you to hear what I have to say calmly. I expect Sister Felicia will +be here directly. When she heard you were unwell she said she would come +up and see what you needed. And now, I will begin my message. In the +first place I was to hand you this." And she placed in Amelie's hand the +little necklet and cross. + +For a moment the countess looked at them wonderingly, and then there +flashed across her memory a sturdy child in its nurse's arms, and a tall +man looking on with a loving smile as she fastened a tiny gold chain +round the child's neck. A low cry burst from her lips as she started to +her feet. + +"Hush, lady, hush!" Jeanne exclaimed. "This is my message: 'He whom you +have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, longing above all +things to speak to you.'" + +"My child! my child!" the countess cried. "Alive and here! My God, I +thank thee that thou hast remembered a friendless mother at last. Have +you seen him, Jeanne? What is he like? Oh, tell me everything!" + +"He is a right proper young gentleman, madam. Straight and comely and +tall, with brown waving hair and a bright pleasant face. A son such as +any mother might be proud of." + +The countess suddenly threw her arms around Jeanne's neck and burst into +tears. + +"You have made me so happy, Jeanne; happy as I never thought to be again. +How can I thank you?" + +"The best way at present, madam," Jeanne said with a smile, "will be by +drinking up that tisane, and lying down quietly. Sister Felicia moves +about as noiselessly as a cat, and she may pop in at any moment. Do you +lie down again, and I will stand a little way off talking. Then if she +comes upon us suddenly she will suspect nothing." + +The countess seized the bowl of tisane and drank it off, and then threw +herself on the couch. + +"Go on, Jeanne, go on. Have pity on my impatience. Think how I am longing +to hear of him. Did the message say he was longing to see me? But that is +not possible." + +"It is not quite impossible, madam; though it would be dangerous, very +dangerous. Still it is not quite impossible." + +"How then could it be done, Jeanne? You know what our life is here. How +can I possibly see my boy?" + +"What he proposes, madam, is this: that he should some night scale the +river wall, and await you on the terrace, and that you should descend +from your window by a rope ladder, and so return after seeing him." + +"Oh, yes, that is possible!" the countess exclaimed; "I could knot my bed +clothes and slide down. It matters not about getting back again, since we +have no ladder." + +"I can manage to bring in two light ropes," Jeanne said. "It would not do +for you to be found in the garden, for it would excite suspicion, and you +would never have a chance of doing it again. But it is not an easy thing +to climb up a rope ladder with no one to help you, and you know I shall +be at the other end of the house." + +"That is nothing," the countess said. "Had I to climb ten times the +height, do you think I should hesitate for a moment when it was to see my +son? Oh, Jeanne, how good you are! And when will it be?" + +"I will bring in the ropes next time I go out. Mind and place them in +your bed. You will know that that night at eleven o'clock your son will +be on the terrace awaiting you. + +As Jeanne finished speaking she placed her finger on her lips, for she +thought she heard a slight noise without. The countess closed her eyes +and then lay down on her pillow, while Jeanne stood as if watching her. +The next instant the door opened noiselessly and Sister Felicia entered. +She moved with a noiseless step up to Jeanne. + +"Is she asleep?" she whispered. + +"Oh no!" Jeanne answered in a louder voice, guessing that the sister +would have heard the murmur of voices. "She has only just closed her +eyes." + +The countess looked up. + +"Ah! is it you, sister? I have taken the tisane Sister Angela sent up, +but my hands are burning and my head aches. The heat in chapel was so +great I thought I should have fainted." + +"Your hands are indeed burning," the sister said, convinced, as soon as +she touched them, that the countess was really indisposed. "Yes; and your +pulse is beating quicker than I can count. Yes, you have a touch of +fever. I will mix you a draught and bring it up to you at once. Hark! +that is the first peal of thunder; we are going to have a storm. It will +clear the air, and do you even more good than my medicine. I will leave +you here for tonight; if you are not better tomorrow we will move you +into the infirmary." + +The next morning Sister Felicia found her patient much better, though she +still seemed languid and weak, and was ordered to remain quietly in her +apartment for a day or so, which was just what she desired, for she was +so filled with her new born happiness that she feared that if she went +about her daily tasks as usual she should not be able to conceal from the +sharp eyes of the sisters the joyousness which was brimming over in her, +while had she laughed she would have astonished the inmates of the gloomy +convent. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Mother! + + +When Jeanne, after accomplishing her errands the next time she went out, +entered Madam Vipon's, she found Ronald and Malcolm awaiting her. + +"You have told my mother?" the former asked eagerly as she entered. + +"Yes, I have told her, and if I had been an angel from heaven, with a +special message to her, the poor lady could not have looked more happy." + +"And you have been like an angel to us!" Ronald exclaimed, taking her +hand. "How can I thank you for your goodness?" + +"For shame, sir!" Jeanne said, smiling and colouring as Ronald, in his +delight, threw his arms round her and kissed her. "Remember I am a lay +sister." + +"I could not have helped it," Ronald said, "if you had been the lady +superior. And now," he went on eagerly, "is all arranged? See, I have +brought a ladder of silk rope, light and thin, but quite strong enough to +bear her." + +"You take all for granted then, sir. You know I said I would take your +message, but that I would not engage to meddle further in it." + +"I know you said so; but I was sure that having gone so far you would do +the rest. You will, won't you, Jeanne?" + +"I suppose I must," Jeanne said; "for what with the countess on one side +and you on the other, I should get no peace if I said no. Well, then, it +is all arranged. At eleven o'clock tonight you are to be on the terrace, +and you can expect her there. If she does not come you will know that +something has occurred to prevent her, and she will come the following +night at the same hour." + +Jeanne took the silken cords and wound them round her, under her lay +sister's robe, and then, with a kindly nod at Ronald, and an injunction +to be as noiseless as a mouse in climbing up the terrace, and above all +not to raise his voice in speaking to his mother, she tripped away across +the street to the convent. + +Malcolm and Ronald sallied out from Tours before the city gates were +closed at sunset, and sat down on the slope which rises from the other +side of the river and waited till it was time to carry the plan into +operation. Gradually the lights disappeared from the various windows and +the sounds which came across the water ceased, and by ten o'clock +everything was profoundly still. They had, in the course of the +afternoon, hired a boat, saying they were going out for a night's +fishing. This they had moored a short distance below the town, on the +side of the river where they now were. They now made their way to it and +rowed quietly across the stream; then they left it and waded through the +water, which flowed knee deep at the foot of the walls. + +Although Tours was still a walled town the habit of keeping sentry in +time of peace had long since died out, and they had no fear, at that +hour, of discovery. There was no moon, but the night was bright and +clear, and they had no difficulty in finding that part of the wall which +now formed the terrace of the convent. + +They were provided with a rope knotted at every foot, and with a grapnel +attached to one end. At the second attempt this caught on the parapet of +the wall, and Ronald at once climbed it and stood on the terrace, where, +a minute later, he was joined by Malcolm. The convent itself could not be +seen, for a screen of trees at the foot of the wall shut it off from the +view of people on the opposite bank of the river. They waited quietly +until a sudden peal of the bells of the numerous churches announced that +it was the hour. Then they moved towards the steps leading down into the +garden. A minute later a figure was seen approaching. Malcolm fell back, +and Ronald advanced towards it. As the countess approached she held our +her arms, exclaiming: + +"My boy, my boy!" and with a cry of "Mother!" Ronald sprang forward into +her embrace. + +For a short time not a word was spoken, and then the countess murmured: + +"My God, I thank thee for this great happiness. And now, my son," she +said, recovering herself, "tell me everything. First, have you news of +your father?" + +"Alas, no!" Ronald said. "Nothing has been heard of him since the fatal +day when he was seized; but I am convinced that he is still alive, and +since I have found you, surely I shall be able to find him." + +"Who is that with you, Ronald?" + +"That is Malcolm Anderson; it is to him I owe everything. He carried me +off and took me away with him to Scotland the day my father was arrested. +He has been my best friend ever since, and it is he who brought me here +to you." + +The countess advanced to Malcolm. + +"My son has told me that we owe everything to you, my brave Malcolm!" she +said, holding out her hand. "I guessed that it was to you that my husband +had confided the care of the child when I learned that it had +disappeared. I remember what confidence he had in your devotion, and how +he confided everything to you." + +"He was like a brother to me, madam," Malcolm replied; "and glad indeed +am I that I have been able to befriend his son and to bring him back to +you a gentleman who will be an honour even to his father's name and +yours." + +"And now let us sit down here," the countess said, taking a seat upon a +bench. "It gets light very early, and you must not stay after two +o'clock, and there is so much for me to hear." + +For the next two hours Ronald sat holding his mother's hand, while he +told her the story of his life. "And now, mother," he said, when he had +concluded, "we have but an hour left, for it has just struck one, and we +have not said a word yet about the principal thing of all. How are we to +obtain your freedom? Cannot you arrange to escape with us? I do not, of +course, mean tonight, for we have nothing prepared, and, moreover, I +promised Jeanne that there should be no attempt at escape; but we can +come again when everything is ready. We shall, of course, need a disguise +for you, for there will be a hot pursuit when your escape is known. But +we might manage to reach the coast and cross over to England, and so make +our way north." + +"No, my son," the countess said. "I have thought it over in every way +since I knew you were here, and I am resolved to remain here. Were I to +fly, the last hope that your father might be freed would be lost. My +father would be more than ever incensed against him and me; and, +moreover, although that is but a minor consideration, there would be no +hope whatever of your ever recovering the rank and estate to which you +are entitled. No, I am resolved to wait here, at any rate so long as my +father lives. At his death doubtless there will be some change, for as +heiress to his estates my existence must be in some way recognized, and +my family may be enabled to obtain my release when his powerful +opposition is removed; if not, it will be time to take the idea of flight +into consideration; till then I remain here. Now that I have seen you, +now that I know you as you are, for I can just make out your face by the +light of the stars, I shall be as near contentment and happiness as I can +be till I meet your father again. In the meantime your good friend here +can advise you far better than I can as to what your course had better +be. If you can obtain any high influence, use it for obtaining your +father's release. If it be accompanied by a sentence of exile from France +it matters not, so that he is freed. You can then return here, and I will +gladly fly with you to join him in Scotland." + +Malcolm now rose from his seat and left mother and son half an hour +together. When two o'clock struck he returned to them. + +"There is the signal," the countess said, rising, "and now we must part." +She had already refused to accede to Ronald's entreaty that she would +meet him there again. + +"No, my son, we have been permitted to meet this once, but we must not +tempt fortune again. Sooner or later something would be sure to occur +which would lead to discovery, and bring ruin upon all our plans. It is +hard to say no, and to refuse the chance of seeing you again now that we +have come together, but I am fully resolved that I will not risk it." + +"We will see you safe up the ladder, mother," Ronald said. "It is no easy +matter to climb up a rope ladder swinging loosely." + +"No, I discovered that in descending," the countess said; "but if you +come with me you must take off your boots--the print of a man's +footstep in the garden would ruin us all; and mind, not a word must be +spoken when we have once left the terrace." + +Taking off their boots they accompanied her through the garden. There was +a last passionate embrace at the foot of the ladder, then the countess +mounted it while they held it steady. Directly she entered the window she +undid the fastening of the rope inside and let the ladder drop down to +them. Five minutes later Ronald descended the rope into the river. +Malcolm shifted the grapnel so that it caught only on the edge of the +parapet and could be shaken off from below when the strain on the rope +was removed, then he slid down to Ronald's side. A sharp jerk brought +down the grapnel, and they returned along the edge of the river as they +had come, crossed in the boat, and waited for morning. + +They waited two days longer in Tours in order that they might receive, +through Jeanne from the countess, a list of the noble families to which +she was related, with notes as to those persons of whom she had seen most +before her marriage, and who she believed would be most disposed to exert +their influence on her behalf. + +"Jeanne," Ronald said, "I am troubled that I do not know what I can do to +show you how grateful I am. I should so like to give you some souvenir, +but what can I do--you could not wear brooches, or earrings, or +trinkets." + +"That I could not, monsieur," Jeanne broke in with a smile; "and if I +could I would not accept them from you. I have done what I have done +because I pitied your mother and you, and I am content that if I have +broken the rules I have done it with a good purpose." + +"Well, Jeanne," Ronald said, "you may not be a lay sister all your life; +you have taken no vows that will bind you for ever, and I have no doubt +that the lady superior can absolve you from your engagements should you +at any time wish to go back to the world; if so, and if I am still in +France, I will come to dance at your wedding, and will promise you as +pretty a necklace and earrings as are to be found in Touraine." + +"Very well, that is a bargain," Jeanne said laughing; "and it is not +impossible, young sir, that some day I may hold you to your promise, for +only last market day I met my father, and he spoke more kindly to me than +he used to, and even said that he missed me; and I hear that the miller +has found someone who will put up with him for the sake of his money. I +shouldn't be surprised if, when that comes off, father wants me home +again; but I sha'n't go directly he asks me, you may be sure, but shall +bargain that if there be again any question of a husband it will be for +me to decide and not him." + +The next day Ronald and his companion started for Paris. They were highly +gratified with the success which had attended them, and Ronald felt his +whole life brightened now that he had found the mother who had been so +long lost to him. On arriving at Paris they found that Colonel Hume's +regiment had returned to the capital. It was not expected that there +would at present be any further fighting on the frontier, and two or +three of the Scotch regiments had been brought back. Ronald at once +called on Colonel Hume and related to him the success which had attended +the first portion of his undertaking. + +"I congratulate you indeed," Colonel Hume said. "I own that I thought +your enterprise was a hopeless one, for it seemed to me impossible that +you should be able to obtain an interview with a lady closely imprisoned +in a convent. Why, Anderson, it is plain now that your talents have been +lost, and that you ought to have been a diplomatist instead of wasting +your time as a soldier. The way you carried out your plan was indeed +admirable, and I shall really begin to think that Ronald will yet +succeed; and now, my young friend, what do you mean to do next?" + +"Would it be possible, sir, to ascertain where my father is confined?" + +"I think not, my lad," the colonel said gravely. "In addition to the four +or five prisons in Paris there are a score of others in different parts +of France. The names of the prisoners in each are known only to the +governors; to all others within the walls they exist as numbers only. The +governors themselves are sworn to secrecy, and even if we could get at +one or two of them, which would be difficult enough, we could hope for no +more. Nor would it be much satisfaction to you merely to know in which +prison your father is lying, for it is a very different matter to +communicate with a prisoner in one of the royal fortresses to passing a +message to a lady detained in a convent. I can see nothing for you but to +follow the example of your mother and to practise patience, so conducting +yourself as to gain friends and make a name and influence, so that at +your grandfather's death we may bring as strong a pressure as possible to +bear upon the king." + +"How old is my grandfather?" Ronald asked. + +"He is a man about sixty." + +"Why, he may live twenty years yet!" Ronald exclaimed bitterly. + +"Do not look at the worst side of the question," Colonel Hume replied +with a smile. "But he may live some years," he went on more gravely, "and +in the meantime you must think what you had better do. I will tell you as +a great secret, that it has been finally resolved that an expedition +shall sail this winter for Scotland, and fifteen thousand troops will +assemble at Dunkirk under Marshal Saxe. Nothing could be more opportune. +We are to form part of the expedition, with several other Scottish +regiments. You are too young as yet for me to ask for a commission for +you, but if you like I will enroll you as a gentleman volunteer; in this +way you may have an opportunity of distinguishing yourself. I will +introduce you to the Chevalier, and it may be that if he succeeds in +gaining the crown of Scotland, if not of England, he will himself ask +King Louis as a personal favour to release and restore to him Colonel +Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought bravely with him in '15. If the expedition +fails, and we get back alive to France, I will then obtain for you a +commission in the regiment, and we can carry out our plan as we arranged. +What do you say to that?" + +"I thank you greatly, sir, and accept your offer most gratefully. I see +that I am powerless to do anything for my father now, and your plan gives +at least a prospect of success. In any case nothing will give me so much +delight as to serve with the regiment he formerly commanded, and under so +kind a friend as yourself." + +"That is settled then," Colonel Hume said; "and now about outfit. A +gentleman volunteer wears the uniform of the officers of the regiment, +and indeed is one in all respects except that he draws no pay. My purse +will be at your disposal. Do not show any false modesty, my lad, about +accepting help from me. Your father would have shared his last penny with +me had I needed it." + +"I thank you heartily, colonel, for your offer, and should it be +necessary I will avail myself of it, but at present I have ample funds. +Malcolm carried off with me a bag with a hundred louis, and up to the day +when I landed in France these had never been touched. I have eighty of +them still remaining, which will provide my outfit and my maintenance for +a long time to come." + +"There is another advantage in your being a volunteer, rather than on the +list of officers, Ronald; in that if it is necessary at any time, you +can, after a word with me, lay aside your uniform and go about your +affairs as long as you choose without question, which would be hard to do +if you belonged regularly to the regiment." + +At the end of a week Ronald had procured his uniform, and was presented +by the colonel to the officers of the regiment as Ronald Leslie, the son +of an old friend of his, who was joining the regiment as a gentleman +volunteer. Malcolm joined only in the capacity of Ronald's servant. It +was painful to the lad that his old friend and protector should assume +such a relation towards him, but Malcolm laughed at his scruples. + +"My dear Ronald," he said, "I was your father's servant, and yet his +friend. Why should I not act in the same capacity to you? As to the +duties, they are so light that, now I do not belong to the regiment, my +only difficulty will be to kill time. There is nothing to do save to +polish up your arms and your equipment. Your horse will be looked after +by a trooper so long as you are with the regiment. I shall call you in +the morning, get your cup of chocolate, and prepare your dinner when you +do not dine abroad, carry your messages when you have any messages to +send, and escort you when you go about any business in which it is +possible that a second sword would be of use to you. As I have said, the +only trouble will be to know what to do with myself when you do not want +me." + +It was now the end of August, and for the next four months Ronald worked +hard at drill. He soon became a general favourite with the officers. The +fact that his name was Leslie, and that he was accompanied by Malcolm, +who was known to many of the old soldiers as being devoted to their +former colonel and as having in some strange way disappeared from the +regiment at the same time, gave ground to a general surmise that Leslie +was the colonel's son. + +Malcolm himself, when questioned, neither denied nor acknowledged the +fact, but turned it off with a joke and a laugh. He was soon as much at +home in his old regiment as if he formed a part in it, and when not +required by Ronald passed the greater part of his time with his former +comrades. As was natural, the opinion entertained by the men as to +Leslie's identity was shared by the officers. The avoidance by Ronald of +any allusion to his family, his declining when he first came among them +to say to which branch of the Leslies he belonged, and the decided manner +in which Colonel Hume, the first time the question was broached in his +hearing in Ronald's absence, said that he begged no inquiries would be +made on that score; all he could assure them was that Leslie's father was +a gentleman of good family, and a personal friend of his own--put a +stop to all further questioning, but strengthened the idea that had got +abroad that the young volunteer was the son of Colonel Leslie. + +Early in January the 2d Scottish Dragoons marched for Dunkirk, where +twenty thousand men assembled, while a large number of men of war and +transports were gathered in the port. One day, when Ronald was walking in +the street with Malcolm at his heels, the latter stepped up to him and +touched him. + +"Do you see that officer in the uniform of a colonel of the Black +Musketeers, in that group at the opposite corner; look at him well, for +he is your father's greatest enemy, and would be yours if he knew who you +are; that is the Duke de Chateaurouge." + +Ronald gazed at the man who had exercised so evil an influence upon the +fate of his parents. He was a tall dark man with a pointed moustache, and +of from forty to forty-five years of age. His features were regular and +handsome; but in his thin straight eyebrows, the curl of his lips, and a +certain supercilious drooping of the eyelids, Ronald read the evil +passions which rendered him so dangerous and implacable an enemy. + +"So that is the duke!" Ronald said when he had passed on. "I did not know +he was a soldier." + +"He is an honorary colonel of the regiment, and only does duty when it is +called on active service; but he served in it for some years as a young +man, and had the reputation of being a good soldier, though I know that +he was considered a harsh and unfeeling officer by the men who served +under him. That is the man, Ronald, and if you could get six inches of +your sword between his ribs it would go a good long way towards obtaining +your father's release; but I warn you he is said to be one of the best +swordsmen in France." + +"I care not how good a swordsmen he is," Ronald said hotly, "if I do but +get a fair chance." + +"Don't do anything rash, Ronald; I have no fear about your swordsmanship, +for I know in the last four months you have practised hard, and that +Francois says that young as you are you could give a point to any officer +in the regiment. But at present it were madness to quarrel with the duke; +you have everything to lose and nothing to gain. If he killed you there +would be an end of you and your plans; if you killed him you would have +to fly the country, for a court favourite is not to be slain with as much +impunity as a bourgeois, and equally would there be an end of all hope of +obtaining your father's release. + +"No, for the present you must be content to bide your time. Still it is +as well for you to know your foe when you see him, and in the meantime go +on frequenting the various schools of arms and learn every trick of the +sword that is to be taught. Look!" he went on, as a group of mounted +officers rode down the street; "that is Marshal Saxe, one of the best +soldiers in France, if not the best, and just as wild and reckless in +private life as he is calm and prudent as a general." + +Ronald looked with some surprise at the great general. He had expected to +see a dashing soldier. He saw a man who looked worn and bent with +disease, and as if scarce strong enough to sit on his horse; but there +was still a fire in his eye, and as he uttered a joke to an officer +riding next to him and joined merrily in the laugh, it was evident that +his spirit was untouched by the disease which had made a wreck of his +body. + +A few days later a messenger arrived with the news that the French fleet +from Brest had sailed, and had met the English fleet which had gone off +in pursuit of it, and the coast of Kent was in consequence unguarded. +Orders were instantly given that the troops should embark on board the +transports, and as fast as these were filled they set sail. The +embarkation of the cavalry naturally took longer time than that of the +infantry, and before the Scottish Dragoons had got their horses on board +a portion of the fleet was already out of sight. + +"Was there ever such luck!" Malcolm exclaimed, after assisting in getting +the horses on board, a by no means easy task, as the vessel was rolling +heavily at her mooring. "The wind is rising every moment, and blowing +straight into the harbour; unless I mistake not, there will be no sailing +tonight." + +This was soon evident to all. Signals were made from ship to ship, fresh +anchors were let down, and the topmast housed. By midnight it was blowing +a tremendous gale, which continued for three days. Several of the +transports dragged their anchors and were washed ashore, and messages +arrived from different parts of the coast telling of the wreck of many of +those which had sailed before the storm set in. + +The portion of the fleet which had sailed had indeed been utterly +dispersed by the gale. Many ships were lost, and the rest, shattered and +dismantled, arrived at intervals at the various French ports. The blow +was too heavy to be repaired. The English fleet had again returned to the +coast, and were on the lookout to intercept the expedition, and as this +was now reduced to a little more than half of its original strength no +surprise was felt when the plan was abandoned altogether. + +Marshal Saxe with a portion of the troops marched to join the army in +Flanders, and the Scotch Dragoons were ordered to return to Paris for the +present. + +For a year Ronald remained with the regiment in Paris. He had during that +time been introduced by Colonel Hume to several members of his mother's +family. By some of these who had known her before her marriage he was +kindly received; but all told him that it would be hopeless to make any +efforts for the release of his father as long as the Marquis de +Recambours remained alive and high in favour at court, and that any +movement in that direction would be likely to do harm rather than good. +Some of the others clearly intimated to him that they considered that the +countess had, by making a secret marriage and defying her father's +authority, forfeited all right to the assistance or sympathy of her +mother's family. + +Twice Ronald travelled to Tours and sent messages to his mother through +Jeanne, and received answers from the countess. She had, however, refused +to meet him again on the terrace, saying that in spite of the love she +had for him, and her desire to see him again, she was firmly resolved not +to run the risk of danger to him and the failure of all their hopes, by +any rash step. + +At the end of the summer campaign in Flanders Marshal Saxe returned to +Paris, and Colonel Hume one day took Ronald and introduced him to him, +having previously interested the marshal by relating his history to him. +The marshal asked Ronald many questions, and was much pleased with his +frank manner and bearing. + +"You shall have any protection I can give you," the marshal said. "No man +has loved adventures more than I, nor had a fairer share of them, and my +sympathies are altogether with you; besides, I remember your father well, +and many a carouse have we had together in Flanders. But I am a soldier, +you know, and though the king is glad enough to employ our swords in +fighting his enemies, we have but little influence at court. I promise +you, however, that after the first great victory I win I will ask the +release of your father as a personal favour from the king, on the ground +that he was an old comrade of mine. I can only hope, for your sake, that +the marquis, your grandfather, may have departed this world before that +takes place, for he is one of the king's prime favourites, and even the +request of a victorious general would go for little as opposed to his +influence the other way. And now, if you like, I will give you a +commission in Colonel Hume's regiment. You have served for a year as a +volunteer now, and younger men than you have received commissions." + +Ronald thanked the marshal most heartily for his kind promise, but said +that at present he would rather remain as a volunteer, because it gave +him greater freedom of action. + +"Perhaps you are right," the marshal said. "But at any rate you had +better abstain from attempting any steps such as Colonel Hume tells me +you once thought of for obtaining the release of your father. Success +will be all but impossible, and a failure would destroy altogether any +hopes you may have of obtaining his release from the king." + +It seemed that some of his mother's family with whom he had communicated +must have desired to gain the favour of the favourite of the king by +relating the circumstances to him, for a short time after Ronald's +interview with the marshal the marquis came up to Colonel Hume when he +was on duty in the king's antechamber, and, in the presence of a number +of courtiers, said to him: + +"So, Colonel Hume, I find that I have to thank you for harbouring in your +regiment an imposter, who claims to be my grandson. I shall know, sir, +how to repay the obligation." + +"The gentleman in question is no imposter, marquis, as I have taken the +pains to inform myself. And I am not aware of any reason why I should not +admit the son of a Scottish gentleman into my regiment, even though he +happen to be a grandson of yours. As to your threat, sir, as long as I do +my duty to his majesty I fear the displeasure of no man." + +Two nights later, as Ronald was returning from dining with Colonel Hume +and some of his officers, he was suddenly attacked in a narrow street by +six men. Malcolm was with him, for Colonel Hume had at once related to +him the conversation he had had with the marquis, and had warned him to +take the greatest precautions. + +"He is perfectly capable of having you suddenly put out of his way by a +stab in the back, Ronald. And if there were anywhere for you to go I +should advise you to leave Paris at once; but nowhere in France would you +be safe from him, and it would upset all your plans to return to Scotland +at present. However, you cannot be too careful." + +Ronald had related what had passed to Malcolm, who determined to watch +more carefully than ever over his safety, and never left his side when he +was outside the barracks. + +The instant the six men rushed out from a lane, at whose entrance a +lantern was dimly burning, Malcolm's sword was out, and before the +assailants had time to strike a blow he had run the foremost through the +body. + +Ronald instantly recovered from his surprise and also drew. He was now +nearly eighteen, and although he had not yet gained his full height he +was a match for most men in strength, while his constant exercise in the +school of arms had strengthened the muscle of his sword arm, until in +strength as well as in skill he could hold his own against the best +swordsman in the regiment. The men were for a moment checked by the fall +of their leader; but then seeing that they had opposed to them only one +man, and another whom they regarded as a lad, scarcely to be taken into +consideration, they rushed upon them. They were quickly undeceived. +Ronald parried the first blow aimed at him, and with his riposte +stretched his opponent on the pavement, and then springing forward, after +a few rapid thrusts and parries ran the next through the shoulder almost +at the same moment that Malcolm stretched another opponent on the ground. + +Terrified at the downfall of three of their number, while a fourth leaned +against a door post disabled, the two remaining ruffians took to their +heels and fled at the top of their speed, the whole affair having lasted +scarce a minute. + +"Tell your employer," Ronald said to the wounded man, "that I am not to +be disposed of so easily as he imagined. I should be only giving you what +you deserve if I were to pass my sword through your body; but I disdain +to kill such pitiful assassins except in self defence." + +The next morning Ronald communicated to Colonel Hume what had happened. + +"It's just as well, my young friend, that you are going to leave Paris. I +received orders half an hour ago for the regiment to march to the +frontier at once. That is the marquis's doing, no doubt. He thought to +get rid of you last night and to punish me this morning; but he has +failed both ways. You have defeated his cutthroats; I shall be heartily +glad to be at the front again, for I am sick of this idle life in Paris." + + + +CHAPTER VIII: Hidden Foes. + + +"I am heartily glad to be out of Paris," Ronald said to Malcolm on their +first halt after leaving the capital. "It is not pleasant to regard every +man one meets after dark as a possible enemy, and although I escaped scot +free from the gang who attacked us the other night, one cannot always +expect such good fortune as that. It was a constant weight on one's mind, +and I feel like a new man now that we are beyond the city walls." + +"Nevertheless, Ronald, we must not omit any precautions. Your enemy has a +long purse, and can reach right across France. That last affair is proof +of his bitterness against you, and it would be rash indeed were we to act +as if, having made one attempt and failed, he would abandon his plans +altogether. He is clearly a man who nourishes a grudge for years, and his +first failure is only likely to add to his vindictive feeling. I do not +say that your danger is as great as it was in Paris, but that is simply +because the opportunities of attacking you are fewer. I should advise you +to be as careful as before, and to be on your guard against ambushes and +surprises." + +"Well, it may be so, Malcolm, and of course I will be careful; but till I +have proof to the contrary I shall prefer to think that the marquis will +trust to my being knocked on the head during the war, and will make no +further move against me until the regiment returns to Paris." + +"Think what you like, lad," Malcolm said, "so that you are cautious and +guarded. I shall sleep with one eye open, I can tell you, till we are +fairly beyond the frontier." + +Two days later the regiment encamped outside the town of St. Quentin. +They were usually quartered on the inhabitants; but the town was already +filled with troops, and as the weather was fine Colonel Hume ordered his +men to bivouac a short distance outside the walls. Ronald was seeing that +his troop got their breakfast next morning, when a sergeant came up with +two men with a horse. + +"This is Monsieur Leslie," he said to them. "These men were asking for +you, sir." + +"What do you want with me?" Ronald said surprised. + +"We heard, sir," one of the peasants said, "that you wanted to buy a +horse. We have a fine animal here, and cheap." + +"But I do not want to buy one," Ronald replied. "I am very well supplied +with horses. What made you think I wanted one?" + +"We asked one of the officers, sir, if anyone in the regiment would be +likely to buy, and he said that Monsieur Leslie wanted one, he believed." + +"No," Ronald said decidedly. "Whoever told you was mistaken. I have my +full complement, and though your horse looks a nice animal I could not +take him if you offered him to me for nothing. I don't think you will get +anyone to buy him in the regiment. I believe that every officer has his +full complement of chargers." + +In the evening Ronald happened to mention to Malcolm the offer he had had +in the morning. + +"It was a nice looking beast," he said, "and I had half a mind to ask +them what they would take to exchange him with my roan, but I did not +want to dip further into my purse." + +"I wish I had been beside you at the time," Malcolm said earnestly; +"those two fellows wouldn't have gone out of the camp so easily." + +"Why, what do you mean, Malcolm?" + +"Mean!" Malcolm repeated in a vexed tone. "This is what comes of your +being watchful and cautious, Ronald. Why, the matter is clear enough. The +marquis has set men on your track, but of course they could do nothing +until some of them knew you by sight, so two of them are sent into camp +with this cock and bull story about a horse, and they come and have a +good look at you and go quietly off. It is too provoking. Had I been +there I would have given them in charge of a file of men at once. Then we +would have asked every officer in the regiment if he had sent them to +you, and when we found, as we certainly should have found, that none of +them had done so, we should have marched the men off to Colonel Hume, and +I am sure, when he heard the circumstances of the case, they would have +been lashed up and flogged till he had got the truth of the matter out of +them. My great hope has been that they could not very well attempt your +life, because none of the men who might be engaged on the job would be +likely to know your face, and they would therefore have no means of +singling you out for attack; and now two of the ruffians will be able to +follow you and watch their opportunity." + +"Oh, nonsense, Malcolm, you are too suspicious altogether! I have no +doubt the affair was just as they stated it to be. What was more +natural?" + +"Well, Ronald, you will meet all the other officers at supper in half an +hour. Just ask if any of them sent two men wanting to sell a horse to you +this morning; if any of them say that they did so, I will acknowledge I +am wrong. + +Accordingly Ronald, at supper, put the question, but none of the officers +admitted they knew anything about the matter. + +"You have two very good horses, Leslie; why should anyone suppose that +you wanted another?" the colonel asked. + +"I don't know," Ronald said. "I only know that two men did come up with a +horse to me this morning, and said that one of the officers had told them +that I wanted to buy one." + +"It must have been one of the men," the colonel said carelessly, "though +I don't know why anyone should suppose that you wanted another charger. +Still, someone, knowing that you are the last joined officer, might think +you had need for a second horse." + +The subject dropped, and Malcolm shook his head ominously when Ronald +acknowledged to him that his suspicions were so far right that none of +the officers had sent the men to him. The next day, as the regiment was +passing through a thick wood, and Ronald was riding with Captain Campbell +behind his troop, which happened to be in the rear in the regiment, two +shots were fired from among the trees. The first struck Ronald's horse in +the neck, causing him to swerve sharply round, a movement which saved his +rider's life, for the second shot, which was fired almost instantly after +the first, grazed his body and passed between him and Captain Campbell. + +"Are you hit, Leslie?" the latter exclaimed, for the sudden movement of +his horse had almost unseated Ronald. + +"Nothing serious, I think. The bullet has cut my coat and grazed my skin, +I think, but nothing more." + +The captain shouted orders to his men, and with a score of troopers +dashed into the wood. The trees grew thickly and there was a dense +undergrowth, and they had difficulty in making their way through them. +For half an hour they continued their search without success, and then +rejoined the regiment on its march. + +"This is a curious affair," Colonel Hume said when Captain Campbell +reported, at the next halt, that an attempt at assassination had taken +place. + +"It looks like a premeditated attempt upon one or other of you. You +haven't been getting into any scrape, have you?" he asked with a smile; +"kissing some peasant's wife or offering to run away with his daughter? +But seriously this is a strange affair. Why should two men lie in wait +for the regiment and fire at two of its officers? The men have been +behaving well, as far as I have heard, on the line of march, and nothing +has occurred which could explain such an outrage as this." + +"It may be fancy on my part, colonel," Ronald said, "but I cannot help +thinking that it is a sequence of that affair I told you about in Paris, +just before we started. The first shot struck my horse and the second +would certainly have killed me had it not been for the horse's sudden +swerve, therefore it looks as if the shots were aimed at me. I have some +reason, too, for supposing that I have been followed. If you remember my +question last night at supper about the men who wanted to sell me a +horse. Malcolm Anderson is convinced that the whole thing was only a ruse +to enable them to become acquainted with my face. They wanted to be able +to recognize me, and so got up this story in order to have me pointed out +to them, and to have a talk with me. None of the officers did send them +to me, as they said, and they could hardly have hit upon a better excuse +for speaking to me." + +"It certainly looks like it," Colonel Hume said gravely. "I would give a +good deal if we had caught those two men in the wood. If we had I would +have given them the choice of being hung at once or telling me what was +their motive in firing at you and who paid them to do it. This is +monstrous. If we could get but a shadow of proof against your enemies I +would lay a formal complaint before the king. Marquis or no marquis, I am +not going to have my officers assassinated with impunity. However, till +we have something definite to go upon, we can do nothing, and until then, +Leslie, you had best keep your suspicion to yourself. It were best to say +nothing of what you think; in this country it is dangerous even to +whisper against a king's favourite. Let it be supposed that this attack +in the woods was only the work of some malicious scoundrels who must have +fired out of pure hatred of the king's troops." + +Captain Campbell and Ronald quite agreed with the view taken by the +colonel, and answered all questions as to the affair, that they had not +the least idea who were the men who fired on them, and that no one +obtained as much as a glimpse of them. + +With most of the officers of the regiment, indeed with all except one, +Ronald was on excellent terms. The exception was a lieutenant named +Crawford; he was first on the list of his company, and had, indeed, been +twice passed over in consequence of his quarrelsome and domineering +disposition. He was a man of seven or eight and twenty; he stood about +the same height as Ronald and was of much the same figure, indeed the +general resemblance between them had often been remarked. + +His dislike to Ronald had arisen from the fact that previous to the +latter joining the regiment Crawford had been considered the best +swordsman among the officers, and Ronald's superiority, which had been +proved over and over again in the fencing room, had annoyed him greatly. +Knowing that he would have no chance whatever with Ronald in a duel, he +had carefully abstained from open war, showing his dislike only by +sneering remarks and sarcastic comments which frequently tried Ronald's +patience to the utmost, and more than once called down a sharp rebuke +from Colonel Hume or one or other of the majors. He did not lose the +opportunity afforded by the shots fired in the wood, and was continually +suggesting all sorts of motives which might have inspired the would be +assassins. + +Ronald, who was the reverse of quarrelsome by disposition, laughed good +temperedly at the various suggestions; but one or two of the senior +officers remonstrated sharply with Crawford as to the extent to which he +carried his gibes. + +"You are presuming too much on Leslie's good nature, Crawford," Captain +Campbell said one day. "If he were not one of the best tempered young +fellows going he would resent your constant attacks upon him; and you +know well that, good swordsman as you are, you would have no chances +whatever if he did so." + +"I am quite capable of managing my own affairs," Crawford said sullenly, +"and I do not want any advice from you or any other man." + +"I am speaking to you as the captain of Leslie's troop," Captain Campbell +said sharply, "and I do not mean to quarrel with you. You have had more +quarrels than enough in the regiment already, and you know Colonel Hume +said on the last occasion that your next quarrel should be your last in +the regiment. I tell you frankly, that if you continue your course of +annoyance to young Leslie I shall report the matter to the colonel. I +have noticed that you have the good sense to abstain from your remarks +when he is present." + +Three days later the regiment joined the army before Namur. + +That evening, having drunk more deeply than usual, Lieutenant Crawford, +after the colonel had retired from the circle round the fire and to his +tent, recommenced his provocation to Ronald, and pushed matters so far +that the latter felt that he could no longer treat it as a jest. + +"Mr. Crawford," he said, "I warn you that you are pushing your remarks +too far. On many previous occasions you have chosen to make observations +which I could, if I had chosen, have resented as insulting. I did not +choose, for I hate brawling, and consider that for me, who have but +lately joined the regiment, to be engaged in a quarrel with an officer +senior to myself would be in the highest degree unbecoming; but I am sure +that my fellow officers will bear me out in saying that I have shown +fully as much patience as is becoming. I, therefore, have to tell you +that I will no longer be your butt, and that I shall treat any further +remark of the nature of those you have just made as a deliberate insult, +and shall take measures accordingly." + +A murmur of approval rose among the officers sitting round, and those +sitting near Crawford endeavoured to quiet him. The wine which he had +taken had, however, excited his quarrelsome instinct too far for either +counsel or prudence to prevail. + +"I shall say what I choose," he said, rising to his feet. "I am not going +to be dictated to by anyone, much less a boy who has just joined the +regiment, and who calls himself Leslie, though no one knows whether he +has any right to the name." + +"Very well, sir," Leslie said in a quiet tone, which was, however, heard +distinctly throughout the circle, for at this last outburst on the part +of Crawford a dead silence had fallen on the circle, for only one +termination could follow such an insult. "Captain Campbell will, I hope, +act for me?" + +"Certainly," Captain Campbell said in a loud voice; "and will call upon +any friend Lieutenant Crawford may name and make arrangements to settle +this matter in the morning." + +"Macleod, will you act for me?" Crawford said to a lieutenant sitting +next to him. + +"I will act," the young officer said coldly, "as your second in the +matter; but all here will understand that I do solely because it is +necessary that some one should do so, and that I disapprove absolutely +and wholly of your conduct." + +"Well, make what arrangements you like," Crawford said with an oath, and +rising he left the circle and walked away. + +When he had left there was an immediate discussion. Several of the +officers were of opinion that the duel should not be allowed to proceed, +but that Crawford's conduct should be reported to the colonel. + +"I am entirely in your hands, gentlemen," Ronald said. "I have no desire +whatever to fight. This affair has been forced upon me, and I have no +alternative but to take it up. I am not boasting when I say that I am a +far better swordsman than he, and I have no need to shrink from meeting +him; but I have certainly no desire whatever to take his life. He has +drunk more than he ought to do, and if this matter can be arranged, and +he can be persuaded in the morning to express his regret for what he has +said, I shall be very glad to accept his apology. If it can be settled in +this way without either fighting or reporting his conduct to the colonel, +which would probably result in his having to leave the regiment, I should +be truly glad--What is that?" he broke off, as a loud cry rang through +the air. + +The whole party sprang to their feet, and snatching up their swords ran +in the direction from which the cry had come. The tents were at some +little distance, and just as they reached them they saw a man lying on +the ground. + +"Good heavens, it is Crawford!" Captain Campbell said, stooping over him. +"See, he has been stabbed in the back. It is all over with him. Who can +have done it?" + +He questioned several of the soldiers, who had now gathered round, +attracted like the officers by the cry. None of them had seen the act or +had noticed anyone running away; but in so large a camp there were so +many people about that an assassin could well have walked quietly away +without attracting any attention. + +The colonel was speedily on the spot, and instituted a rigid inquiry, but +entirely without success. The attack had evidently been sudden and +entirely unsuspected, for Crawford had not drawn his sword. + +"It is singular," he said, as with the officers he walked slowly back to +the fire. "Crawford was not a popular man, but I cannot guess at any +reason for this murder. Strange that this should be the second attack +made on my officers since we left Paris." + +Captain Campbell now related what had taken place after he had left the +circle. + +"The matter should have been reported to me at once," he said; "although, +as it has turned out, it would have made no difference. Perhaps, after +all, it is best as it is, for a duel between two officers of the regiment +would have done us no good, and the man was no credit to the regiment. +But it is a very serious matter that we should be dogged by assassins. +Leslie, come up with me to my tent. I am not going to blame you, lad," he +said when they were together, "for you could not have acted otherwise +than you have done. Indeed, I have myself noticed several times that +Crawford's bearing towards you was the reverse of courteous. Have you any +idea as to how he came by his death?" + +"I, sir!" Ronald said in surprise. "No, I know no more than the others." + +"It strikes me, Leslie, that this is only the sequel of that attack in +the wood, and that your enemies have unwittingly done you a service. +Crawford was very much your height and build, and might easily have been +mistaken for you in the dark. I fancy that blow was meant for you." + +"It is possible, sir," Ronald said after a pause. "I had not thought of +it; but the likeness between him and myself has been frequently noticed. +It is quite possible that that blow was meant for me." + +"I have very little doubt of it, my lad. If any of these men were hanging +about and saw you as they believed coming away from the circle alone, +they may well have taken the opportunity. Let it be a lesson to you to be +careful henceforth. It is unlikely that the attempt will be repeated at +present. The men who did it will think that they have earned their money, +and by this time are probably on the way to Paris to carry the news and +claim their reward. So that, for a time at least, it is not probable that +there will be any repetition of the attempt. After that you will have to +be on your guard night and day. + +"I wish to heaven we could obtain some clue that would enable me to take +steps in the matter; but at present we have nothing but our suspicions, +and I cannot go to the king and say three attempts have been made on the +life of one of my officers, and that I suspect his grandfather, the +Marquis de Recambours, has been the author of them." + +When Malcolm heard the events of the evening his opinion was exactly the +same as that of the colonel, and he expressed himself as convinced that +Crawford had fallen by a blow intended for Ronald. He agreed that for a +while there was no fear of a renewal of the attempt. + +"The fellows will take the news straight to Paris that you have been put +out of the way, and some time will elapse before the employers know that +a mistake has been made. Then, as likely as not, they will decide to wait +until the campaign is over." + +The camp before Namur was a large and brilliant one. The king and dauphin +had already arrived with the army. All the household troops were there, +and a large contingent of the nobles of the court. The English army was +known to be approaching, and was expected to fight a battle to relieve +Namur, which the French were besieging vigorously. The French confidently +hoped that in the approaching battle they would wipe our the reverse +which had befallen them at Dettingen. + + + +CHAPTER IX: Fontenoy. + + +A fortnight after the Scottish Dragoons joined the army the king was +present at an inspection of their regiment. As the brilliant cortege +passed along the line Ronald saw among the gaily dressed throng of +officers riding behind the king and Marshal Saxe the Marquis de +Recambours and the Duke de Chateaurouge side by side. Ronald with two +other gentlemen volunteers were in their places in the rear of the +regiment. It was drawn up in double line, and as the royal party rode +along for the second time, Ronald saw that the two noblemen were looking +scrutinizingly through the line of troopers at himself and his two +companions. + +That evening Colonel Hume on his return from a visit to Marshal Saxe told +Ronald that the general had inquired after him, and had sent him word +that if he won the battle he would not forget the promise he had made +him. He had requested Colonel Hume to place Ronald at his disposal on the +day of the battle. + +"'I shall want active officers to carry my messages,' he said, 'and your +young friend may have a greater opportunity of distinguishing himself +than he would with the regiment. I should in that case find it all the +easier to bring his business before the king.' + +"The marshal is terribly ill," Colonel Hume said as he reported the +conversation to Ronald, "so ill that he can only occasionally sit on his +horse. Nothing but his indomitable courage sustains him. He is drawn +about in a light carriage made of basketwork, and this serves him also +for his bed." + +On the 7th of May the enemy were known to be close at hand, and the +French selected the position on which they would fight. The village of +Fontenoy had already been occupied by a strong body of troops under +Marshal Noailles, and the rest of the army now moved forward to the posts +allotted to them. The English army were close at hand, and it was certain +that the battle would be fought on the morrow. In the evening the king +held a grand reception at which all the officers of rank were present. +When Colonel Hume returned to his camp his officers were still sitting +round the fire. + +"Have you any news for us, sir?" + +"No; I believe everything stands as was arranged. The king is in the +highest spirits, though I must say his majesty did not choose +reminiscences of a nature to encourage those who heard him. He remarked, +for instance, that since the days of St. Louis the French had never +gained a decisive success over the English, and a few minutes later he +observed that the last time a king of France with his son had fought at +the head of the French army was at the battle of Poictiers." + +There was a general laugh. + +"Certainly the king was not happy with his reminiscences," Major Munro +remarked; "but I think this time the tables are going to be turned. In +the first place we considerably outnumbered the enemy, even after leaving +15,000 men to continue the siege. In the second place, the position we +have chosen is almost impregnable. The Scheldt covers our right, with the +fortified bridge securing our communication, and the village of Antoin +resting on the river. Along our front from Antoin to Fontenoy is a narrow +and difficult valley. Our left is covered by the wood of Barre, where a +strong redoubt has been constructed; and the whole of the position is +fortified with breastworks and abattis as far as Fontenoy. Between that +village and Barre the natural difficulties are so great that field works +are unnecessary. I cannot believe myself that they will attack us in such +a position, especially as nearly half their army are Dutch, who will +count for little. The English are the only troops which we shall find +formidable." + +Before daybreak the camp was astir, and the troops took the positions +assigned to them. Even now it was hardly believed that an attack would be +made by the enemy so long as the French remained in their all but +impregnable position; but presently the columns of the enemy were seen +advancing. Ronald had ridden up to the litter on which Marshal Saxe was +placed, and after saluting, had taken up his position with a number of +other officers, in readiness to carry orders to different parts of the +field. + +At a short distance from the marshal the King of France with the dauphin +and the brilliant cortege of nobles had taken up his post. From the +position in which the marshal had caused himself to be placed a complete +view of the enemy's approaching ranks was obtained. It could soon be seen +that the Dutch troops, who on the English right were advancing to the +attack, were moving against the villages of Antoin and Fontenoy. A strong +force, headed, as was known afterwards, by General Ingoldsby, moved +towards the wood of Barre; while a solid column of English and +Hanoverians, 10,000 strong, marched forward to the attack across the +broken ground between Fontenoy and the wood of Barre. + +It was as yet but five o'clock in the morning when the cannon broke out +into a roar on both sides. The Dutch, who were commanded by the Prince of +Waldeck, soon hesitated, and in a short time fell back out of range of +fire. On the English right General Ingoldsby penetrated some distance +into the wood of Barre, and then fell back again as the Dutch had done. +In an hour after the fighting had commenced the right and left of the +allied army had ceased their attack. There remained only the centre, but +this was advancing. + +Under the command of the Duke of Cumberland the column crossed the ravine +in front of Fontenoy. The ground was so broken that the troops were +unable to deploy, but moved forward in a solid mass with a front of only +forty men. + +The French batteries from the right and left mowed them down in lines, +but as steadily as if on parade the places were filled up, and unshaken +and calm the great column moved forward. The cannon which they dragged +along by hand opened against Fontenoy and the redoubts, and as, in spite +of the hail of fire, they pressed steadily on, the French gunners were +obliged to abandon their cannon and fly. + +The regiment of French guards, officered almost entirely by the highest +nobles, met the English guards, who composed the front lines of the +column. A tremendous volley flashed along the English line, shattering +the ranks of the French guard. There was a moment's fierce fighting, and +then the English column swept from before it the remains of the French +guard, and cleared the ravine which defended Fontenoy. + +Ronald felt his heart beat with excitement and a feeling of pride and +admiration as he saw the English advancing unmoved through the storm of +fire. They advanced in the most perfect order. The sergeants calmly +raised or depressed the soldiers' muskets to direct the fire; each vacant +place was filled quietly and regularly without hesitation or hurry; and +exclamations of surprise and admiration broke even from the French +officers. + +Regiment after regiment was brought up and hurled against the head of the +column, but with no more effect than waves against a rock, each being +dashed aside shattered and broken by the steady volleys and regular lines +of bayonets. Ronald and other officers were sent off to bring up the +cavalry, but in vain did these strive to break the serried column. One +regiment after another charged down upon it, but the English, retaining +their fire until they were within a few yards of their muzzles, received +them with such tremendous volleys that they recoiled in disorder. + +The French regiment of Vaisseaux next advanced to the attack, and fought +with greater gallantry than any which had preceded it; but at last, when +almost annihilated, its survivors fell back. And now it seemed as if this +10,000 men were to be victorious over the whole French army. Marshal Saxe +begged the king to retire with the dauphin across the bridge of Calonne +while he did what he could to retrieve the battle, but the king refused +to leave the field. There was a hurried council held round Louis, and it +was agreed to make a great effort by calling up the whole of the troops +between Fontenoy and Antoin, as the positions they held were no longer +threatened by the Dutch. + +Had the latter now advanced nothing could have saved the French army from +utter defeat; but they remained immovable at a distance from the field of +battle. The English now won the crown of the position, had cut through +the French centre, and were moving forward towards the bridge of Calonne, +when the whole of the French artillery, which had, by the advice of the +Duke of Richelieu, been brought up, opened fire on the English column. At +the same moment the French regiments from Antoin fell upon it; while +Marshal Saxe, who had, when the danger became imminent, mounted his +horse, himself brought up the Irish Brigade, who, with a wild yell of +hatred, flung itself furiously upon the flank of the English. + +Attacked thus on all sides, mown down by a heavy fire of artillery, +unsupported amid an army of foes, the column could do no more. Ten +thousand men could not withstand fifty thousand. Their ranks were twice +broken by the Irish, but twice their officers rallied them; until at +last, when it became evident that no more could be done, the column fell +slowly back in an order as perfect and regular as that in which it had +advanced. + +French historians have done ample justice to the extraordinary valour +shown by the English troops on this occasion, a valour never surpassed in +the long annals of the British army. Had they received the slightest +assistance from their cowardly allies the victory must have been theirs. +As it was, although unsuccessful, the glory and honour of the day rested +with them, rather than with the victorious army of France. More than half +the column had fallen in the desperate engagement, but the loss of the +victors was even greater, and comprised many belonging to the noblest +families of France. + +Ronald had won the warm approval of Marshal Saxe for the manner in which +he carried his orders across ground swept by a heavy fire, and brought up +the regiments to within close quarters of the English; and after the +battle was over Marshal Saxe presented to the king several of his staff +who had most distinguished themselves, and calling up Ronald, who was +standing near, for his horse had been shot under him as he rode by the +side of the marshal with the Irish Brigade to the attack, the marshal +said: + +"Allow me to present to your majesty Ronald Leslie, a young Scottish +gentleman of good family, who is a volunteer in the Scottish Dragoons, +and has rendered great service today by the manner in which he has borne +my orders through the thickest of the fire." + +"I will bear you in mind, young gentleman," the king said graciously, +"and I charge the marshal to bring your name before me on a future day." + +His duty as aide de camp over, Ronald rejoined his regiment. They had +lost nearly a third of their number in their charges upon the English +column. Major Munro had been killed, the colonel severely wounded, and a +number of officers had fallen. Ronald went about among the men assisting +to bind up wounds, and supplying those who needed it with wine and other +refreshments. Presently he was joined by Malcolm. + +"Thank God you are safe, Ronald. I tell you, you have given me many a +fright today as I watched you galloping along through the line of the +English fire." + +"Where were you, Malcolm? I did not see you." + +"I had nothing to do," Malcolm said, "and I climbed a tree not fifty +yards from the marshal's litter, and keeping the trunk in front of me to +protect me from a stray bullet I had a good view of the whole +proceedings. At one time I was on the point of slipping down and making a +bolt for it, for I thought it was all over with us. How that column did +fight! I have been in many a battle, but I never saw anything like it, it +was grand; and if it hadn't been for the Irish Brigade, I think that they +would have beaten the whole French army. But if you go into a battle +again I sha'n't come to see you. I have done my share of fighting, and +can take hard knocks as well as another; but I would not go through the +anxiety I have suffered today about you on any condition. However, this +has been a great day for you." + +"You mean about the marshal presenting me to the king? Yes, that ought to +help us." + +"No, I didn't mean that, for I had not heard of it. I mean about that old +rascal your grandfather, the Marquis de Recambours." + +"What about him? I have not heard." + +"No!" Malcolm exclaimed; "then I have good news for you. A ball from one +of the English field pieces struck him full in the chest, and of course +slew him instantly. He was not thirty yards from the tree when I saw him +knocked over. He is quite dead, I can assure you, for when the others +moved off I took the trouble to clamber down to assure myself. So now the +greatest obstacle to the release of your father and mother is out of the +way." + +"Thank God for that!" Ronald said. "I have no reason for feeling one +spark of regret at what has befallen him. He was the cruel persecutor of +my parents, and did his best to get me removed. There is but one obstacle +now to obtaining my father's release, and as he is neither a relation nor +an old man I shall be able to deal with him myself." + +"Yes, but you must be careful, Ronald; remember the decree against +duelling. We must not make a false step now, when fortune is at last +favouring us. There will be no more fighting, I fancy. The English will +certainly not attack us again, and Tournay must fall, and I don't think +that on our part there will be any desire whatever to go out of our way +to seek another engagement with them. The king is sure to go back to +Paris at once, where he will be received with enthusiasm. Marshal Saxe +will probably follow as soon as Tournay has fallen. I should advise you, +therefore, to get leave from the colonel to be absent from the regiment +for a time, and we will make our way down to Tours and let your mother +know the marquis is dead, and get her to write a memorial to the king +requesting permission to leave the convent, and then when the marshall +arrives in Paris we will get him to present it." + +Ronald agreed to Malcolm's proposal, and the next morning, having +obtained leave of absence from the colonel, he and Malcolm mounted and +rode for Tours. + +The message was duly conveyed to the countess by Jeanne, together with +Ronald's earnest request that his mother would again meet him. She sent +back by Jeanne the memorial he had asked her to write to the king, +begging that she might be allowed to leave the convent; but she refused +to agree to his wishes to meet her, bidding Jeanne say that now it seemed +there was really a hope of her release shortly, she would less than ever +risk any step which if discovered might prejudice their plans. + +Although disappointed, Ronald could not deny that her decision was a wise +one, and therefore contented himself by sending word that he had obtained +one very powerful friend, and that he hoped that she would ere long +receive good tidings. After a short stay at Tours, Ronald and Malcolm +returned to Paris, where a series of brilliant fetes in honour of the +victory of Fontenoy were in preparation. Tournay had surrendered a few +days after the battle, the governor of that town having accepted a heavy +bribe to open the gates, for the place could have resisted for months, +and the allied army were ready to recommence hostilities in order to +relieve it. + +After its surrender they fell back and resumed a defensive attitude. The +king therefore returned at once to Paris, and Marshal Saxe, handing over +the command of the army to Marshal de Noailles, followed him by easy +stages. Delighted above all things at a success gained over the English, +who had for centuries been victorious in every battle in which England +and France had met as enemies, the citizens of Paris organized a +succession of brilliant fetes, which were responded to by entertainments +of all kinds at Versailles. The Scottish Dragoons were still at the +front; but Colonel Hume had been brought to Paris, as it would be some +time ere he would be able again to take the command of the regiment. +Ronald called at the house where the colonel lodged, upon the day after +his return from Tours, and found that he had arrived upon the previous +day. Ronald was at once shown up on sending in his name. The colonel was +lying on the couch when he entered. + +"How are you, colonel?" + +"I am going on as well as possible, Ronald; they found the ball and got +it out the day before I left the regiment, and I shall do well now. I +have been carried on a litter all the way by eight of our troopers, and +the good fellows were as gentle with me as if I had been a child, and I +scarce felt a jar the whole distance. What I have got to do now is to lie +quiet, and the doctor promises me that in six weeks' time I shall be fit +to mount a horse again. Marshal Saxe sent yesterday evening to inquire +after me, and I will send you to him to thank him for so sending, and to +inquire on my part how he himself is going on. My message will be a good +excuse for your presenting yourself." + +Ronald found the antechamber of the marshal crowded with nobles and +officers who had come to pay their respects to the victorious general, +who was, next to the king himself, at that moment the most popular man in +France. Hitherto, as a Protestant and a foreigner, Maurice of Saxony had +been regarded by many with jealousy and dislike; but the victory which he +had won for the French arms had for the first time obliterated every +feeling save admiration and gratitude. + +Presently the marshal came out from the inner room with the dauphin, who +had called on the part of the king to inquire after his health. He was +now able to walk, the excitement of the battle and the satisfaction of +the victory having enabled him partially to shake off the disease which +afflicted him. After the dauphin had left, the marshal made the tour of +the apartment, exchanging a few words with all present. + +"Ah! you are there, my young Leslie," he said familiarly when he came to +Ronald. "Where have you been? I have not seen you since the day when you +galloped about with my messages through the English fire as if you had a +charmed life." + +"Colonel Hume gave me leave, sir, to travel on private business. I am now +the bearer of a message from him, thanking you for the kind inquiries as +to his wound; he bids me say that he trusts that your own health is +rapidly recovering." + +"As you see, Leslie, Fontenoy has done wonders for me as well as for +France; but wait here, I will speak with you again." + +In half an hour most of the callers took their departure, then the +marshal called Ronald into an inner room. + +"Tomorrow," he said, "I am going to pay my respects to the king at +Versailles. I will take you with me. Have you your mother's memorial? +That is right. As her father was killed at Fontenoy there will, I hope, +be the less difficulty over the matter; but we must not be too sanguine, +for there will be a host of hungry competitors for the estates of the +marquis, and all these will unite against you. However, I do not think +the king will be able to refuse my first request, and when your mother is +out we must put our heads together and see about getting your father's +release." + +Ronald expressed his deep gratitude at the marshal's kindness. + +"Say nothing about it, my lad. Fortunately I want nothing for myself, and +it is no use being a victorious general if one cannot utilize it in some +way; so I am quite glad to have something to ask the king." + +The next day Ronald presented himself at the hotel of Marshal Saxe and +rode by the side of his carriage out to Versailles. The king, surrounded +by a brilliant train of courtiers, received the marshal with the greatest +warmth, and after talking to him for some time retired with him into his +private closet. A few minutes later one of the royal pages came out into +the audience chamber and said in a loud voice that the king desired the +presence of Monsieur Ronald Leslie. + +Greatly embarrassed at finding himself the centre of observation not +unmingled with envy at the summons, Ronald followed the page into the +presence of the king, who was alone with Marshal Saxe. Louis, who was in +high good humour, gave Ronald his hand to kiss, saying: + +"I told the marshal to recall your name to me, and he has done so now. He +says that you have a boon to ask of me." + +"Yes, sire," the marshal said; "and please consider graciously that it is +I who ask it as well as he. Your majesty has always been gracious to me, +and if you think me deserving of any mark of your favour after this +success which your majesty and I have gained together, I would now crave +that you grant it." + +"It is granted before you name it, marshal," the king said. "I give you +my royal word that whatever be your boon, provided that it be within the +bounds of possibility, it is yours." + +"Then, sire, I ask that an old comrade and fellow soldier of mine, who +fought bravely for your majesty, but who fell under your majesty's +displeasure many years ago on account of a marriage which he made +contrary to your pleasure, may be released. He has now been over sixteen +years in prison, and has therefore paid dearly for thwarting your will, +and his wife has all this time been confined in a convent. They are the +father and mother of this brave lad--Colonel Leslie, who commanded your +majesty's regiment of Scotch Dragoons, and his wife, the Countess Amelie +of Recambours. I ask your majesty, as my boon, that you will order this +officer to be released and the lady to be allowed to leave the convent." + +"Peste, marshal!" the king said good temperedly; "your request is one of +which will get me into hot water with a score of people. From the day the +marquis was killed at Fontenoy I have heard nothing but questions about +his estates, and I believe that no small portion of them have been +already promised." + +"I say nothing about the estates," the marshal replied; "as to that, your +majesty's sense of justice is too well known for it to be necessary for +me to say a single word. The countess has estates of her own, which she +inherited from her mother, but even as to these I say nothing. It is her +liberty and that of her husband which I and this brave lad ask of your +majesty." + +"It is granted, marshal, and had your boon been a great one instead of a +small one I would have granted it as freely;" and the king again held out +his hand to Ronald, who bent on one knee to kiss it, tears of joy flowing +down his cheeks and preventing the utterance of any audible thanks for +the boon, which far surpassed his expectations; for the marshal had said +nothing as to his intention of asking his father's freedom, which indeed +he only decided to do upon seeing in how favourable a disposition he had +found the king. + +"You see, marshal," Louis went on, "marriages like this must be sternly +discouraged, or all order in our kingdom would be done away with. Wilful +girls and headstrong soldiers cannot be permitted to arrange their +affairs without reference to the plans of their parents, and in this +instance it happened that the father's plans had received our approval. +The great estates of France cannot be handed over to the first comer, who +may perhaps be utterly unworthy of them. I do not say that in the present +case Colonel Leslie was in any way personally unworthy; but the disposal +of the hands of the great heiresses of France is in the king's gift, and +those who cross him are against his authority." + +The king touched a bell and bade the page who entered to order his +secretary to attend at once. + +"Search the register of the state prisons," he said, "and tell me where +Colonel Leslie, who was arrested by our orders sixteen years ago, is +confined, and then make out an order to the governor of his prison for +his release; also draw up an order upon the lady superior of--," and he +paused. + +"The convent of Our Lady at Tours," Ronald ventured to put in. + +"Oh! you have discovered that, eh?" the king said with a smile; and then +turned again to the secretary--"bidding her suffer the Countess Amelie +de Recambours to leave the convent and to proceed where she will." + +The secretary bowed and retired. Ronald, seeing that his own presence was +no longer required, said a few words of deep gratitude to the king and +retired to the audience room, where he remained until, ten minutes later, +the door of the king's closet opened, and the king and Marshal Saxe again +appeared. The audience lasted for another half hour, and then the +marshal, accompanied by many of the nobles, made his way down to his +carriage. Ronald again mounted, and as soon as the carriage had left the +great courtyard of the palace, rode up alongside and poured out his +gratitude to the marshal. + +"It has been another Fontenoy," the marshal said smiling. "Here are the +two orders, the one for Tours, the other for the governor of the royal +castle at Blois. The king made light of it; but I know his manner so well +that I could see he would rather that I had asked for a dukedom for you. +It is not often that kings are thwarted, and he regards your parents as +being rebels against his authority. However, he was bound by his promise, +and there are the papers. Now, only one word, Leslie. Do not indulge in +any hopes that you will see your father more than a shadow of the +stalwart soldier that he was sixteen years ago. There are few men, +indeed, whose constitution enable them to live through sixteen years' +confinement in a state prison. Therefore prepare yourself to find him a +mere wreck. I trust that freedom and your mother's care may do much for +him, but don't expect too much at first. If you take my advice you will +go first and fetch your mother, in order that she may be at hand to +receive your father when he leaves the fortress. By the way, I thought it +just as well not to produce your mother's memorial, as it seemed that we +should be able to do without it, for it might have struck the king to ask +how you obtained it, and he would probably have considered that your +communication with your mother was a fresh act of defiance against his +authority." + +Malcolm was wild with joy when Ronald returned with the account of his +interview with the king and its successful result, and had his not been a +seasoned head, the number of bumpers which he drank that night in honour +of Marshal Saxe would have rendered him unfit for travel in the morning. +Ronald had, after acquainting him with the news, gone to Colonel Hume, +whose pleasure at hearing that his former colonel and comrade was to +regain his freedom was unbounded. Every preparation was made for an early +start. + +"Be sure you look well to the priming of your pistols before you put them +in your holsters tomorrow," Malcolm said. + +"Do you think it will be necessary?" + +"I am sure of it, Ronald. News travels fast; and you may be sure that by +this time the fact that the king has granted an order for the release of +your father and mother is known to the Duke of Chateaurouge. If he did +not hear it from the king himself, which he would be most likely to do, +as Louis would probably lose no time in explaining to him that he had +only gone against his wishes because under the circumstances it was +impossible for him to refuse the marshal's request, the secretary who +drew out the document would, no doubt, let the duke know of it. There are +no secrets at court." + +"But now that the orders for release have been granted," Ronald said, +"the duke can have no motive in preventing them being delivered, for +fresh ones could, of course, be obtained." + +"In the first place, Ronald, the duke will be so furious at your success +that he will stick at nothing to have his revenge; in the second place, +he and the others, for there are many interested in preventing your +mother from coming into her father's possessions, will consider that the +gain of time goes for a good deal. You are the mover in the matter. Were +you out of the way, and the documents destroyed, the matter might rest as +it is for a long time. The marshal is busy from morning till night, and +would be long before he missed you, and would naturally suppose that you +had, after obtaining the release of your parents, retired with them to +some country retreat, or even left the kingdom. + +"This would give ample time for working upon Louis. Besides, the king +might never inquire whether the prisoners had been released. Then the +marshal might die or be sent away to the frontier. Therefore, as you see, +time is everything. I tell you, Ronald, I consider the journey you are +going to undertake tomorrow an affair of greater danger than going into a +pitched battle. You will have to doubt everyone you meet on the road, the +people at the inns you stop at--you may be attacked anywhere and +everywhere. As to our travelling by the direct road, I look upon it as +impossible. Our only chance is to throw them off the scent, and as they +know our destination that will be no easy matter." + +They were astir by daylight, and Malcolm soon brought the horses round to +the door. + +"It's a comfort to know," he said, "that the horses have passed the night +in the barracks, and that therefore they have not been tampered with. +Look well to the buckles of your girths, Ronald. See that everything is +strong and in good order." + +"That is not your own horse, Malcolm, is it?" + +"No, it is one of the troopers'. It is one of the best in the regiment, +and I persuaded the man to change with me for a week. No one is likely to +notice the difference, as they are as nearly as possible the same colour. +Your horse is good enough for anything; but if I could not keep up with +you its speed would be useless. Now, I think, we can keep together if we +have to ride for it. + +"What have you got in that valise, Malcolm? One would think that you were +going upon a campaign." + +"I have got four bottles of good wine, and bread and meat enough to last +us for two days. I do not mean, if I can help it, to enter a shop or stop +at an inn till we arrive at Tours. We can make a shift to sleep for +tonight in a wood. It would be safer a thousand times than an inn, for I +will bet fifty to one that if we ventured to enter one we should find one +or both of our horses lame on starting again." + +"Oh come, Malcolm, that's too much! The Duke of Chateaurouge is not +ubiquitous. He has not an army to scatter over all France." + +"No, he has not," Malcolm agreed; "but from what I know of him I doubt +not that he can lay his hands on a number of men who will stick at +nothing to carry out his orders and earn his money. Paris swarms with +discharged soldiers and ruffians of all kinds, and with plenty of gold to +set the machine in motion there is no limit to the number of men who +might be hired for any desperate deed." + +As they were talking they were making their way towards one of the +southern gates. They arrived there before it opened, and had to wait a +few minutes. Several other passengers on horseback and foot were gathered +there. + +"I could bet a crown piece," Malcolm said, "that some one among this +crowd is on the watch for us, and that before another half hour the Duke +of Chateaurouge will know that we have started." + + + +CHAPTER X: A Perilous Journey. + + +A number of peasants with market carts were waiting outside the gates, +and for the first few miles of their ride the road was dotted with people +making their way to the city. As they rode, Malcolm discussed the +question of the best road to be taken. Ronald himself was still in favour +of pushing straight forward, for he was not so convinced as his follower +that a serious attempt would be made to interrupt their journey. He +pointed out that the road, as far as Orleans at least, was one of the +most frequented in France, and that in that city even the most reckless +would hardly venture to assault them. + +"I agree with you, Ronald, that the road offers less opportunities for +ambushes than most others, for the country is flat and well cultivated; +but after all a dozen men with muskets could lie in ambush in a cornfield +as well as a wood, and the fact that people are going along the road +counts for little one way or the other, for not one in fifty would +venture to interfere if they saw a fray going on. But granting that so +far as Orleans the country is open and cultivated, beyond that it is for +the most part forest; but above all--although they may regard it as +possible that we may be on our guard, and may travel by other roads--it +is upon this direct line that they are sure to make the most preparations +for us. Beyond that it can only be chance work. We may go by one road or +by another. There may be one trap set on each road; but once past that +and we are safe." + +After riding for upwards of an hour they came, at the turn of the road, +upon two carts. One had apparently broken down, and the other had stopped +that those with it might give assistance in repairing it. One cart was +turned across the road, and the other filled the rest of the space. + +"Stop!" Malcolm exclaimed, checking his horse suddenly. + +"What is it?" Ronald asked in surprise. + +"Turn back!" Malcolm said sharply as he wheeled his horse round. + +Ronald, without a word, did the same, and they galloped a hundred yards +down the road. + +"We were nearly caught there," Malcolm said. + +"Why, how do you mean?" + +"Never mind now, Ronald. Turn sharp to the right here, and make a detour +through the fields. You will soon see whether I was right." + +"It is a shame riding through this ripe corn," Ronald said, as without +any further comment he leaped his horse over the bank and dashed off +among the golden grain, which stretched far and wide on both sides of the +road. + +They had not gone fifty yards before they heard loud shouts, and as they +came abreast of where the carts were standing several shots were fired, +and ten or twelve men were seen running through the corn as if to cut +them off. But although they heard the whiz of the bullets they were too +far off to be in much danger, and the men on foot had no chance of +cutting them off, a fact which they speedily perceived, as one by one +they halted and fired. A few hundred yards farther the two horsemen came +round into the road again and pursued their journey. + +"Well, what do you think of that, Ronald?" + +"It was an ambush, no doubt, Malcolm; but what on earth made you suspect +it? I saw nothing suspicious. Merely two carts in the road, with three or +four men doing something to one of the wheels." + +"I am in a suspicious humour this morning, Ronald, and it is lucky I am. +The sight of the two carts completely blocking the road brought me to a +halt at once, and as I checked my horse I saw a movement among the bushes +on the right of the road, and felt sure that it was an ambush. It was a +well laid one, too, and had we ridden on we should have been riddled with +bullets. No doubt there were men lying in the carts. They would have +jumped up as we came up to them, and the fellows in the bushes would have +taken us in the rear; between their two fires our chances would have been +small indeed. No doubt they had a man on watch, and directly they saw us +coming they got their carts across the road, and took up their positions. +It was a well contrived scheme, and we have had a narrow escape." + +"Thanks to your quickness and watchfulness, Malcolm, which has saved our +lives. I admit that you are right and I was wrong, for I own that I did +not share your apprehensions as to the dangers of our journey. Henceforth +I will be as much on the lookout as you are, and will look with suspicion +at every beggar woman that may pass." + +"And you will be right to do so," Malcolm said seriously; "but for the +present I think that we are safe. This, no doubt, was their main ambush, +and they may reasonably have felt certain of success. However, we may be +sure that they did not rely solely upon it. This, no doubt, is the +unmounted portion of their gang. They were to try and put a stop to our +journey at its outset; but mounted men will have ridden on ahead, +especially as they couldn't have been sure that we should follow this +road. We might have gone out by one of the other gates at the south side +of the town, and they will have watched all the roads. Now I propose that +we take the next lane which branches off to the right, and travel by +byroads in future. Do not press your horse too fast. We have a long +journey before us, and must always have something in hand in case it is +necessary to press them to full speed." + +Two miles further a road branched to the right. As they approached it +Ronald was about to touch his horse's rein, when Malcolm said shortly, +"Ride straight on." + +Although surprised at this sudden change of plan, Ronald obeyed without +question. + +"What was that for?" he asked when he had passed the turning. + +"Did you not see that man lying down by the heap of stones at the +corner?" + +"Yes, I saw him; but what of that?" + +"I have no doubt he was on the lookout for us. Yes, I thought so," he +went on, as he stood up in his stirrups and looked back; "there, do you +see that horse's head in that little thicket, just this side of where the +road separates? I expected as much. If we had turned off, in another two +minutes that fellow would have been galloping along this road to take the +news to those ahead, and they would have ridden to cut us off further +along. I have no doubt we shall find someone on watch at every turning +between this and Orleans." + +"But this is a regular campaign, Malcolm." + +"It is a campaign, Ronald. The ruffians and thieves of Paris form a sort +of army. They have heads whom they implicitly obey, and those who have +money enough to set this machine in motion can command the services of +any number of men. Sharp fellows, too, many of them are, and when they +received orders to arrest our journey to Tours at any cost, they would +not omit a single precaution which could ensure success. Their former +attack upon you, and its result, will have showed them that we are not +children, and that the enterprise was one which demanded all their +efforts." + +"What is our next move now, Malcolm?" + +"We will turn off before we get to the next road. They can see a long way +across these level plains; so we will dismount and lead our horses. The +corn is well nigh shoulder deep, and if we choose a spot where the ground +lies rather low, neither that scoundrel behind nor the one at the next +road is likely to see us." + +Half a mile further there was a slight dip in the ground. + +"This is a good spot," Malcolm said. "This depression extends far away on +our right, and although it is very slight, and would not conceal us if +the ground were bare, it will do so now, so let us take advantage of it." + +So saying he dismounted, and leading his horse, turned into the +cornfield. Ronald followed him, and for two miles they kept straight on +through the corn; then they came upon a narrow road connecting two +villages. They mounted and turned their horses' heads to the south. + +"It is as well that none of the peasants saw us making through their +corn," Ronald said, "or we should have had them upon us with stone and +flail like a swarm of angry bees." + +"It could not be helped," Malcolm replied, "and we could easily have +ridden away from them. However, it is just as well that we have had no +bother with them. Now we will quicken our pace. We are fairly between two +of the main roads south, and if we can contrive to make our way by these +village tracks we shall at any rate for some time be free from all risk +of molestation." + +"I should think we should be free altogether," Ronald said. "When they +find we do not come along the road they will suppose we have been killed +at the first ambush." + +Malcolm shook his head. + +"Do not build upon that, Ronald. No doubt as soon as we had passed, some +of those fellows mounted the horses we saw in the carts, and rode off in +accordance with an agreed plan to give notice that we had passed them +safely, and were proceeding by that road. In the next place the fellow we +saw on watch would most likely after a time mount and follow us, and when +he got to the watcher at the next crossroad and found that we had not +come along there would know that we must have turned off either to the +right or left. One of them is doubtless before this on his way to the +next party with the news, while the other has set to work to find out +where we turned off, which will be easy enough to discover. Still, we +have gained something, and may fairly reckon that if we ride briskly +there is no fear of those who were posted along the road we have left +cutting us off." + +They rode all day at a steady pace, stopping occasionally for a short +time to allow the horses a rest and a feed. The people in the quiet +little villages looked in surprise at the young officer and his follower +as they rode through their street or stopped for a quarter of an hour +while the horses were fed, for even Malcolm agreed that such pauses were +unattended by danger. It was rarely, indeed, that a stranger passed along +these bypaths, and the peasants wondered among themselves what could +induce them to travel by country byways instead of following the main +roads. + +As they left the rich plains of the Beauce, the country was less +carefully cultivated. The fields of corn were no longer continuous, and +presently they came to tracts of uncultivated land with patches of wood. +They now left the little road they had been following, and rode straight +across country, avoiding all villages. They crossed several hills, and +late in the afternoon drew rein in a wide spreading forest. They were, +Malcolm thought, quite as far south as Orleans, and by starting at +daylight would arrive at Tours by midday. + +"Here at least we are perfectly safe," he said; "when we approach Tours +our perils will begin again. When once they find that we have given them +the slip they are not likely to try to intercept us anywhere along the +route till we near the town, for they will know that the chances are +enormous against their doing so, and the parties along the various roads +will push on so as to meet us somewhere near that city. The river can +only be crossed at certain points, and they will feel sure we shall go by +one or other of them." + +"And I suppose we shall," Ronald said. + +"No, Ronald; my idea is that we turn west and ride to Le Mans, then take +a wide detour and enter Tours from the south side. It will take us a day +longer, but that is of little consequence, and I think that we shall in +that way entirely outwit them. The only precaution we shall have to take +is to cross the main road on our right at some point remote from any town +or village." + +"I think that is a capital plan. I do not mind a share of fair fighting; +but to be shot down suddenly in an ambush like that of this morning, I +own I have little fancy for it." + +Hobbling their horses, they turned them loose to pick up what they could +in the forest, and then sat down to enjoy a good meal from the ample +supply Malcolm had brought with him. When night fell they unstrapped +their cloaks from their saddles and rolled themselves in them, and lay +down to sleep. An hour later they were roughly awakened, each being +seized by three men, who, before they could attempt to offer resistance, +bound their arms to their sides, and then hurried them along through the +forest. + +"I have been a fool, Ronald," Malcolm said bitterly; "I ought to have +kept watch." + +"It was not your fault, Malcolm. One could never have guessed that they +would have found us in this forest. Somebody must have followed us at a +distance and marked us down, and brought the rest upon us; but even had +you kept watch it would have been no good, for they would have shot us +down before we could make any resistance." + +"I wonder they didn't cut our throats at once," Malcolm said. "I don't +know what they are troubling to make us prisoners for." + +Presently they saw a light in the forest ahead of them, and soon arrived +at a spot where a number of men were sitting round a fire. + +"You had no trouble with them, Pierre, I suppose?" + +"No, captain, they slept as soundly as moles. They have been speaking +some strange language as we came along." + +"Thank God!" Malcolm exclaimed fervently. "I think, after all, Ronald, we +have only fallen in with a band of robbers, and not with our enemies." + +"Unbind their hands," the captain of the band said, "but first take away +their swords and pistols. Gentlemen, may I ask you to be seated; and +then, perhaps, you will inform us what you, an officer in the Scotch +dragoons, as I perceive by your uniform, are doing here in the forest?" + +Ronald, to whom the question was principally addressed, replied frankly: + +"We took to this forest, I fancy, for the same reason for which you use +it, namely, for safety. We are on our way to Tours, and there are some +people who have interest in preventing our arriving there. They made one +attempt to stop us near Paris; fortunately that failed, or we should not +be now enjoying your society; but as it was likely that another attempt +would be made upon the road, we thought it better to leave it altogether +and take to the forest for the night." + +"What interest could anyone have in preventing an officer of the king +from arriving at Tours?" the man asked doubtfully. + +"It is rather a long story," Ronald said, "but if it is of interest to +you I shall be happy to relate it; and I may mention that there are three +bottles of good wine in the valise of one of the saddles, and a story is +none the worse for such an accompaniment." + +A laugh went round the circle at Ronald's coolness, and a man stepped +forward with the two saddles which he had carried from the spot when the +captives had been seized. The wine was taken out and opened. + +"Yes," the captain of the band said, after tasting it, "the wine is good; +now let us have your story." + +Ronald gave them an outline of his history, told them how his father and +mother had been for many years imprisoned for marrying contrary to the +king's pleasure, and how he had at last obtained the royal order for +their release, and how the enemies of his parents were now trying to +prevent him from having those orders carried out. "There are the orders," +Ronald said as he concluded, taking them from the inner pocket where he +carried them. "You see they are addressed to the abbess of the convent of +Our Lady at Tours, and to the governor of Blois." + +"The story you tell us is a singular one," the captain replied, "and I +doubt not its truth. What was the name of your father?" + +"He was Colonel Leslie, and commanded the same regiment to which I +belong." + +"I remember him," one of the band said. "Our regiments were quartered +together, nigh twenty years ago, at Flanders, and I was in Paris at the +time when he was imprisoned. We were in the next barracks to the +Scotchmen, and I remember what a stir it made. The regiment was very nigh +mutinying." + +"And I remember you too, though I cannot recall your name," Malcolm said, +rising and looking hard at the speaker; "and if I mistake not we have +cracked many a flask together, and made many a raid on the hen roosts of +the Flemish farmers. My name is Malcolm Anderson." + +"I remember you well," the other said, rising and giving him his hand. +"Of course I met you scores of times, for the regiments were generally +brigaded together." + +"That confirms your story altogether, monsieur," the captain of the band +said. "From this moment do not consider yourself a prisoner any longer. I +may say that we had no expectation of booty in your case, and you were +captured rather from curiosity than from any other reason. One of my men, +this afternoon, happened to see you ride into the wood and then dismount +and make preparations for passing the night there. He reported the matter +to me. I know that gentlemen of your cloth--I may say of mine, for I +was once an officer of his majesty, though I left the service somewhat +hastily," and he smiled, "on account of an unfortunate deficiency in the +funds of the regiment in which I happened, at the time, to be acting as +paymaster--are seldom burdened with spare cash, but the incident seemed +so strange that I determined to capture and question you. If you happen +to have more cash on you than you care about carrying we shall be glad to +purchase a few bottles of wine equal to that which you have given us. If +not, I can assure you that I do not press the matter.". + +"I am obliged to you for your courtesy," Ronald said; "and as at present +I really happen to be somewhat flush of cash I am happy to contribute ten +louis for the laudable purpose you mention." + +So saying he took out his purse, counted out ten pieces, and handed them +to the captain. + +The action was received with a round of applause, for the robbers had +not, from the first, anticipated obtaining any booty worth speaking of, +and the turn affairs had taken had altogether driven any idea of gain +from their minds. + +"I thank you warmly, sir," the captain said, "and promise you that I will +tomorrow despatch a messenger to Orleans, which is but ten miles away, +and will lay out the money in liquor, with which we will, tomorrow night, +drink your health and success in the enterprise. Nay, more, if you like, +a dozen of my men shall accompany you on your road to Tours. They have, +for various reasons, which I need not enter into, a marked objection to +passing through towns, but as far as Blois they are at your service." + +"I thank you for your offer," Ronald replied, "but will not accept it, as +we intend to ride tomorrow morning to Le Mans, and then to enter Tours +from the south side, by which we shall throw our enemies completely off +the scent." + +"But why do you not go to Blois first?" the man asked. "It is on your way +to Tours." + +"I wish my mother to be present at the release of my father. So long a +confinement may well have broken him down. Now that I see how obstinately +bent our enemies are upon our destruction I will take with me two or +three stout fellows from Tours, to act as an escort." + +"What day will you be leaving there?" the man asked. + +"Today is Tuesday," Ronald said; "on Thursday we shall be at Tours, on +Friday morning we shall leave." + +"Very well," the man replied, "we will be on the road. It is no +difference to us where we are, and as well there as here. I will have men +scattered all along in the forest between Blois and Amboise, and if I +find that there are any suspicious parties along the road we will catch +them, and if you are attacked you will find that we are close at hand to +help you. You are a generous fellow, and your story has interested me. We +gentlemen of the woods are obliged to live, whatever the law says; but if +we can do a good action to anybody it pleases us as well as others." + +"I am greatly obliged to you," Ronald said, "and can promise you, anyhow, +that your time shall be not altogether thrown away." + +Soon afterwards the whole band lay down round the fire and were sound +asleep. In the morning Malcolm saddled the two horses, and after a hearty +adieu from the captain and his followers--all of whom were discharged +soldiers who had been driven to take up this life from an inability to +support themselves in any other way--they started for Le Mans, which +town they reached late in the afternoon, without adventure. + +Deeming it in the highest degree improbable that any watch would be set +for them at a place so far from their line of travel, they put up for the +night at the principal inn. In the morning they again started, and after +riding for some distance to the south, made a wide sweep, and crossing +the river, entered Tours from the south, late in the evening. They again +put up at the principal inn, for although they doubted not that their +arrival would be noticed by the emissaries of the enemy, they had no fear +of molestation in a town like Tours. And on the following morning Ronald +presented himself at the entrance to the convent. + +"I wish to see the lady superior," he said to the lay sister at the +wicket. "I am the bearer of a communication to her from the king." + +He was left waiting for a few minutes outside the gate, then the wicket +door opened, and the sister requested him to follow her. Not a soul was +to be seen as he traversed the gloomy courts and passed through several +corridors to the room where the abbess was waiting him. In silence he +handed to her the king's order. The abbess opened and read it. + +"His majesty's commands shall be obeyed," she said; "in an hour the +countess will be in readiness to depart." + +"A carriage shall be in waiting at the gate to receive her," Ronald said, +bowing, and then, without another word, retired. + +Malcolm was awaiting him outside, and they at once went to the officer of +the royal post and engaged a carriage and post horses to take them to +Blois. + +The carriage was at the door at the appointed time, and a few minutes +later the gate opened, and the countess, in travelling attire, issued +out, and in a moment was clasped in her son's arms. He at once handed her +into the carriage and took his place beside her. Malcolm closed the door +and leapt up on the box, the postilion cracked his whip, and the carriage +moved off. + +"Can it be true, Ronald, or am I dreaming? It is but a week since you +were here last, and the news of my release came upon me with such a +surprise that, do you know, I fainted. Am I really free? Is it possible +that I have seen the last of those hateful walls? It seems like a dream. +Where are we going?" + +"We are going to Blois." + +"To a prison?" the countess exclaimed. "But no, there are no guards or +escorts. Are we going, oh, Ronald, are we going to see my husband?" + +"Yes, mother, we are going, not only to see him but to release him. I +have the king's order in my pocket." + +For some time the countess was unable to speak, her joy was too great for +words. Then tears came to her relief, and she sobbed out exclamations of +joy and gratitude. Ronald said nothing until she had somewhat recovered +her calmness, and then he told her the manner in which Marshal Saxe had +obtained the two orders of release. + +"I will pray for him night and morning to the last day of my life," the +countess said. "God is indeed good to me. I had hoped, from what you +said, that my term of imprisonment was drawing to an end; but I had +looked forward to a long struggle, to endless efforts and petitions +before I could obtain your father's release, with, perhaps, failure in +the end. Not for one moment did I dream that such happiness as this +awaited me." + +Ronald now thought it wise to repeat the warning which the marshal had +given him. + +"Mother, dear," he said "you must be prepared to find that a total change +will have taken place in my father. His imprisonment has been a very +different one to yours. You have had companions and a certain amount of +freedom and comfort. You have had people to speak to, and have known what +is going on in the world. He has been cut off altogether from mankind. He +cannot even know whether you are alive, or whether you may not have +yielded to the pressure that would be sure to be brought upon you, and +acquiesced in a divorce being obtained. He has, doubtless, been kept in a +narrow cell, deprived almost of the air and light of heaven. He will be +greatly changed, mother. He will not be like you; for it does not seem to +me that you have changed much from what you were. I could not see you +much that night on the terrace; but now I see you I can hardly believe +that you are my mother, so young do you look." + +"I am nearly forty," the countess said smiling. "I was past twenty-one +when I married. Had I not been of age they could have pronounced the +marriage null and void. But you are right, Ronald, and I will prepare +myself to find your father greatly changed. It cannot be otherwise after +all he has gone through; but so that I have him again it is enough for +me, no matter how great the change that may have taken place in him. But +who are these men?" the countess exclaimed, as, a quarter of a mile +outside the town, four men on horseback took up their places, two on each +side of the carriage. + +"Do not be alarmed, mother, they are our escort. Malcolm hired them at Le +Mans. They are all old soldiers, and can be relied on in case of +necessity." + +"But what need can there be for them, Ronald? I have heard that bands of +discharged soldiers and others make travelling insecure; but I had no +idea that it was necessary to have an armed escort." + +"Not absolutely necessary, mother, but a useful measure of precaution. We +heard of them as we came through from Paris, and Malcolm and I agreed, +that as you would have with you any jewels and valuables that you took to +the convent, it would be just as well to be in a position to beat off any +who might be disposed to trouble us. As you see, they have brought with +them Malcolm's horse and mine, and we shall now mount. The less weight +the horses have to draw the better. I will get in and have a talk from +time to time where the road happens to be good; but, to tell you the +truth, the jolting and shaking are neither pleasant nor good for +talking." + +"You are expecting to be attacked, Ronald," the countess said. "I am sure +you would not be wanting to get out and leave me so soon after we have +met did you not anticipate some danger." + +"Frankly, mother, then, I do think it is probable that an attempt may be +made to stop us, and that not by regular robbers, but by your enemies. +They did their best to prevent me from reaching Tours, and will now most +likely try to prevent our arriving at Blois. I will tell you all about it +when we get there tonight. Here is the order for my father's release. +Will you hide it in your dress? I had rather not have it about me. And, +mother, if we should be attacked, do not be alarmed, for I have reason to +believe that if we should be outnumbered and hard pressed, help will +speedily be forthcoming." + +"I am not in the least afraid for myself," the countess said; "but be +careful, Ronald. Remember I have only just found you, and for my sake do +not expose yourself unnecessarily." + +"I will take care of myself, mother," he said. "You know I have always +had to do so." + +Malcolm had already mounted his horse, and Ronald was really glad when he +took his place beside him a few yards ahead of the carriage. The art both +of road making and carriage building was still in its infancy. When the +weather was fine and the ground hard a fair rate of progress could be +maintained; but in wet weather the vehicles often sank almost up to their +axles in mud holes and quagmires, and the bumping and jolting were +terrible. + +"Now we take up our work of looking out for ambushes again, Malcolm." + +"It will not be quite the same thing now," Malcolm said. "Before, two or +three men with guns behind a wall might do the business, now they will +have to make a regular attack. I have no doubt that we were watched from +the time we entered the town, and that the news that we are travelling +with the countess in a carriage, and with an escort of four armed men, +has been carried on ahead already. It is by horsemen that we shall be +attacked today if we are attacked at all, and they will probably fall +upon us in the forest beyond Amboise. They will know that with a vehicle +we must keep the road, and that as we cannot travel more than six miles +an hour at the outside, we cannot attempt to escape by our speed." + +"Do you think we had better wait at Amboise for the night and go on to +Orleans tomorrow?" + +"No, I think we had better push straight on, especially as we told our +friends in the forest that we should come today, and I feel sure they +will keep their promise to be on the lookout to aid us. If it were not +for that I should have said let us stay at Tours for the present, for we +may expect to be attacked by a force much superior to our own." + +"Why, they would not have sent down more than six men to attack us two, +Malcolm?" + +"No, if they had been sure which road we should travel; but as they +didn't know that, they may have had small parties at half a dozen spots, +and these will now be united. Probably there may be a score of them. +However, I rely on the robbers. The captain meant what he said, and you +won the goodwill of all the men. If there are a dozen horsemen anywhere +along the road they are sure to know of it, and will, I have no doubt, +post themselves close at hand so as to be ready to join in the fray as +soon as it commences." + +Amboise was reached without adventure. Here the horses in the carriage +were changed, and the party proceeded on their way. Four miles further +they entered a great forest. Ronald now ordered two of the men to ride a +few yards in front of the horses' heads. He and Malcolm rode on each side +of the coach, the other two followed close behind. He ordered the driver, +in case they were attacked, to jump off instantly and run to the horses' +heads, and keep them quiet during the fray. + +A vigilant lookout was kept. Suddenly, when they were in the thickest +part of the wood, a number of mounted men dashed out from either side. In +obedience to the orders Ronald had given, the men in front and behind at +once closed in, so that there were three on either side of the carriage. +The assailants fired their pistols as they dashed down, but the bullets +flew harmlessly by, while the fire of the defenders, sitting quietly on +their horses, was more accurate, two of the assailants falling dead, +while another was severely wounded. + +A moment later swords were drawn, and a furious combat ensued. Ronald had +told his men to keep close to the carriage, so that they could not be +attacked in the rear, keeping just far enough out on either side of him +to be able to use their swords. For a short time the defenders of the +coach maintained their position, the number of their assailants giving +them but slight advantage, as they were unable to utilize their force. + +Ronald ran the first man who attacked him through the body, and laid open +the face of the next with a sweeping blow from left to right. The men +they had hired fought stoutly; but they were being pressed together as +the assailants urged forward their horses, when suddenly a volley of +firearms was heard. + +Several of the assailants fell dead, and with a loud shout a number of +men rushed out from the wood and fell upon them in rear. The assailants +turned to fly, and it was now the turn of the defenders of the coach to +attack, which they did furiously. + +In two or three minutes all was over. Five or six only of the assailants +cut their way through the footmen who had attacked them in rear, while +twelve lay dead or dying on the ground. Ronald's first impulse was to +ride up to the carriage to assure his mother of his safety, his next to +leap off his horse and grasp the hand of the chief of the robbers. + +"You have kept your promise nobly," he said, "and arrived at the very +nick of time. They were beginning to press us hotly; and though I fancy +we should have rendered an account of a good many more, we must have been +beaten in the end." + +"I was farther behind than I intended to be," the man said; "but we were +obliged to keep in hiding some little distance behind them. There were +four parties of them. We kept them in sight all yesterday, and last night +they assembled a mile or two away. I had men watching them all night, and +this morning we followed them here, and saw them take up their position +on both sides of the road. We crept up as closely as we dared without +being observed, but you had for a couple of minutes to bear the brunt of +it alone." + +"I thank you most heartily," Ronald said. "My mother will thank you +herself." So saying, he led them to the door of the carriage, which he +opened. + +"Mother, I told you that if we were attacked I relied upon help being +near at hand. We owe our lives, for I have no doubt that yours as well as +mine would have been taken, to this brave man and his followers." + +"I thank you most sincerely, sir," the countess said. "At present I feel +like one in a dream; for I have been so long out of the world that such a +scene as this has well nigh bewildered me." + +"I am only too glad to have been of service," the man said as he stood +bareheaded. "I am not a good man, madame. I am one of those whom the +necessities of the times have driven to earn their living as they can +without much regard to the law; but I trust that I have not quite lost my +instincts as a gentleman, and I am only too glad to have been able to be +of some slight assistance to a persecuted lady; for your son, the other +night, related to us something of the treatment which you have had to +endure." + +With a bow he now stepped back. His followers were engaged in searching +the pockets of the fallen, and found in them a store of money which spoke +well for the liberality of their employer, and well satisfied the robbers +for the work they had undertaken. After a few words with her son the +countess opened a small bag she carried with her, and taking from it a +valuable diamond brooch, called the leader of the band up and presented +it to him. + +Ronald and his party then remounted their horses--the robbers had +already overtaken and caught those of the fallen assailants--the driver +mounted the box, and after a cordial farewell to their rescuers the party +proceeded on their way to Blois. + + + +CHAPTER XI: Free. + + +It was late at night before Blois was reached, and having alighted at the +Aigle d'Or they engaged a private room. + +"Even the Duke of Chateaurouge will be satisfied," Ronald said, "that his +schemes have failed, and that no more can be done just at present. It +will be a bitter blow to him when those scoundrels, on their return to +Paris, report their utter failure, for he must have considered it +impossible that we could escape from the toils he had laid for us. I only +wish that we had clear evidence that he is the author of these attempts. +If so, I would go straight with Marshal Saxe and lay an accusation +against him before the king; but however certain we may feel about it, we +have really nothing to connect him with the affair, and it would be +madness to accuse a king's favourite unless one could prove absolutely +the truth of what one says. However, I hope some day that I shall get +even with him. It will not be my fault if I do not." + +That night Ronald and his mother debated what would be the best way to +proceed in the morning, and finally they agreed that Malcolm should +present himself at the prison with the order of release, and that they +should remain at the hotel, to which Malcolm should bring Colonel Leslie, +after breaking to him the news that his wife and son were both awaiting +him. The shock, in any case, of sudden liberty, would be a severe one, +and the meeting with his attached comrade would act as a preparation for +that with his wife. + +Mother and son sat hand in hand after hearing the carriage drive off with +Malcolm next morning. In the hours they had spent together they had come +to know each other, and the relationship had become a real one. They had +scarce been able to make out each other's features at their midnight +meeting on the terrace, and at that meeting, rejoiced as they both were, +there was still a feeling of strangeness between them. Now they knew each +other as they were, and both were well satisfied. The countess was less +strange to Ronald than he was to her. Malcolm had already described her +to him as he knew her eighteen years before, and the reality agreed +closely with the ideal that Ronald had pictured to himself, except that +she was younger and brighter. For in thinking of her he had told himself +over and over again that she would have grown much older, that her hair +might have turned gray with grief and trouble, and her spirit been +altogether broken. + +She on her part had been able to form no idea as to what the infant she +had last seen would have grown up, and was not even sure that he was in +existence. She had hoped that if he had lived he would have grown up like +his father, and although she now saw but slight resemblance between them, +she was indeed well satisfied with her son. + +He was not, she thought, as handsome as his father, but he bade fair to +surpass him in strength and stature. She was delighted with his manly +bearing; and when he laughed he reminded her of her husband, and she +thought that she read in his gray eye and firm mouth a steadfastness and +depth of character equal to his. They spoke but little now. Both were too +anxious, Ronald for his mother's sake rather than his own. He was +prepared to find this unknown father a man broken down by his years of +captivity; but although his mother said that she too was prepared for +great changes, he could not but think that the reality would be a sad +shock to her. In little over an hour the carriage drove into the +courtyard. + +"Be brave, mother," Ronald said, as he felt the hand he held in his own +tremble violently. "You must be calm for his sake." + +Steps were heard approaching. The door opened, and Malcolm entered with a +man leaning on his arm. The countess with a cry of joy sprang forward, +and the next moment was clasped in her husband's arms. + +"At last, my love, at last!" she said. + +Ronald drew aside to the window to leave his father and mother to enjoy +the first rapture of their meeting undisturbed, while Malcolm slipped +quietly from the room again. + +"Why, Amelie," Leslie said at last, holding her at arms' length that he +might look the better at her, "you are scarce changed. It does not seem +to me that you are five years older than when I saw you last, and yet +Malcolm tells me that you too have been a prisoner. How much my love has +cost you, dear! No, you are scarce changed, while I have become an old +man--my hair is as white as snow, and I am so crippled with rheumatism +I can scarce move my limbs." + +"You are not so much changed, Angus. Your hair is white and your face is +very pale; but you are not so much changed. If I have suffered for your +love, dear, what have you suffered for mine! I have been a prisoner in a +way, but I had a certain amount of freedom in my cage, while you--" And +she stopped. + +"Yes, it has been hard," he said; "but I kept up my spirits, Amelie. I +never lost the hope that some day we should be reunited." + +"And now, Angus, here is our boy, to whom we owe our liberty and the joy +of this meeting. You may well be proud of such a son." + +"I am proud," Leslie said as Ronald advanced, and he took him in his +arms. "God bless you, my boy. You have performed well nigh a miracle. +Malcolm has been telling me of you. Call him in again. It is right that +he to whom you owe so much should share in our happiness." + +Ronald at once fetched Malcolm, and until late at night they talked of +all that had happened during so many years. Colonel Leslie had passed the +first three years of his confinement in the Chatelet. "It was well it was +no longer," he said; "for even I, hard as I was with years of soldiering, +could not have stood that much longer. My cell there was below the level +of the river. The walls were damp, and it was there I got the rheumatism +which has crippled me ever since. Then they moved me to Blois, and there +my cell was in one of the turrets, and the sun shone in through the +window slit for half an hour a day; besides for an hour once a week I was +allowed to take what they called exercise on the wall between my turret +and the next. The governor was not a bad fellow, and did not try to +pocket the best part of the money allowed for the keep of the prisoners. +Fortunately I never lost hope. Had I done so I would have thrown myself +over the parapet and ended it at once. I felt sure that you too were shut +up, Amelie, and I pictured to myself how they would try to make you give +me up; but I never thought they would succeed, dear. I knew you too well +for that. Sometimes for months I lay as if paralysed by rheumatism, and I +think I should have died if I had not known how my enemies would have +rejoiced at the news of my death. So I held on stoutly, and I have got my +reward." + +But the hardships had told their tale. Although but the same age as +Malcolm Anderson, Colonel Leslie looked fully ten years older. His long +confinement had taken every tinge of colour out of his face, and left it +almost ghastly in its whiteness. He could with difficulty lift his hands +to his head, and he walked as stiffly as if his legs had been jointless. +His voice only had not lost the cheery ring his wife remembered. + +"No, Amelie," he said when she remarked this. "I kept my tongue in +practice; it was the one member that was free. After I had been confined +a few months it struck me that I was rapidly losing the power of speech, +and I determined that if I could not talk for want of someone to answer +me, I could at least sing, and having a good store of songs, Scottish and +French, I sang for hours together, at first somewhat to the uneasiness of +the prison authorities, who thought that I could not be so merry unless I +had some communication from without, or was planning an escape; but at +last they grew accustomed to it, and as my voice could not travel through +the thick walls of my cells, it annoyed no one." + +"And did you never think of escaping, father?" + +"The first few years of my confinement I was always thinking of it, +Ronald, but nothing ever came of my thought. I had no tools to burrow +through a four foot wall, and if I could have done so I should have tried +if it had only been to give me something to do, had it not been that I +hoped some day to obtain my release, and that any attempt at escape +would, if discovered, as it was almost certain to be, decrease my +chances." + +Not a word was said that evening as to their future plans, all their +thoughts being in the past; but the next morning Colonel Leslie said at +breakfast: + +"And now what are we going to do next? How do we stand?" + +"I know no more than you do, Angus. I do not know whether the king has +gifted my mother's estate to others, as assuredly he has done my father's +lands. If he has, I have been thinking that the best plan will be to ask +the king's permission to leave the kingdom and return to your native +Scotland." + +"I am very fond of Scotland, Amelie; but I have also a fondness for +living, and how I should live in Scotland I have not the most remote +idea. My estate there was but a small one, and was forfeited thirty years +ago; so unless I become a gaberlunzie and sit on the steps of St. Andrews +asking for alms, I don't see how we should get porridge, to say nothing +of anything else. No, Amelie, it seems to me that we must stop in France. +For very shame they cannot let the daughter of the Marquis de Recambours +starve, and they must at least restore you a corner of your parents +estates, if it be but a farm. How are we off for funds at present?" he +asked with a laugh. "I hope at least we have enough to pay our hotel +bill." + +"We have forty louis in cash, father; the remains of the hundred you +committed to Malcolm with me." + +"Is that so?" he exclaimed. "All I can say is that that money has lasted +longer than any that ever passed through my fingers before." + +"We have plenty of money," the countess said quietly. "I have all the +jewels which came to me from my mother, and their sale will keep us for +years, either in Scotland or France." + +"That is good indeed," the colonel said cheerily. + +"Yes; I took them all with me when I was sent to the convent, and have +parted with none save the diamond necklet which I gave to the girl who +brought Ronald and me together, as a parting keepsake, and a brooch with +which I rewarded the men who aided us in the forest; but seriously, +Angus, we must settle upon something." + +"I quite agree with you, Amelie; but what is that something to be?" + +"I should think, Angus, that the proper thing would be for me to write to +the king thanking him for our release, asking his commands, and +petitioning him that my mother's estates may be restored to me. I will +also ask permission to retire to some southern town where there are +waters which may do good to your rheumatism." + +Colonel Leslie frowned. + +"I suppose that is the right thing to do, Amelie; though, for my part, I +cannot thank a sovereign whom I have served well after such treatment as +I have received. I would rather beg my bread from door to door." + +"No, I would not ask you, Angus, and of course you are differently +placed; but I have my rights as a peeress of France; besides I have on my +own account no complaint against the king. It was my father who shut me +up in the convent, not the king." + +"By the way, Amelie," her husband said, "you are not yet in mourning." + +"Nor do I intend to be," she said firmly; "unless I have to go to court +no thread of mourning do I put on. My father behaved like a tyrant to me, +and I will not feign a grief at an event which has brought us happiness. +Well, Ronald, what do you think had best be done? You and Malcolm have +managed so well that we had best leave it for you to decide." + +"I think what you propose, mother, is best. I think you had better travel +down to some place near where your mother's estates lay, and then write +your petition to the king. I will leave you there and return with it to +Paris, and will there consult Colonel Hume and Marshal Saxe as to how it +should be delivered to the king." + +This plan was carried out. The party journeyed together to Poitiers, and +there having seen his parents comfortably settled in a small house near +the town, and remained with them a few days, Ronald with Malcolm returned +to Paris, bearing with him his mother's memorial to the king. + +Ronald was glad to find that Colonel Hume was now recovered from his +wound. Marshal Saxe too was better; the latter at once took charge of the +petition, and said that he would hand it to the king on the first +opportunity. Ronald accompanied the marquis several times to Versailles, +but the latter had no private audience with the king, and thought it +better not to present the memorial in public. One day, however, he was +called into the king's closet. + +When he emerged with the king, Ronald thought from his expression of +countenance that things had not gone well. On leaving the palace he +mounted his horse--for he was now well enough to ride--and as he set +out he called Ronald, who with other gentlemen had accompanied him to +ride beside him. + +"Things have not gone well," he said. "Your father's enemies have +evidently been at work, and have been poisoning the king's mind. He read +the memorial, and then said harshly, 'The Countess of Recambours has +forfeited all rights to her mother's estates by marrying an alien. The +lands of France are for the King of France's subjects, not for soldiers +of fortune.' This touched me, and I said, 'Your majesty may recollect +that I am an alien and a soldier of fortune, and methinks that in time of +war the swords of our soldiers of fortune have done such things for +France that they have earned some right to gratitude. In a hundred +battles our Scottish troops have fought in the front ranks, and had it +not been for the Irish Brigade we should not have had to write Fontenoy +down among the list of French victories." + +"You are bold, marshal," the king said angrily. + +"I am bold, sire," I replied, "because I am in the right: and I humbly +submit that a brave soldier like Colonel Leslie deserves better treatment +than he has received at the hands of France." + +The king rose at once. + +"An answer to the petition will be sent to you tomorrow, marshal." + +"I bowed, and without another word the king left his closet and entered +the room of audience. However, lad, you must not look so downcast. We +could perhaps expect no more the first time. Of course every man who has +a hope, or who has a relation who has a hope, of obtaining the grant of +your mother's estates is interested in exciting the king's displeasure +against her; besides which there is, as you have told me, the Duc de +Chateaurouge, who may be regarded as a personal enemy of your father, and +who has the king's ear as much as anyone about him. However, we must have +courage. I consider my personal honour is touched in the matter now, and +I will not let the matter drop till justice is done." + +At the appointed time Ronald again called at Marshal Saxe's hotel, and +watched the gay crowd of officers and nobles who were gathered in his +reception rooms. An hour later a royal attendant entered and handed a +document to the marshal. The latter glanced at it and looked around. As +soon as his eye fell upon Ronald he nodded to him. + +"Here is the judgement," he said in a low tone, as he handed him the +paper. "You see it is directed to the countess, to my care. I suppose you +will start with it at once." + +"Yes, marshal; the horses are saddled and we shall leave immediately." + +"Don't hurry your horses," the marshal said with a slight smile; "from +the king's manner I think that the contents are such that a few hours' +delay in the delivery will cause the countess no pain. However, I do not +anticipate anything very harsh. In the first place, although the king is +swayed by favourites who work on his prejudices, his intention is always +to be just; and in the second place, after granting the release of your +parents as a boon to me he can scarcely annul the boon by any severe +sentence. Will you tell the countess from me that I am wholly at her +service, and that, should any opportunity offer, she may be sure that I +will do what I can to incline the king favourably towards her. Lastly, +Leslie, take care of yourself. The change in the king's manner shows that +you have powerful enemies, and now that you have succeeded in obtaining +your parents' freedom you have become dangerous. Remember the attack that +was made upon you before, when there seemed but little chance that you +would ever succeed in obtaining their release or in seriously threatening +the interests of those who were looking forward to the reversion of the +family estates. Their enmity now, when it only needs a change in the +king's mood to do justice to your parents, will be far greater than +before. + +"Bid your father, too, to have a care for himself and your mother. +Remember that violence is common enough, and there are few inquiries +made. An attack upon a lonely house and the murder of those within it is +naturally put down as the act of some party of discharged soldiers or +other ruffians. Tell him therefore he had best get a few trusty men +around him, and be on guard night and day against a treacherous attack. +Those who stand in the way of powerful men in France seldom live long, so +he cannot be too careful." + +A quarter of an hour later Ronald was on horseback. He had already +provided himself with a pass to leave the city after the usual hour of +closing the gates, and he and Malcolm were soon in the open country. As +they rode along Ronald repeated the warning that the marshal had given +him. + +"He is quite right, Ronald, and you cannot be too careful. We have +against us, first, this vindictive Duc de Chateaurouge, who, no doubt, +has poisoned the king's mind. In all France there is no one whom I would +not rather have as a foe. He is powerful, unscrupulous, and vindictive; +he would hesitate at nothing to carry out anything on which he had set +his mind, and would think no more of obtaining the removal of one whom he +considered to stand in his way than of crushing a worm. Even as a young +man he had a villainous reputation, and was regarded as one of the most +dangerous men about the court. To do him justice, he is brave and a fine +swordsman, and for choice he would rather slay with his own hands those +who offend him than by other means. Though he was but three-and-twenty at +the time I first left France he had fought half a dozen duels and killed +as many men, and several others who were known to have offended him died +suddenly. Some were killed in street brawls, returning home at night, one +or two were suspected of having been poisoned. Altogether the man was +feared and hated in those days, although, of course, none spoke their +suspicions openly. + +"From what I have heard those suspicions have stuck to him ever since. He +has not been engaged in many duels, because in the first place edicts +against duelling are very strict, and in the second because his +reputation as a swordsman is so great that few would risk their lives +against him. Still all who stood in his way have somehow or other come to +a sudden end. We must therefore be on our guard night and day. He is, of +course, your most dangerous foe; but besides him must be numbered all +those who hope to obtain your mother's estates. The heirs of the marquis +doubtless feel perfectly safe from interference. There is no chance +whatever of the king dispossessing them in favour of a foreigner, so we +need not count them among your foes. + +"It is just as well, Ronald, that we started tonight instead of waiting +till tomorrow. The duke is pretty certain to learn that the king's answer +will be sent this evening, and may possibly have made preparations for +you on the road; but he will hardly expect that you will start before the +morning. However, in order to be on the safe side I propose that we shall +presently turn off from the main road and avoid all large towns on our +way down to Poitiers." + +"Do you think the danger is as great as that, Malcolm?" + +"I do not think there is much danger, Ronald, just at present, though I +do in the future." + +Travelling by byways Ronald and Malcolm arrived at Poitiers without +adventure. + +"I have brought you the king's answer, mother," Ronald said as he +alighted; "but before you open it I may tell you that it is unfavourable, +though I am ignorant of the precise nature of its contents. But you must +not be disappointed. Marshal Saxe bade me tell you that he considers his +honour engaged in seeing you righted, and that whenever an opportunity +occurs he will endeavour to move the king's mind in your favour. How is +my father?" + +"He suffers grievously from rheumatism, Ronald, and can scarce move from +his couch." + +As soon as they joined the colonel the countess opened the king's letter. +It was brief. "The Countess Amelie de Recambours is hereby ordered to +withdraw at once to her estate of La Grenouille and there to await the +king's pleasure concerning her." + +The king's signature was affixed. + +"Well, that is not so very bad," the countess said. "At any rate my right +to one of my mother's estates is recognized. La Grenouille is the +smallest of them, and contains but three or four farms. Still that will +suffice for our wants, and as it lies but twenty miles from Bordeaux the +air will be warm and soft for you, Angus." + +"Is there a chateau on it, mother?" + +"Yes, there is a small chateau. I was there once as a girl. It has never +been modernized, but is still a castle such as it was two hundred years +ago." + +"All the better," Ronald said; and he then gave Malcolm's reasons for +their being on the watch against any sudden attack. + +"He is quite right, Ronald," Colonel Leslie said. "The duke is capable of +anything. However, we will be on our guard, and if, as your mother says, +it is a fortified house, we need have no fear of any sudden attack." + +"I would suggest, colonel, that I should ride to Tours," Malcolm said, +"and hire two of the men who escorted madame's carriage. They have served +in the wars and can be relied upon. They would not need high wages, for +most of the discharged soldiers have trouble enough to keep body and soul +together. With a couple of men of this kind, and two or three of the men +on the estate, I think, colonel, you need fear no sudden attack." + +The colonel approved of the suggestion, and a week later, Malcolm having +returned with the two men, a carriage was hired to convey the colonel and +his wife, and so they journeyed quietly down to La Grenouille. On +arriving there they found that they were expected, the old steward in +charge having received a letter from the royal chancellor, saying that he +was to receive the countess as the owner of the estate. + +The old man, who had known her mother well and remembered her visits as a +child, received the countess with respectful joy. The chateau was, as +Amelie had said, really a castle. It was surrounded by a moat filled with +water, from which the walls rose abruptly, with no windows in the lower +stories and only small loopholes in those above. Although the steward was +ignorant when his mistress might be expected, he had already caused great +fires to be lighted in all the rooms and had temporarily engaged two of +the farmer's daughters to wait upon the countess, and three stout men as +servitors. + +"What are the revenues of the estate?" the countess asked the steward +that evening. "My mother's other estates have not been restored to me as +yet, and I have only this to depend upon, and I do not know what +establishment I can afford to keep up." + +"The revenue amounts to twelve thousand francs," he said. "There are +three large farms and four small ones. Twelve thousand francs are not +much, countess, for your mother's daughter; but they go a long way here, +where one can live for next to nothing. We have a garden which will +provide all the fruit and vegetables you require, and your poultry will +cost you nothing. The vineyard attached to the chateau furnishes more +than enough wine, and the cellars are well filled, for every year I have +put aside a few barrels, so that in fact it will be only meat you have to +buy." + +"So that you think I can keep the two men I have brought with me and the +servants you have engaged?" + +"Easily, madam, and more if you wished it." + +"Do you think five men will be sufficient?" the countess said. "I ask +because I have powerful enemies, and in these lawless times an attack +upon a lonely house might well be carried out." + +"With the drawbridge drawn up, madam, five men could hold the chateau +against a score, and the sound of the alarm bell would bring all the +tenants and their men down to your assistance. I will answer for them +all. There were great rejoicings last week when I sent round the news +that you were expected. The memory of your mother, who once resided here +for a year, is very dear to all of us, and there is not a man on the +estate but would take up arms in your defence. The sound of the alarm +bell would bring thirty stout fellows, at least, to your aid." + +"Then we need not trouble on that score, Amelie," the colonel said +cheerfully. "Malcolm will see to the drawbridge tomorrow; probably it has +not been raised for years." + +"I have already been examining it," Malcolm--who had just entered the +room--said. "It only needs a little oil and a bolt or two. I will have +it raised tonight. Things look better than I expected, colonel, and I +shall be able to return to Paris without having any anxiety upon your +score." + +"But you are not thinking of going back, Ronald?" the countess asked +anxiously. "If there is danger here for us, there must be surely danger +for you in Paris. And I want you here with us." + +"I will stop for a few days, mother, and then Malcolm and I will be off. +As I have Marshal Saxe's protection I need fear no open enmity from +anyone, and as I shall be with the regiment I shall be safe from the +secret attacks; besides, my sword can guard my head." + +"You have taught him to defend himself--eh, Malcolm?" Colonel Leslie +said. + +"I," Malcolm repeated--"I can use my sword in a melee, colonel, as you +know, and hold my own against Dutchman or German when I meet them on the +field; but Ronald is a different blade altogether. He was well taught in +Glasgow, and has practised under the best maitres d'armes in Paris since, +and I am proud to say that I do not think there are ten men in France +against whom he could not hold his own." + +"That is good, that is good, indeed," the colonel said, delighted. +"Malcolm, I feel my obligations to you more and more every day. Truly I +had never even hoped that if my son were ever to be restored to me, I +should have such cause to be proud of him." + +"But why do you think you had better return to Paris, Ronald?" his mother +inquired. + +"Because, mother, it will not do to let your enemies have entirely their +own way now that you have been so far restored. Doubtless your family +will be the more inclined to aid you with their influence, but there must +be somebody to urge them to do so." + +"Besides, Amelie," the colonel put in, "we must not cage the lad here at +your apron strings. He has already won Saxe's regard and protection by +his conduct in the field, and can now accept a commission in the old +regiment. He has begun well, and may yet live to command it. No, no, my +love. I should like to keep him here as much as you would, but in every +way it is better that he should go out and take his place in the world. +To you and me, after our long imprisonment, this place is life, freedom, +and happiness, and we are together; but for him it is a dreary little +country chateau, and he would soon long for a life among men." + +And so, after three weeks' stay at the chateau, Ronald and Malcolm rode +back to Paris, and the former received a week later a commission through +Marshal Saxe in the Scottish Dragoons. That regiment had returned from +the frontier, and Ronald at once took his place in its ranks, and was +heartily received by all the officers, to whom he was formally introduced +by Colonel Hume as the son of their former commanding officer. + +A short time afterwards it became the turn of duty of the Scottish +Dragoons to furnish guards for a week at Versailles, and Colonel Hume +took down two troops for that purpose. That to which Ronald belonged was +one of them. Ronald, knowing that for the present he was not in favour +with the king, begged the colonel to put him on duty as often as +possible, so that he might avoid the necessity of being present at the +king's audiences with the other officers. + +He was one day walking with the colonel and several other officers in the +grounds at a distance from the palace, when they came, at the turn of the +walk, upon the Duc de Chateaurouge and three other gentlemen of the +court. The former stopped abruptly before Colonel Hume. + +"I had the honour, Colonel Hume, to speak to you some time since of a +volunteer in your regiment who chose to call himself the name of Leslie. +I understand he is now an officer. I see by the lists in the courtyard +that a Cornet Leslie is now on duty here. Where does he hide himself, for +I have been seeking in vain to meet him?" + +"Cornet Leslie is not one to balk any man's desire that way," Colonel +Hume said gravely. "This is Cornet Leslie." + +Ronald stepped forward and looked the duke calmly in the face. + +"So this is the young cockerel," the duke said contemptuously. "A worthy +son of a worthy father, I doubt not." + +"At any rate, my lord duke," Ronald said quietly, "I do not rid myself of +my foes by getting those I am afraid to meet as man to man thrown into +prison, nor by setting midnight assassins upon them. Nor do I rely upon +my skill as a swordsman to be a bully and a coward." + +The duke started as if struck. + +"I had made up my mind to kill you, young sir," he said, "sooner or +later; but you have brought it on yourself now. Draw, sir!" And the duke +drew his sword. + +Colonel Hume and several others threw themselves before Ronald. + +"Put up your sword, sir. Duelling is forbidden, and you know the +consequence of drawing within the precincts of the palace." + +"What care I for ordinances!" the duke said furiously. "Stand aside, +gentlemen, lest I do you harm!" + +"Harm or no harm," Colonel Hume said sternly, "my young friend shall not +fight in the palace grounds. I protest against his being forced into a +duel at all; but at any rate he shall not fight here." + +The duke looked for a moment as if he was about to spring upon Colonel +Hume, but he saw by their faces that his companions also were against +him. For the consequences of drawing a sword within the precincts of a +palace were so serious, that even the most powerful nobles shrank from +braving them. + +"Very well," he said at last, thrusting his sword back into its scabbard. +"It is but ten minutes' walk to the boundary wall, I will let him live +till then." + +So saying he started off with rapid strides down the walk, followed at a +slower pace by the rest. + + + +CHAPTER XII: The End of the Quarrel. + + +"This is a serious business, Leslie," the colonel said in a low voice. +"If it had been anyone but you I should have ordered him to the barracks +at once under pain of arrest, and have laid the matter before the king, +for it would have been nothing short of murder. But I can trust you to +hold your own even against the Duke of Chateaurouge. And, in truth, after +what has been said, I do not see that you can do other but meet him." + +"I would not avoid it if I could," Ronald said. "His insults to me do not +disturb me; but I have my father's wrongs to avenge." + +"Forbes," the colonel said to one of the other officers, "do you go +straight to the barracks, bid Leslie's man saddle his own horse and his +master's instantly, and bring them round outside the wall of the park. If +Leslie wounds or kills his man he will have to ride for it." + +The officer at once hurried away. + +"Ronald, I will tell you a piece of news I heard this morning. The young +Chevalier left Paris secretly five days ago, and I have received certain +private information this morning that he has gone to Nantes, and that he +is on the point of sailing for Scotland on his own account. I am told +that this plan of his is known to but five or six persons. If you get +safely through this business mount and ride thither at all speed. They +are more likely to pursue you towards the frontier or the northern ports, +and will not think you have made for Nantes. If you get there before the +prince has sailed, present yourself to him and join his expedition. The +king will be furious at first, both at the loss of his favourite and the +breaking of the edicts; but he must come round. The gentlemen here with +the duke are all honourable men, and were, I could see, shocked at the +insult which the duke passed on you. Therefore I can rely upon them to +join me in representing the matter in its true light to the king. Before +you return, the matter will have blown over, and it may be that the +removal of your father's most powerful enemy may facilitate an +arrangement. In any case, my dear boy, you can rely upon the marshal and +myself to look after your interests." + +They had now reached a wicket gate in the wall of the park. The duke was +standing a few paces distant, having already removed his coat and turned +up the shirt sleeve of the sword arm. + +"You will act as second, marquis?" he said to one of the gentlemen. + +The latter bowed coldly. + +"I act as second to my friend Leslie," Colonel Hume said. "And I call +upon you all, gentlemen, to bear witness in the future, that this +encounter has been wantonly forced upon him by the Duc de Chateaurouge, +and that Cornet Leslie, as a man of honour, has no alternative whatever +but to accept the challenge forced upon him." + +Ronald had by this time stripped to his shirt sleeves. The seconds took +the two swords and compared their length. They were found to be as nearly +as possible the same. They were then returned to their owners. A piece of +even turf was selected, and a position chosen in which the light was +equally favourable to both parties. Then both fell into position on +guard, and as the rapiers crossed Colonel Hume said solemnly: + +"May God defend the right!" + +An instant later they were engaged in deadly conflict. It lasted but a +few seconds. The duke, conscious of his own skill, and believing that he +had but a lad to deal with, at once attacked eagerly, desirous of +bringing the contest to a termination before there was any chance of +interruption. He attacked, then, carelessly and eagerly, and made a +furious lunge which he thought would terminate the encounter at once; but +Ronald did not give way an inch, but parrying in carte, slipped his blade +round that of the duke, feinted in tierce, and then rapidly disengaging, +lunged in carte as before. The blade passed through the body of his +adversary, and the lunge was given with such force that the pommel of his +sword struck against the ribs. The duke fell an inert mass upon the +ground as Ronald withdrew the rapier. + +An exclamation of surprise and alarm broke from the three gentlemen who +had accompanied the duke, while Colonel Hume said gravely: + +"God has protected the right. Ah! here come the horses! Mount and ride, +Leslie, and do not spare the spurs. I should advise you," he said, +drawing him aside, "to take the northern route for a few miles, so as to +throw them off the scent. When you get to Nantes search the inns till you +find the Duke of Athole, he is an intimate friend of mine, and it was +from him I learned in strict secrecy of the prince's intentions. Show him +this ring, he knows it well, and tell him I sent you to join him; say +nothing at first as to this business here. Your own name and my name will +be enough. He will introduce you to Prince Charlie, who will be with him +under a disguised name. May God bless you, my lad! We will do our best +for you here." + +At this moment Malcolm arrived with the two horses. + +"Thank God you are safe, Ronald!" he exclaimed as Ronald leapt into his +saddle, and with a word of thanks and adieu to the colonel dashed off at +full speed. + +Colonel Hume then rejoined the group gathered round the duke. The +Scottish officers were looking very grave, the courtiers even more so. +They had from the first recognized fully that the duel had been provoked +by the duke, and had accompanied him reluctantly, for they regarded the +approaching conflict as so unfair that it would excite a strong amount of +feeling against all who had a hand in the matter. As to the edict against +duelling, it had not concerned them greatly, as they felt sure that with +the duke's influence the breach of the law would be passed over with only +a show of displeasure on the part of the king, and an order to absent +themselves for a short time from court. The contingency that this young +Scottish officer, who had scarcely yet attained the age of manhood, +should kill one of the best swordsmen in France had not occurred to them; +but this had happened, and there could be no doubt that the king's anger, +alike at the loss of his favourite and at the breach of the law, would +fall heavily on all concerned, and that a prolonged exile from court was +the least evil they could expect. Not a word had been spoken after they +had, on stooping over the duke, found that death had been instantaneous, +until Colonel Hume joined them. + +"Well, gentlemen," he said; "this is a bad business, and means trouble +for us all. His majesty will be vastly angry. However, the duke brought +it upon himself, and is the only person to blame. His character is pretty +well known, and it will be manifest that if he had made up his mind to +fight no remonstrance on your part would have availed to induce him to +abstain from doing so. At the same time the king will not, in the first +burst of his anger, take that into consideration, and for awhile we shall +no doubt all of us suffer from his displeasure; but I do not think that +it will be lasting. The duke forced on the duel, and would have fought +within the royal park had we not interfered, and we were in a way forced +to be present. I propose that we return to the palace and give notice of +what has occurred. Captain Forbes, as you were not present at the affair, +and will not therefore be called upon to give any account of it, will you +remain here until they send down to fetch the body? + +"We will, if you please, gentlemen, walk slowly, for every mile that +Leslie can put between him and Versailles is very important. The news +will reach the king's ears very shortly after we have made it public. You +and I, marquis, as the seconds in the affair, are sure to be sent for +first. As, fortunately, we were both present at the quarrel we are both +in a position to testify that the duke brought his fate upon himself, +that there was no preventing the duel, and that had we refused to act he +was in a frame of mind which would have driven him to fight without +seconds if none had been forthcoming; lastly, we can testify that the +combat was a fair one, and that the duke fell in consequence of the +rashness of his attack and his contempt for his adversary, although in +point of fact I can tell you that young Leslie is so good a swordsman +that I am confident the result would in any case have been the same." + +"I suppose there's nothing else for it," the marquis grumbled. "I must +prepare myself for a prolonged visit to my country estates." + +"And I shall no doubt be placed under arrest for some time," Colonel Hume +said; "and the regiment will probably be packed off to the frontier +again. However, these things don't make much difference in the long run. +What I am most anxious about, marquis, is that his majesty should +thoroughly comprehend that Leslie was not to blame, and that this affair +was so forced upon him that it was impossible for him to avoid it. There +is much more than the lad's own safety dependent on this." + +"You may be sure, colonel, that I will do him justice." + +At a slow pace the party proceeded until they neared the palace, when +they quickened their steps. The marquis proceeded immediately to the +apartments occupied by the duke, and told his domestics that their master +had been killed in a duel, and directed them to obtain assistance and +proceed at once to the spot where his body would be found. The colonel +went to the king's surgeon, and told him of what had taken place. + +"His death was instantaneous," he said; "the sword passed right through +him, and I believe touched the heart. However, it will be as well that +you should go and see the body, as the king will be sure to ask +particulars as to the wound." + +The rest of the party joined their acquaintances, and told them what had +happened, and the news spread quickly through the palace. It created a +great sensation. Breaches of the edict were not unfrequent; but the death +of so powerful a noble, a chief favourite, too, of the king, took it +altogether out of the ordinary category of such events. The more so since +the duke's reputation as a swordsman and a duellist was so great that men +could scarce believe that he had been killed by a young officer who had +but just joined the regiment. It seemed like the story of David and +Goliath over again. A quarter of an hour later a court official +approached Colonel Hume and the Marquis de Vallecourt, who were standing +together surrounded by a number of courtiers and officers. + +"Monsieur le Marquis and Colonel Hume," he said, saluting them; "I regret +to say that I am the bearer of the orders of his majesty that you shall +deliver me your swords, and that you will then accompany me to the king's +presence." + +The two gentlemen handed over their swords to the official, and followed +him to the king's presence. Louis was pacing angrily up and down his +apartment. + +"What is this I hear, gentlemen?" he exclaimed as they entered. "A breach +of the edicts here at Versailles, almost in the boundaries of the park; +and that the Duc de Chateaurouge, one of my most valued officers and +friends has been killed; they tell me that you acted as seconds in the +affair." + +"They have told your majesty the truth," the marquis said; "but I think +that, much as we regret what has happened, we could scarcely have acted +otherwise than we did. The duke drew in the first place within the limits +of the park, and would have fought out his quarrel there had we not, I +may almost say forcibly, intervened. Then he strode away towards the +boundary of the park, calling upon his antagonist to follow him; and had +we not gone the encounter would have taken place without seconds or +witnesses, and might then have been called a murder instead of a duel." + +"You should have arrested him, sir," the king exclaimed, "for drawing in +the park." + +"Perhaps we should have done so, sire; but you must please to remember +that the Duke of Chateaurouge was of a temper not to be crossed, and I +believe that bloodshed would have taken place had we endeavoured to +thwart him. He enjoyed your majesty's favour, and a forcible arrest, with +perhaps the shedding of blood, in the royal demesne would have been a +scandal as grave as that of this duel." + +"How did it come about?" the king asked abruptly. + +"The duke was walking with De Lisle, St. Aignan, and myself, when we +suddenly came upon Colonel Hume with three of the officers of his +regiment. The duke at once walked up to them and addressed Colonel Hume, +and finding which of his companions was Monsieur Leslie, addressed him in +terms of so insulting a nature that they showed that he had been waiting +for the meeting to provoke a quarrel. The young officer replied perfectly +calmly, but with what I must call admirable spirit and courage, which so +infuriated the duke, that, as I have already had the honour of telling +your majesty, he drew at once, and when we interfered he called upon him +to proceed forthwith outside the park, and there settle the quarrel. We +most reluctantly accompanied him, and determined to interfere at the +first blood drawn; but the affair scarcely lasted for a second. The duke +threw himself furiously and rashly upon the lad, for as your majesty is +aware, he is but little more. The latter, standing firm, parried with +admirable coolness, and in an instant ran the duke right through the +body." + +"But I have always heard," the king said, "that the duke was one of the +best swordsmen in the army." + +"Your majesty has heard correctly," Colonel Hume replied; "but young +Leslie is one of the best swordsmen in France. The duke's passion and +rashness led to the speedy termination of the duel; but had he fought +with his accustomed coolness I believe that Leslie would have turned out +his conqueror." + +"But what was the cause of the quarrel? Why should the Duc de +Chateaurouge fix a dispute, as you tell me he did, upon this officer of +yours?" + +"I believe, sire, that it was a long standing quarrel. The duke's words +showed that he bore an enmity against the lad's father, and that it was +on this account that he insulted the son." + +"Leslie!" the king exclaimed, with a sudden recollection. "Is that the +youth whom Marshal Saxe presented to me?" + +"The same, sire; the lad who distinguished himself at Fontenoy, and whom +the Marshal afterwards appointed to a commission in my regiment, in which +he had served as a gentleman volunteer for nearly a year." + +"These Leslies are always causing trouble," the king said angrily. "I +have already given orders that he shall be arrested wherever he is found, +and he shall be punished as he deserves." + +"In punishing him," Colonel Hume said with grave deference, "I am sure +that your majesty will not forget that this quarrel was forced upon him, +and that, had he accepted the insults of the Duke of Chateaurouge, he +would have been unworthy to remain an officer of your majesty." + +"Silence, sir!" the king said angrily. "You will return immediately to +Paris, under arrest, until my pleasure in your case is notified to you. I +shall at once give orders that your troops here are replaced by those of +a regiment whose officers will abstain from brawling and breaking the +edicts in our very palace. Marquis, you will retire at once to your +estates." The two gentlemen bowed and left the royal presence. + +"Not worse than I expected," the marquis said, after the door had closed +behind them. "Now he will send for St. Aignan and De Lisle, and will hear +their account, and as it cannot but tally with ours the king must see +that the duke brought his fate upon himself. Louis is not unjust when his +temper cools down, and in a few weeks we shall meet again here." + +"I expect to be on the frontier with my regiment before that," Colonel +Hume replied; "but as I would rather be there than in Paris that will be +no hardship." + +Colonel Hume at once mounted and rode back to Paris and proceeded +straight to the hotel of Marshal Saxe, to whom he communicated what had +occurred. + +"If Leslie gets safely away it will, perhaps, all turn out for the best," +the marshal said. "As soon as the king's anger dies out I will begin to +plead the cause of the boy's parents; and now that the influence of +Chateaurouge the other way is withdrawn, I may hope for a more favourable +hearing. As to the lad himself, we will make his peace in a few months. +The king is brave himself, as he showed when under fire at Fontenoy, and +he admires bravery in others, and when he has once got over the loss of +Chateaurouge he will appreciate the skill and courage which the lad +showed in an encounter with one of the most noted duellists in France. +Now, too, that the duke has gone, some of the stories to his +disadvantage, of which there are so many current, are likely to meet the +king's ears. Hitherto no one has ventured to speak a word against so +powerful a favourite; but the king's eyes will soon be open now, and he +will become ashamed of so long having given his countenance to a man who +is generally regarded as having not only killed half-a-dozen men in +duels, but as having procured the removal, by unfair means, of a score of +others. When he knows the truth the king is likely to do justice, not +only to young Leslie, but to his parents. I only hope that they will not +manage to overtake the lad before he reaches the frontier, for although I +can rely on the king's justice when he is cool I would not answer for it +just at present." + +As Ronald rode off at full speed with Malcolm he related to him the whole +circumstances of the quarrel and subsequent duel. + +"It was well done, Ronald. I made sure that sooner or later you and the +duke would get to blows, that is if he did not adopt other means to get +you removed from his path; anyhow I am heartily glad it's over, and that +the most dangerous enemy of your father and yourself is out of the way. +And now we must hope that we sha'nt be overtaken before we get to the +frontier. The danger is that orders for your arrest will be passed by +signal." + +"We are not going to the frontier, Malcolm; I am only riding this way to +throw them off the scent. We are going to Nantes." + +"Well, that's not a bad plan," Malcolm said. "They are not so likely to +send orders there as to the northern ports. But it will not be easy to +get a vessel to cross, for you see, now that we are at war with England, +there is little communication. However, we shall no doubt be able to +arrange with a smuggler to take us across." + +"We are not going to England, Malcolm; we are going direct to Scotland. +Colonel Hume has told me a secret: Prince Charles has gone down to Nantes +and is going to cross at once to Scotland." + +"What! Alone and without an army!" Malcolm exclaimed in astonishment. + +"I suppose he despairs of getting assistance from Louis. Now that +Fontenoy has put an end to danger on the frontier the King of France is +no longer interested in raising trouble for George at home." + +"But it is a mad scheme of the prince's," Malcolm said gravely. "If his +father did not succeed in '15 how can he expect to succeed now?" + +"The country has had all the longer time to get sick of the Hanoverians, +and the gallantry of the enterprise will appeal to the people. Besides, +Malcolm, I am not so sure that he will not do better coming alone than if +he brought the fifteen thousand men he had at Dunkirk last year with him. +Fifteen thousand men would not win him a kingdom, and many who would join +him if he came alone would not do so if he came backed by an army of +foreigners. It was the French, you will remember, who ruined his +grandfather's cause in Ireland. Their arrogance and interference +disgusted the Irish, and their troops never did any fighting to speak of. +For myself, I would a thousand times rather follow Prince Charles +fighting with an army of Scotsmen for the crown of Scotland than fight +for him with a French army against Englishmen." + +"Well, perhaps you are right, Ronald; it went against the grain at +Fontenoy; for after all, as you said, we are closely akin in blood and +language to the English, and although Scotland and France have always +been allies it is very little good France has ever done us. She has +always been glad enough to get our kings to make war on England whenever +she wanted a diversion made, but she has never put herself out of the way +to return the favour. It has been a one sided alliance all along. +Scotland has for centuries been sending some of her best blood to fight +as soldiers in France, but with a few exceptions no Frenchman has ever +drawn his sword for Scotland. + +"No, I am inclined to think you are right, Ronald, and especially after +what we saw at Fontenoy I have no wish ever to draw sword again against +the English, and am willing to be the best friends in the world with them +if they will but let us Scots have our own king and go away peacefully. I +don't want to force Prince Charles upon them if they will but let us have +him for ourselves. If they won't, you know, it is they who are +responsible for the quarrel, not us." + +"That is one way of putting it, certainly," Ronald laughed. "I am afraid +after having been one kingdom since King James went to London, they won't +let us go our own way without making an effort to keep us; but here is a +crossroad, we will strike off here and make for the west." + +They avoided the towns on their routes, for although they felt certain +that they were ahead of any messengers who might be sent out with orders +for their arrest, they knew that they might be detained for some little +time at Nantes, and were therefore anxious to leave no clue of their +passage in that direction. On the evening of the third day after starting +they approached their destination. + +On the first morning after leaving Versailles they had halted in wood a +short distance from Chartres, and Malcolm had ridden in alone and had +purchased a suit of citizen's clothes for Ronald, as the latter's uniform +as an officer of the Scotch Dragoons would at once have attracted notice. +Henceforward, whenever they stopped, Malcolm had taken an opportunity to +mention to the stable boy that he was accompanying his master, the son of +an advocate of Paris, on a visit to some relatives in La Vendee. This +story he repeated at the inn where they put up at Nantes. + +The next morning Malcolm went round to all the inns in the town, but +could hear nothing of the Duke of Athole, so he returned at noon with the +news of his want of success. + +"They may have hired a private lodging to avoid observation," Ronald +said, "or, not improbably, may have taken another name. The best thing we +can do is to go down to the river side, inquire what vessels are likely +to leave port soon, and then, if we see anyone going off to them, to +accost them. We may hear of them in that way." + +Accordingly they made their way down to the river. There were several +vessels lying in the stream, in readiness to sail when the wind served, +and the mouth of the river was reported to be clear of any English +cruisers. They made inquiries as to the destination of the vessels. All +the large ones were sailing for Bordeaux or the Mediterranean ports of +France. + +"What is that little vessel lying apart from the rest?" Malcolm asked. +"She looks a saucy little craft." + +"That is the privateer La Doutelle, one of the fastest little vessels on +the coast. She has brought in more than one English merchantman as a +prize." + +As they were speaking a boat was seen to leave her side and make for the +shore. With a glance at Malcolm to break off his conversation with the +sailor and follow him, Ronald strode along the bank towards the spot +where the boat would land. Two gentlemen got out and advanced along the +quay. As they passed Ronald said to Malcolm: + +"I know one of those men's faces." + +"Do you, Ronald? I cannot recall having seen them." + +Ronald stood for a moment in thought. + +"I know now!" he exclaimed. "And he is one of our men, sure enough." + +"I think, sir," he said as he came up to them, "that I have had the +honour of meeting you before." + +A look of displeasure came across the gentleman's face. + +"I think you are mistaken, sir," he said coldly. "You must take me for +some one else. My name is Verbois--Monsieur Verbois of Le Mans." + +"I have not the pleasure of knowing Monsieur Verbois," Ronald said with a +slight smile; "but I hardly think, sir, that that is the name that you +went by when I had the honour of meeting you in Glasgow more than two +years ago?" + +"In Glasgow!" the gentleman said, looking earnestly at Ronald. "In +Glasgow! I do not remember you." + +"I had the pleasure of doing you some slight service, nevertheless," +Ronald said quietly, "when I brought you news that your enemies were upon +you, and managed to detain them while you made your escape through the +attic window." + +"A thousand pardons!" the gentleman exclaimed, speaking in English. "How +could I have forgotten you? But I saw you for such a short time, and two +years have changed you greatly. This is the young gentleman, marquis, to +whom I am indebted for my escape when I was so nearly captured at +Glasgow, as you have heard me say. It was to his kindly warning in the +first place, and to his courage in the second, that I owed my liberty. It +is wonderful that you should remember me." + +"Two years have not changed you as much as they have changed me," Ronald +said; "besides, you were busy in destroying papers, while I had nothing +to do but to watch you." + +"That is so," the gentleman agreed. "At any rate I am heartily glad of +the happy chance which has thrown us together, and has given me an +opportunity of expressing to you the deep gratitude which I have felt for +your warning and assistance. Had it not been for that, not only should I +myself have been taken, but they would have got possession of those +papers, which might have brought the heads of a score of the best blood +of Scotland to the scaffold. I took a boat that was lying in readiness, +and making down the river got on board a ship which was cruising there +awaiting me, and got off. It has always been a matter of bitter regret to +me that I never learned so much as the name of the brave young gentleman +to whom I owed so much, or what had happened to him for his share in that +night's work." + +"My name is Ronald Leslie, sir. I am the son of Leslie of Glenlyon, who +fought with the Chevalier in '15, and afterwards entered the service of +the King of France, and was colonel of the 2nd Scorch Dragoons." + +"Of course I knew him well," the gentleman said, "and with others +endeavoured to obtain his pardon when he fell under the king's +displeasure some fifteen years ago, although I regret to say without +success. Believe me, if Prince Charles--" He stopped suddenly as his +companion touched him. + +"You would say, sir," Ronald said with a smile, "If Prince Charles +succeeds in his present enterprise, and regains his throne, you will get +him to exert his influence to obtain my father's release." + +The two gentlemen gave an exclamation of astonishment. + +"How do you know of any enterprise that is meditated?" + +"I was told of it as a secret by a Scotch officer in Paris, and am the +bearer of a message from him to the Duke of Athole, to ask him to allow +me to join the prince." + +"I am the duke," the other gentleman said. + +"Since it is you, sir, I may tell you that the officer I spoke of is +Colonel Hume, and that he bade me show you this ring, which he said you +would know, as a token that my story was a correct one." + +"Hume is my greatest friend," the duke exclaimed, "and his introduction +would be sufficient, even if you had not already proved your devotion to +the cause of the Stuarts. I will take you at once to the prince. But," he +said, "before I do so, I must tell you that the enterprise upon which we +are about to embark is a desperate one. The prince has but five +companions with him, and we embark on board that little privateer lying +in the stream. It is true that we shall be escorted by a man of war, +which will convey the arms which Prince Charles has purchased for the +enterprise; but not a man goes with us, and the prince is about to trust +wholly to the loyalty of Scotland." + +"I shall be ready to accompany him in any case, sir," Ronald said, "and I +beg to introduce to you a faithful friend of my father and myself. His +name is Malcolm Anderson. He fought for the Chevalier in '15, and +accompanied my father in his flight to France, and served under him in +the French service. Upon the occasion of my father's arrest he carried me +to Scotland, and has been my faithful friend ever since." + +So saying he called Malcolm up and presented him to the duke, and the +party then proceeded to the lodging where Prince Charles was staying. + +"I have the misfortune to be still ignorant of your name, sir," Ronald +said to his acquaintance of Glasgow. + +"What!" the gentleman said in surprise. "You do not know my name, after +doing so much for me! I thought, as a matter of course, that when you +were captured for aiding my escape you would have heard it, hence my +remissness in not introducing myself. I am Colonel Macdonald. When you +met me I was engaged in a tour through the Highland clans, sounding the +chiefs and obtaining additions to the seven who had signed a declaration +in favour of the prince three years before. The English government had +obtained, through one of their spies about the person of the Chevalier, +news of my mission, and had set a vigilant watch for me." + +"But is it possible that there can be spies among those near the +Chevalier!" Ronald exclaimed in astonishment. + +"Aye, there are spies everywhere," Macdonald said bitterly. "All sorts of +people come and go round the Chevalier and round Prince Charles. Every +Scotch or Irish vagabond who has made his native country too hot to hold +him, come to them and pretend that they are martyrs to their loyalty to +the Stuarts; and the worst of it is their story is believed. They flatter +and fawn, they say just what they are wanted to say, and have no opinion +of their own, and the consequence is that the Chevalier looks upon these +fellows as his friends, and often turns his back upon Scottish gentlemen +who have risked and lost all in his service, but who are too honest to +flatter him or to descend to the arts of courtiers. Look at the men who +are here with the prince now." + +"Macdonald! Macdonald!" the duke said warmly. + +"Well, well," the other broke off impatiently; "no doubt it is better to +hold one's tongue. But it is monstrous, that when there are a score, ay, +a hundred of Scottish gentlemen of family, many of them officers with a +high knowledge of war, who would gladly have accompanied him at the first +whisper of his intentions, the prince should be starting on such a +venture as this with yourself only, duke, as a representative of the +Scottish nobles and chiefs, and six or eight mongrels--Irish, English, +and Scotch--the sort of men who haunt the pot houses of Flanders, and +spend their time in telling what they have suffered in the Stuart cause +to any who will pay for their liquor." + +"Not quite so bad as that, Macdonald," the duke said. "Still I admit that +I could have wished that Prince Charles should have landed in Scotland +surrounded by men with names known and honoured there, rather than by +those he has selected to accompany him." + +"But you are going, are you not, sir?" Ronald asked Colonel Macdonald. + +"No, I do not accompany the prince; but I hope to follow shortly. As soon +as the prince has sailed it is my mission to see all his friends and +followers in France, and urge them to join him in Scotland; while we +bring all the influence we have to bear upon Louis, to induce him to +furnish arms and assistance for the expedition." + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Prince Charles. + + +Upon arriving at the prince's lodgings Macdonald remained without, the +Duke of Athole entering, accompanied only by Ronald. + +"The prince is in disguise," he said, "and but one or two of us visit him +here in order that no suspicion may be incited among the people of the +house that he is anything beyond what he appears to be--a young student +of the Scotch college at Paris." + +They ascended the stairs to the upper story, and on the marquis knocking, +a door was opened. The duke entered, followed by Ronald. + +"Well, duke, what is the news?" + +The question was asked by a young man, who was pacing restlessly up and +down the room, of which he was, with the exception of his valet de +chambre, an Italian named Michel, the person who had opened the door, the +only occupant. + +"Ah! whom have you here?" + +"Allow me to present to your royal highness Lieutenant Leslie. He is the +son of Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought by my side in your father's cause +in '15, and has, like myself, been an exile ever since. This is the young +gentleman who, two years since, saved Macdonald from arrest in Glasgow." + +"Ah! I remember the adventure," the prince said courteously, "and right +gallant action it was; but how did you hear that I was here, sir?" + +"I was told by my good friend and commanding officer, Colonel Hume of the +2nd Scottish Dragoons, your royal highness." + +"I revealed it to Hume before leaving Paris," the duke said, "he being a +great friend of mine and as staunch as steel, and I knew that he could be +trusted to keep a secret." + +"It seems that in the last particular you were wrong," the prince +remarked with a slight smile. + +"Colonel Hume only revealed it to me, sir," Ronald said, anxious to save +his friend from the suspicion of having betrayed a secret confided to +him, "for very special reasons. I had the misfortune to kill in a duel +the Duke of Chateaurouge, and as we fought just outside the park of +Versailles, and the duke was a favourite of the king's, I had to ride for +it; then Colonel Hume, knowing my devotion to the cause of your highness, +whispered to me the secret of your intention, and gave me a message to +his friend the Duke of Athole." + +"Do you say that you have killed the Duke of Chateaurouge in a duel?" the +duke exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, he has the reputation of being one +of the best swordsmen in France, and has a most evil name as a dangerous +and unscrupulous man. I met him constantly at court, and his arrogance +and haughtiness were well nigh insufferable. And you have killed him?" + +"I knew him well too," the prince said, "and his reputation. We do not +doubt what you say, young gentleman," he added quickly, seeing a flush +mount into Ronald's face; "but in truth it seems strange that such should +have been the case." + +"Colonel Hume did me the honour to be my second," Ronald said quietly, +"and the Marquis de Vallecourt was second to the duke; some other +officers of the Scottish regiment were present, as were two other French +noblemen, De Lisle and St. Aignan." + +"We doubt you not, sir," the duke said warmly. "You will understand that +it cannot but seem strange that you at your age--for it seems to me +that you cannot be more than nineteen--should have been able to stand +for a moment against one of the best swordsmen in France, to say nothing +of having slain him." + +"Colonel Hume would scarcely have consented to act as my second had he +thought that the contest was a wholly unequal one," Ronald said with a +slight smile; "indeed I may say that he regarded it as almost certain +that I should have the best of the fray." + +"Why, you must be a very Paladin," the prince said admiringly; "but sit +down and tell us all about it. Upon my word I am so sick of being cooped +up for four days in this wretched den that I regard your coming as a +godsend. Now tell me how it was that the Duc de Chateaurouge condescended +to quarrel with a young officer in the Scottish Horse." + +"It was a family quarrel, sir, which I had inherited from my father." + +"Yes, yes, I remember now," the Duke of Athole broke in. "It is an old +story now; but I heard all about it at the time, and did what I could, as +did all Leslie's friends, to set the matter right, but in vain. Leslie of +Glenlyon, prince, was colonel of the Scottish Dragoons, and as gallant +and dashing a soldier as ever was in the service of the King of France, +and as good looking a one too; and the result was, the daughter of the +Marquis de Recambours, one of the richest heiresses in France, whom her +father and the king destined as the bride of this Duke of Chateaurouge, +who was then quite a young man, fell in love with Leslie, and a secret +marriage took place between them. For three years no one suspected it; +but the young lady's obstinacy in refusing to obey her father's orders +caused her to be shut up in a convent. Somehow the truth came out. Leslie +was arrested and thrown into the Bastille, and he has never been heard of +since. What became of the child which was said to have been born no one +ever heard; but it was generally supposed that it had been put out of the +way. We in vain endeavoured to soften the king's anger against Leslie, +but the influence of Recambours and Chateaurouge was too great for us. +Hume told me some time since that Leslie's son had been carried off to +Scotland by one of his troopers, and had returned, and was riding as a +gentleman volunteer in his regiment; but we have had no further talk on +the subject." + +"You will be glad to hear, sir," Ronald said, "that my father and mother +have within the last few weeks been released, and are now living on a +small estate of my mother's in the south. They were ordered to retire +there by the king." + +"I am glad, indeed," the duke said cordially; "and how is your father?" + +"He is sadly crippled by rheumatism, and can scarce walk," Ronald said, +"and I fear that his health is altogether shaken with what he had to go +through." + +"How did you obtain their release, Leslie?" the prince asked. + +"Marshal Saxe obtained it for me," Ronald answered. "Colonel Hume first +introduced me to him, and as he too had known my father he promised that +should he obtain a victory he would ask as a boon from the king the +release of my father, and he did so after Fontenoy, where the Marquis de +Recambours was killed, and the king thereby freed from his influence. The +Duke of Chateaurouge, whose hostility against my father had always been +bitter, was doubtless greatly irritated at his release, and took the +first opportunity, on meeting me, of grossly insulting me. On my replying +in terms in accordance with the insult, he drew, and would have fought me +in the palace grounds had not Colonel Hume and his friends interfered; +then we adjourned outside the park. The duke doubtless thought that he +would kill me without difficulty, and so rushed in so carelessly that at +the very first thrust I ran him through." + +"And served him right," the prince said heartily. "Now since both your +father's enemies are gone, it may be hoped that his troubles are over, +and that your mother will recover the estates to which she is entitled. +And now, duke, what is your news? When are we going to sail?" + +"The Doutelle is already by this time on her way down the river, and it +is proposed that we shall start this evening and board her there. The +stores and arms are all safely on board the Elizabeth, and she is lying +off Belleisle; so far as Mr. Walsh has heard, no suspicion has been +excited as to their purpose or destination, so that we may hope in +twenty-four hours to be fairly on board." + +"That is the best news I have heard for months," the prince said; "thank +goodness the time for action is at last at hand!" + +"I have, I trust, your royal highness' permission to accompany you," +Ronald said; "together with my follower, Anderson. He is the trooper who +carried me over to Scotland as a child, and has been my faithful friend +ever since." + +"Certainly, Leslie. I shall be glad indeed to have a member of a family +who have proved so faithful to my father's cause with me in the adventure +upon which I am embarking." + +Ronald with a few words of thanks bowed and took his leave, after +receiving instructions from the duke to start shortly and to ride down +the river towards Lorient. + +"You can halt for a few hours on the road, and then ride on again; we +shall overtake you before you reach the port. We shall all leave singly +or in pairs, to avoid attracting any attention." + +Ronald left, delighted with the kindness of the prince's manner. Prince +Charles was indeed possessed of all the attributes which win men's hearts +and devotion. In figure he was tall and well formed, and endowed both +with strength and activity. He excelled in all manly exercises, and was +an excellent walker, having applied himself ardently to field sports +during his residence in Italy. + +He was strikingly handsome, his face was of a perfect oval, his features +high and noble, his complexion was fair, his eyes light blue, and, +contrary to the custom of the time, when wigs were almost universally +worn, he allowed his hair to fall in long ringlets on his neck. His +manner was graceful, and although he always bore himself with a sort of +royal dignity he had the peculiar talent of pleasing and attracting all +with whom he came in contact, and had the art of adapting his +conversation to the taste or station of those whom he addressed. + +His education had been intrusted to Sir Thomas Sheridan, an Irish Roman +Catholic, who had grossly neglected his duties, and who indeed has been +more than suspected of acting as an agent in the pay of the British +government. The weakness in the prince's character was that he was a bad +judge of men, and inclined on all occasions to take the advice of +designing knaves who flattered and paid deference to him, rather than +that of the Scottish nobles who were risking their lives for his cause, +but who at times gave their advice with a bluntness and warmth which were +displeasing to him. It was this weakness which brought an enterprise, +which at one time had the fairest prospect of success, to destruction and +ruin. + +On leaving the house Ronald was joined by Malcolm, and half an hour later +they mounted their horses and rode for the mouth of the Loire. The whole +party arrived on the following day at St. Nazaire, embarking separately +on board the Doutelle, where Prince Charles, who had come down from +Nantes in a fishing boat, was received by Mr. Walsh, the owner of the +vessel. Ronald now saw gathered together the various persons who were to +accompany Prince Charles on this adventurous expedition. These were +Sheridan, the former tutor of the prince; Kelly, a non-juring clergyman, +and Sullivan--both, like Sheridan, Irishmen; Strickland, a personage so +unimportant that while some writers call him an Englishman, others assert +that he was Irish; Aeneas Macdonald, a Scotchman; Sir John Macdonald, an +officer in the Spanish service; the prince's valet, Michel; and the Duke +of Athole, or, as he is more generally called, the Marquis of +Tullibardine, the last named being the only man of high standing or +reputation. Never did a prince start to fight for a kingdom with such a +following. + +The Doutelle weighed anchor as soon as the last of the party arrived on +deck, and under easy sail proceeded to Belleisle. Here she lay for some +days awaiting the arrival of the Elizabeth. Mr. Rutledge, a merchant at +Nantes, had obtained an order from the French court that this man of war +should proceed to cruise on the coast of Scotland, and had then arranged +with the captain of the ship to take on board the arms that had been +purchased by the prince with the proceeds of the sale of some of the +family jewels. + +These consisted of fifteen hundred muskets, eighteen hundred broadswords, +twenty small field pieces, and some ammunition. The captain had also +agreed that the Doutelle, which only mounted eighteen small guns, should +sail in company with the Elizabeth to Scotland. As soon as the Elizabeth +was seen the Doutelle spread her sails, and keeping a short distance from +each other, the two vessels sailed north. So great was the necessity for +prudence that the prince still maintained his disguise as a Scottish +student, and, with the exception of Mr. Walsh, none of the officers and +crew of the Doutelle were acquainted with his real rank, and the various +members of his party treated him and each other as strangers. + +Four days after leaving Belleisle a British man of war of fifty-eight +guns hove in sight, and crowding on all sail rapidly came up. The +Elizabeth at once prepared to engage her, signalling to the Doutelle to +do the same. The prince urged Mr. Walsh to aid the Elizabeth, but the +latter steadily refused. + +He had undertaken, he said, to carry the prince to Scotland, and would do +nothing to endanger the success of the enterprise. The two vessels were +well matched, and he would not allow the Doutelle to engage in the +affair. The prince continued to urge the point, until at last Mr. Walsh +said "that unless he abstained from interference he should be forced to +order him below." + +The Doutelle, therefore, stood aloof from the engagement, which lasted +for five or six hours, and sailed quietly on her course, in order to be +beyond the risk of capture should the English ship prove victorious; +neither of the vessels, however, obtained any decided advantage. Both +were so crippled in the encounter that the Elizabeth returned to France, +the Lion to Plymouth to refit. Thus the small supply of arms and +artillery which the prince had with such great trouble got together was +lost. + +"Well, Ronald," Malcolm said that evening as they leant over the taffrail +together, "I do think that such a mad headed expedition as this was never +undertaken. An exiled prince, an outlawed duke, six adventurers, a valet, +and our two selves. One could laugh if one was not almost ready to cry at +the folly of invading a country like England in such a fashion." + +"That is only one way of looking at it, Malcolm. We are not an army of +invasion. The prince is simply travelling with a few personal followers +to put himself at the head of an army. The affair depends, not upon us, +but upon the country. If the clans turn out to support him as they did in +'15 he will soon be at the head of some twenty thousand men. Not enough, +I grant you, to conquer England, but enough for a nucleus round which the +Lowland and English Jacobites can gather." + +"Yes, it depends upon the ifs, Ronald. If all the Highland clans join, +and if there are sufficient Jacobites in the Lowlands and England to make +a large army, we may do. I have some hopes of the clans, but after what +we saw of the apathy of the English Jacobites in '15 I have no shadow of +faith in them. However, I fought for the Chevalier in '15, and I am ready +to fight for Prince Charles now as long as there is any fighting to be +done, and when that is over I shall be as ready to make for France as I +was before." + +Ronald laughed. + +"You are certainly not enthusiastic about it, Malcolm." + +"When one gets to my age, Ronald, common sense takes the place of +enthusiasm, and I have seen enough of wars to know that for business a +well appointed and well disciplined army is required. If Prince Charles +does get what you call an army, but which I should call an armed mob, +together, there will be the same dissensions, the same bickerings, the +same want of plan that there was before; and unless something like a +miracle happens it will end as the last did at Preston, in defeat and +ruin. However, lad, here we are, and we will go through with it to the +end. By the time we get back to France we must hope that King Louis will +have got over the killing of his favourite. However, I tell you frankly +that my hope is that when the Highland chiefs see that the prince has +come without arms, without men, and without even promises of support by +France, they will refuse to risk liberty and life and to bring ruin upon +their people by joining in such a mad brained adventure." + +"I hope not, Malcolm," Ronald said, as he looked at the prince as he was +pacing up and down the deck with the Duke of Athole, talking rapidly, his +face flushed with enthusiasm, his clustering hair blown backward by the +wind. "He is a noble young prince. He is fighting for his own. He has +justice and right on his side, and God grant that he may succeed!" + +"Amen to that, Ronald, with all my heart! But so far as my experience +goes, strength and discipline and generalship and resources go a great +deal further than right in deciding the issue of a war." + +Two days later another English man of war came in sight and gave chase to +the Doutelle, but the latter was a fast sailer and soon left her pursuer +behind, and without further adventure arrived among the Western Isles, +and dropped anchor near the little islet of Erisca, between Barra and +South Uist. As they approached the island an eagle sailed out from the +rocky shore and hovered over the vessel, and the Duke of Athole pointed +it out as a favourable augury to the prince. + +Charles and his companions landed at Erisca and passed the night on +shore. They found on inquiry that this cluster of islands belonged to +Macdonald of Clanranald, a young chief who was known to be attached to +the Jacobite cause. He was at present absent on the mainland, but his +uncle and principal adviser, Macdonald of Boisdale, was in South Uist. +The prince sent off one of his followers in a boat to summon him, and he +came aboard the Doutelle the next morning; but when he heard from the +prince that he had come alone and unattended he refused to have anything +to do with the enterprise, which he asserted was rash to the point of +insanity, and would bring ruin and destruction on all who took part in +it. + +The prince employed all his efforts to persuade the old chief, but in +vain, and the latter returned to his isle in a boat, while the Doutelle +pursued her voyage to the mainland and entered the Bay of Lochnanuagh, in +Inverness shire, and immediately sent a messenger to Clanranald, who came +on board shortly with Macdonald of Kinloch Moidart, and several other +Macdonalds. + +They received the prince with the greatest respect, but, like Macdonald +of Boisdale, the two chiefs refused to take up arms in an enterprise +which they believed to be absolutely hopeless. In vain Prince Charles +argued and implored. The two chiefs remained firm, until the prince +suddenly turned to a younger brother of Moidart, who stood listening to +the conversation, and with his fingers clutching the hilt of his +broadsword as he heard the young prince, whom he regarded as his future +king, in vain imploring the assistance of his brother and kinsmen. + +"Will you at least not assist me?" the prince exclaimed. + +"I will, I will!" Ranald Macdonald exclaimed. "Though no other man in the +Highlands shall draw a sword, I am ready to die for you." + +The enthusiasm of the young man was catching, and throwing to the winds +their own convictions and forebodings, the two Macdonalds declared that +they also would join, and use every exertion to engage their countrymen. +The clansmen who had come on board the ship without knowing the object of +the visit were now told who the prince was, and they expressed their +readiness to follow to the death. Two or three days later, on the 25th of +July, Prince Charles landed and was conducted to Borodale, a farmhouse +belonging to Clanranald. + +Charles at once sent off letters to the Highland chiefs whom he knew to +be favourable to the Stuart cause. Among these the principal were Cameron +of Locheil, Sir Alexander Macdonald, and Macleod. Locheil immediately +obeyed the summons, but being convinced of the madness of the enterprise +he came, not to join the prince, but to dissuade him from embarking in +it. On his way he called upon his brother, Cameron of Fassefern, who +agreed with his opinion as to the hopelessness of success, and urged him +to write to the prince instead of going to see him. + +"I know you better than you know yourself," he said. "If the prince once +sets eyes upon you, he will make you do whatever he pleases." + +Locheil, however, persisted in going, convinced that the prince would, on +his representation, abandon the design. For a long time he stood firm, +until the prince exclaimed: + +"I am resolved to put all to the hazard. In a few days I will erect the +royal standard and proclaim to the people of Britain that Charles Stuart +is come over to claim the crown of his ancestors or perish in the +attempt. Locheil, who my father has often told me was our firmest friend, +may stay at home and learn from the newspapers the fate of his prince." + +Locheil's resolution melted at once at these words, and he said: + +"Not so. I will share the fate of my prince whatsoever it be, and so +shall every man over whom nature or fortune hath given me power." + +The conversion of Locheil was the turning point of the enterprise. Upon +the news of the prince's landing spreading, most of the other chiefs had +agreed that if Locheil stood aloof they would not move; and had he +remained firm not a man would have joined the prince's standard, and he +would have been forced to abandon the enterprise. Sir Alexander Macdonald +and Macleod, instead of going to see the prince, had gone off together, +on the receipt of his letter, to the Isle of Skye, so as to avoid an +interview. Clanranald was despatched by Prince Charles to see them, but +they declined to join, urging with the truth that the promises which they +had given to join in a rising were contingent upon the prince arriving at +the head of a strong French force with arms and supplies. They therefore +refused at present to move. Others, however, were not so cautious. Fired +by the example of Locheil, and by their own traditions of loyalty to the +Stuarts' cause, many of the lesser chiefs at once summoned their +followers to the field. With the majority the absence of French troops +had the exactly opposite effect that it had had with Sir Alexander +Macdonald and Macleod. Had the prince landed with a French army they +might have stood aloof and suffered him to fight out his quarrel unaided; +but his arrival alone and unattended, trusting solely and wholly to the +loyalty of the Scottish people, made an irresistible appeal to their +generous feelings, and although there were probably but few who did not +foresee that failure, ruin, and death would be the result of the +enterprise, they embarked in the cause with as much ardour as if their +success had been certain. + +From Borodale, after disembarking the scanty treasure of four thousand +louis d'or which he had brought with him and a few stands of arms from +the Doutelle, Charles proceeded by water to Kinloch Moidart. + +Mr. Walsh sailed in the Doutelle, after receiving the prince's warmest +thanks, and a letter to his father in Rome begging him to grant Mr. Walsh +an Irish earldom as a reward for the services he had rendered, a +recommendation which was complied with. + +The chiefs soon began to assemble at Moidart, and the house became the +centre of a picturesque gathering. + +Ronald had now put aside the remembrance of Malcolm's forebodings, and +entered heart and soul into the enterprise. He had in Glasgow frequently +seen Highlanders in their native dress, but he had not before witnessed +any large gathering, and he was delighted with the aspect of the sturdy +mountaineers in their picturesque garb. + +The prince had at once laid aside the attire in which he had landed and +had assumed Highland costume, and by the charm and geniality of his +manner he completely won the hearts of all who came in contact with him. +Among those who joined him at Moidart was Murray of Broughton, a man who +was destined to exercise as destructive an influence on the prince's +fortune as had Mr. Forster over that of his father. Murray had hurried +from his seat in the south, having first had a large number of +manifestoes for future distribution printed. He was at once appointed by +Charles his secretary of state. + +While the gathering at Moidart was daily growing, the English remained in +ignorance of the storm which was preparing. It was not until the 30th of +July that the fact that the prince had sailed from Nantes was known in +London, and as late as the 8th of August, nearly three weeks after +Charles first appeared on the coast, the fact of his landing was unknown +to the authorities in Edinburgh. + +On the 16th of August the English governor at Fort Augustus, alarmed at +the vague reports which reached him, and the sudden news that bodies of +armed Highlanders were hurrying west, sent a detachment of two companies +under Captain Scott to reinforce the advance post of Fort William. + +After marching twenty miles the troops entered the narrow ravine of Spean +Bridge, when they were suddenly attacked by a party of Keppoch's clansmen +who were on their way to join the prince when they saw the English troops +on their march. They were joined by some of Locheil's clansmen, and so +heavy a fire was kept up from the heights that the English, after having +five or six men killed and many more wounded, among them their commanding +officer, were forced to lay down their arms. + +They were treated with great humanity by their captors, and the wounded +were well cared for. The news of this success reached the prince on the +day before that fixed for the raising of his standard, the 19th of +August, and added to the enthusiasm which prevailed among the little +force gathered in Glenfinnan, where the ceremony took place. The glen lay +about halfway between Borodale and Fort William, both being about fifteen +miles distant. The gathering consisted principally of the Camerons of +Locheil, some six hundred strong, and they brought with them two English +companies captured on the 16th, disarmed and prisoners. + +The Duke of Athole performed the ceremony of unfurling the banner. He was +the heir to the dukedom of Athole, but had been exiled for taking part in +the rising of '15 and the dukedom bestowed by the English government upon +his brother; thus among the English he was still spoken of as the Marquis +of Tullibardine, while at the French court and among the followers of the +Stuarts he was regarded as the rightful Duke of Athole. + +The unfurling of the standard was greeted with loud shouts, and the +clansmen threw their bonnets high in the air. The duke then read the +manifesto of the Chevalier, and the commission of regency granted by him +to Prince Charles. After this the prince himself made an inspiring +speech, and declared that at the head of his faithful Highlanders he was +resolved to conquer or to perish. + +Among the spectators of the ceremony was Captain Swetenham, an English +officer taken prisoner a few days before while on his way to assume the +command of Fort William. He had been treated with great courtesy and +kindness by the prince, who, after the ceremony, dismissed him with the +words, "You may now return to your general; tell him what you have seen, +and add that I am about to give him battle." + +Soon after the conclusion of the ceremony Keppoch marched in with three +hundred of his clan, and some smaller parties also arrived. The next +morning the force marched to Locheil's house at Auchnacarrie, where the +prince was joined by the Macdonalds of Glencoe, a hundred and fifty +strong, two hundred Stuarts of Appin under their chief, and by the +younger Glengarry with two hundred more, so that the force had now +swelled to sixteen hundred men. + +"We begin to look like an army," Ronald said to Malcolm. + +"Well, yes," the latter replied drily, "we are rather stronger than one +regiment and not quite so strong as two; still, if things go on like this +we shall ere very long have mounted up to the strength of a brigade; but +even a brigade, Ronald, does nor go very far towards the conquest of a +kingdom, especially when only about one man in three has got a musket, +and so far there are neither cavalry nor artillery. Still, you know, +these things may come." + +Ronald laughed gaily at his companion's want of faith. He himself had now +caught the enthusiasm which pervaded all around. It was true that as yet +the prince's adherents were but a handful, but it was not to be expected +that an army would spring from the ground. Promises of assistance had +come from all quarters, and if the army was a small one the English army +in Scotland was but little larger, and if a first success could be +achieved, all Scotland might be expected to rise, and the news would +surely influence the Jacobites of England to declare for the prince. + +Sir John Cope, the English officer commanding the English forces in +Scotland, at the first rumour of troubles had ordered his troops to +assemble at Stirling. He had with him two regiments of dragoons, +Gardiner's and Hamilton's, both young regiments, and the whole force at +his disposal, exclusive of troops in garrison, did not exceed three +thousand men. With these he proposed to march at once to the west, and +crush the rebellion before it gained strength. The English government +approved of his proposal, and sent him a proclamation offering a reward +of thirty thousand pounds to any person who should seize and secure the +pretended Prince of Wales. + +On the day of the raising of the standard Cope set out from Edinburgh for +Stirling and the next day commenced his march at the head of fifteen +hundred infantry, leaving the dragoons behind him, as these could be of +but little service among the mountains, where they would have found it +next to impossible to obtain forage for their horses. He took with him a +large quantity of baggage, a drove of black cattle for food, and a +thousand stand of arms to distribute among the volunteers who he expected +would join him. As, however, none of these came in, he sent back seven +hundred muskets to Crieff. + +The first object of the march was Fort Augustus, which he intended to +make his central post. As he advanced he was met by Captain Swetenham, +who informed him of the raising of the standard and the gathering he had +witnessed. As, however, only Locheil's clansmen had arrived before +Swetenham left, Cope considered his force ample for the purpose, and +continued his march. In order to reach Fort Augustus, however, he had to +pass over Corry Arrack, a lofty and precipitous mountain which was +ascended by a military road with fifteen zigzags, known to the country as +the devil's staircase. + +Prince Charles, who had received early news of the advance from Stirling, +had recognized the importance of the position, and having burned and +destroyed all baggage that would impede his progress, made a forced march +and reached Corry Arrack on the 27th, before Sir John Cope had commenced +his ascent. As Sir John saw that the formidable position was in the hands +of the enemy he felt that it would be in vain to endeavour to force it. +Each zigzag would have to be carried in turn, and the enterprise would be +a desperate one. Success would be of no great advantage, as the +Highlanders, lightly clad and active, would make off and defy pursuit; +defeat would be disastrous. He, therefore, called a council of war and +asked his officers to decide whether it would be best to remain at +Dalwhinnie at the foot of the mountain, to return to Sterling, or to +march to Inverness, where they would be joined by the well affected +clans. He himself strongly urged the last course, believing that the +prince would not venture to descend into the Lowlands while he remained +in his rear. The council of war adopted his opinion. No officer advocated +remaining inactive at Dalwhinnie, one only supported the alternative of +the retreat to Stirling, the rest agreed upon an advance to Inverness. + +When it was found that Cope's army had moved away without fighting, the +exultation of the Highlanders was great. Most of the chiefs wished to +follow at once and give battle, urging that it would be hazardous to +advance south and leave the enemy to cut off their retreat; but the +prince himself saw the supreme importance of a descent into the Lowlands, +and that plan of action was decided upon. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Prestonpans. + + +Advancing in high spirits through the mountains of Badenoch, Prince +Charles with his army came down into the vale of Athole, and visited, +with Tullibardine, the castle of Blair Athole, the noble property of +which the marquis had so long been deprived, owing to his constancy to +the cause of the Stuarts, but which would again be his own were this +great enterprise successful. + +From Blair Athole the little army moved on to Perth. Here they were +joined by powerful friends, of whom the principal were the young Duke of +Perth, Lord Nairn, and Lord George Murray, the younger brother of the +Marquis of Tullibardine. Lord George Murray was but ten years of age when +the events of 1715 had taken place, but four years later he came over +with the marquis with a handful of Spaniards and was wounded at the +battle of Glenshiels. The influence of the family obtained his pardon on +the plea of his extreme youth, but he remained at heart a Jacobite, and, +going to the Continent, entered the service of Sardinia, then a portion +of the possessions of the Duke of Savoy. For many years he served abroad, +and acquired a considerable reputation as an excellent officer and a most +gallant soldier. + +He had, indeed, a natural genius for military operations, and had he not +been thwarted at every turn by the jealousy of Murray of Broughton, it is +by no means improbable that he would have brought the enterprise to a +successful termination and seated the Stuarts upon the throne of England. +The accession of such an officer was of the highest value to the prince. + +Hitherto the army had consisted merely of wild clansmen, full of valour +and devotion but wholly undisciplined; while among those who accompanied +him, or who had joined him in Scotland, there was not a single officer of +any experience in war or any military capacity whatever. Lord George +Murray and the Duke of Perth were at once named generals in the prince's +army; but the command in reality remained entirely in the hands of +Murray, for Lord Perth, though an estimable young nobleman possessed of +considerable ability, had no military experience and was of a quiet and +retiring disposition. + +Lord George Murray at once set about raising the tenantry of his brother +the Hanoverian Duke of Athole, who was absent in England, and as these +had always remained attached to the Stuart cause, and still regarded the +Marquis of Tullibardine as their rightful head, they willingly took up +arms upon Lord George Murray's bidding. Lord George decided at once that +it would be useless to attempt to drill the Highlanders into regular +soldiers, but that they must be allowed to use their national style of +fighting and trust to their desperate charge with broadsword and target +to break the enemy's ranks. + +Unfortunately dissensions commenced among the leaders from the very +first. Secretary Murray, who desired to be all powerful with the prince, +saw that he should not succeed in gaining any influence over so firm and +energetic a character as Lord George Murray, while it would be easy for +him to sway the young Duke of Perth, and he was not long in poisoning the +ear of the latter against his companion in arms by representing to him +that Lord George treated him as a mere cipher, although of equal rank in +the army. The secretary's purpose was even more easily carried out with +Prince Charles. The latter was no judge of character, and fell readily +under the influence of the wily and unscrupulous Murray, who flattered +his weaknesses and assumed an air of deference to his opinions. Lord +George Murray, on the other hand, was but too prone to give offence. He +was haughty and overbearing in manner, expressed his opinions with a +directness and bluntness which were very displeasing to the prince, and, +conscious of his own military genius and experience, put aside with open +contempt the suggestions of those who were in truth ignorant of military +matters. Loyal, straightforward, and upright, he scorned to descend to +the arts of the courtier, and while devoting his whole time to his +military work, suffered his enemies to obtain the entire command of the +ear of the prince. + +Ronald was introduced to him as soon as he joined at Perth, and finding +that young Leslie had had some military experience, Lord George at once +appointed him one of his aides de camp, and soon took a warm liking to +the active and energetic young officer, whose whole soul was in his work, +and who cared nothing for the courtly gatherings around the person of the +prince. + +Malcolm rode as Ronald's orderly, and during the few days of their stay +in Perth, Ronald was at work from morning till night riding through the +country with messages from Lord George, and in the intervals of such duty +in trying to inculcate some idea of discipline into the wild Highland +levies. At this time Charles was using all his efforts to persuade Lord +Lovat, one of the most powerful of the northern noblemen, to join him, +offering him his patent as Duke of Fraser and the lord lieutenancy of the +northern counties. + +Lovat, however, an utterly unscrupulous man, refused openly to join, +although he sent repeatedly assurances of his devotion. Throughout the +struggle he continued to act a double part, trying to keep friends with +both parties, but declaring for the prince at the moment when his +fortunes were at their highest. The result was that while he afforded the +prince but little real assistance, his conduct cost him his head. + +Sir John Cope, finding that his march to Inverness had failed to draw the +prince after him, and had left the Lowlands and the capital open to the +insurgents, directed his march to Aberdeen, and sent to Edinburgh for +transports to bring down his army to cover that city. But Prince Charles +determined to forestall him, and on the 11th of September commenced his +march south. The age and infirmities of the Marquis of Tullibardine +prevented his accompanying Prince Charles during active operations. + +It was impossible for the army to march direct against Edinburgh, as the +magistrates of that town had taken the precaution to withdraw every ship +and boat from the northern side of the Forth, and the prince was +consequently obliged to make a detour and to cross the river at the fords +eight miles above Stirling, and then marching rapidly towards Edinburgh, +arrived on the evening of the 16th within three miles of that town. + +So long as the coming of the prince was doubtful the citizens of +Edinburgh had declared their willingness to defend the town to the last. +Volunteer regiments had been formed and guns placed on the walls; but +when the volunteers were ordered to march out with Hamilton's regiment of +dragoons, to oppose the advance of the insurgents, the men quitted their +ranks and stole away to their houses, leaving the dragoons to march out +alone. The latter, however, showed no greater courage than that of their +citizen allies, when on the following day they came in contact with a +party of mounted gentlemen from the prince's army, who fired their +pistols at their pickets. These rode off in haste, their panic was +communicated to the main body, whose officers in vain endeavoured to +check them, and the whole regiment galloped away in wild confusion, and +passing close under the walls of Edinburgh continued their flight, +without halting, to Preston. There they halted for the night; but one of +the troopers happening in the dark to fall into a disused well, his +shouts for assistance caused an alarm that they were attacked, and +mounting their horses the regiment continued their flight to Dunbar, +where they joined General Cope's army, which had just landed there. + +This disgraceful panic added to the terror of the citizens of Edinburgh, +and when, late in the afternoon, a summons to surrender came in from +Prince Charles, the council could arrive at no decision, but sent a +deputation to the prince asking for delay, hoping thereby that Cope's +army would arrive in time to save them. But the prince was also well +aware of the importance of time, and that night he sent forward Lochiel +with five hundred Camerons to lie in ambush near the Netherbow Gate. They +took with them a barrel of powder to blow it in if necessary; but in the +morning the gate was opened to admit a carriage, and the Highlanders at +once rushed in and overpowered the guard, and sending parties through the +streets they secured these also without disturbance or bloodshed, and +when the citizens awoke in the morning they found, to their surprise, +that Prince Charles was master of the city. + +The Jacobite portion of the population turned out with delight to greet +the prince, while the rest thought it politic to imitate their +enthusiasm. The Highlanders behaved with perfect order and discipline, +and although the town had, as it were, been taken by storm, no single +article of property was touched. An hour later Prince Charles, at the +head of his troops, entered the royal palace of Holyrod, being met by a +crowd of enthusiastic supporters from the city, who received him with +royal shouts and tears of joy. + +In the evening a grand ball was held in the palace, in spite of the fact +that it was within range of the guns of Edinburgh Castle, which still +held out. But one day was spent in Edinburgh. This was occupied in +serving out about a thousand muskets found in the magazines to the +Highlanders, and in obtaining tents, shoes, and cooking vessels, which +the town was ordered to supply. They were joined during the day by many +gentlemen, and on the night of the 19th the army, two thousand five +hundred strong, of whom only fifty were mounted, moved out to the village +of Duddingston. There the prince that evening called a council of war, +and proposed to march next morning to meet the enemy halfway, and +declared that he would himself lead his troops and charge in the first +ranks. + +The chiefs, however, exclaimed against this, urging that if any accident +happened to him ruin must fall upon the whole, whether they gained or +lost the battle; and upon the prince persisting they declared that they +would return home and make the best terms they could for themselves. He +was therefore obliged to give way, declaring, however, that he would lead +the second line. The next morning the army commenced its march. They had +with them only one cannon, so old that it was quite useless, and it was +only taken forward as an encouragement to the Highlanders, who had the +greatest respect for artillery. + +Sir John Cope, who had received intelligence of all that had happened at +Edinburgh, had also moved forward on the 19th, and on the 20th the two +armies came in sight of each other. The Highlanders, after passing the +bridge of Musselburgh, left the road, and turning to the right took up +their position on the brow of Carberry Hill, and there waited the attack. +The English forces were marching forward with high spirit, and believed +that the Highlanders would not even wait their assault. Cope had with him +two thousand two hundred men, including the six hundred runaway dragoons. +The numbers, therefore, were nearly equal; but as the English were well +armed, disciplined, and equipped, while only about half the Highlanders +had muskets, and as they had, moreover, six pieces of artillery against +the one unserviceable gun of Prince Charles, they had every reason to +consider the victory to be certain. + +On seeing the Highland array Cope drew up his troops in order of +battle--his infantry in the centre, with a regiment of dragoons and three +pieces of artillery on each flank. His right was covered by a park wall +and by the village of Preston. On his left stood Seaton House, and in his +rear lay the sea, with the villages of Prestonpans and Cockenzie. Their +front was covered by a deep and difficult morass. + +It was now about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the Highlanders, +seeing that the English did not advance against them, clamoured to be led +to the attack. Prince Charles was himself eager to fight, but his +generals persuaded him to abstain from attacking the English in such a +formidable position. The Highlanders, however, fearing that the English +would again avoid a battle, were not satisfied until Lord Nairn with five +hundred men was detached to the westward to prevent the English from +marching off towards Edinburgh. + +During the night the two armies lay upon the ground. Cope retired to +sleep at Cockenzie, the prince lay down in the middle of his soldiers. +Before doing so, however, he held a council, and determined to attack +next morning in spite of the difficulty of the morass. But in the course +of the night Anderson of Whitburg, a gentleman well acquainted with the +country, bethought himself of a path from the height towards their right +by the farm of Ruigan Head, which in a great measure avoided the morass. +This important fact he imparted to Lord George Murray, who at once awoke +the prince. + +Locheil and some other chiefs were sent for, and it was determined to +undertake the enterprise at once. An aide de camp was sent to recall Lord +Nairn and his detachment, and under the guidance of Anderson the troops +made their way across the morass. This was not, however, accomplished +without great difficulty, as in some places they sank knee deep. The +march was unopposed, and covered by the darkness they made their way +across to firm ground just as the day was breaking dull and foggy. As +they did so, however, the dragoon outposts heard the sound of their +march, and firing their pistols galloped off to give the alarm. Sir John +Cope lost no time facing his troops about, and forming them in order of +battle. He was undisturbed while doing so, for the Highlanders were +similarly occupied. + +As the sun rose the mist cleared away, and the two armies stood face to +face. The Macdonalds had been granted the post of honour on the Highland +right, the line being completed by the Camerons and Stuarts, Prince +Charles with the second line being close behind. The Highlanders +uncovered their heads, uttered a short prayer, and then as the pipers +blew the signal they rushed forward, each clan in a separate mass, and +raising their war cry, the Camerons and Stuarts rushed straight at the +cannon on the left. + +These guns were served, not by Royal Artillerymen, but by some seamen +brought by Cope from the fleet. They, panic struck by the wild rush of +the Highlanders, deserted their guns and fled in all directions. Colonel +Gardiner called upon his dragoons to follow him, and with his officers +led them to the charge. But the Stuarts and Camerons, pouring in a volley +from their muskets, charged them with their broadswords, and the +dragoons, panic stricken, turned their horses and galloped off. + +The Macdonalds on the right had similarly captured three guns, and +charging with similar fury upon Hamilton's regiment of dragoons, drove +them off the field; Macgregor's company, who, for want of other weapons +were armed with scythes, doing terrible execution among the horses and +their riders. The English infantry, deserted by their cavalry, and with +their guns lost, still stood firm, and poured a heavy fire into the +Highlanders; but these, as soon as they had defeated the cavalry, faced +round and charged with fury upon both flanks of the infantry. Their +onslaught was irresistible. The heavy masses of the clans broke right +through the long line of the English infantry, and drove the latter +backward in utter confusion. But the retreat was impeded by the inclosure +and park wall of Preston, and the Highlanders pressing on, the greater +portion of the English infantry were killed or taken prisoners. + +A hundred and seventy of the infantry alone succeeded in making their +escape, four hundred were killed, and the rest captured. Colonel Gardiner +and many of his officers were killed fighting bravely, but the loss of +the dragoons was small. Only thirty of the Highlanders were killed, and +seventy wounded. The battle lasted but six minutes, and the moment it had +terminated Prince Charles exerted himself to the utmost to obtain mercy +for the vanquished. + +He treated the prisoners with the greatest kindness and consideration, +and the wounded were relieved without any distinction of friend or foe. +The dragoons fled to Edinburgh, and dashed up the hill to the castle; but +the governor refused to admit them, and threatened to open his guns upon +them as cowards who had deserted their colours. Later on in the day the +greater portion were rallied by Sir John Cope and the Earls of Loudon and +Home; but being seized with a fresh panic they galloped on again at full +speed as far as Coldstream, and the next morning continued their flight +in a state of disgraceful disorder as far as Berwick. The contents of the +treasure chest, consisting of two thousand five hundred pounds, with the +standards and other trophies, were brought to Prince Charles. The rest of +the spoil was divided among the Highlanders, of whom a great number +immediately set off towards their homes to place the articles they had +gathered in safety. + +So greatly was the Highland army weakened by the number of men who thus +left the ranks that the prince was unable to carry out his wish for an +instant advance into England. His advisers, indeed, were opposed to this +measure, urging that in a short time his force would be swelled by +thousands from all parts of Scotland; but unquestionably his own view was +the correct one, and had he marched south he would probably have met with +no resistance whatever on his march to London. There were but few troops +in England. A requisition had been sent to the Dutch by King George for +the six thousand auxiliaries they were bound to furnish, and a resolution +was taken to recall ten English regiments home from Flanders. + +Marshal Wade was directed to collect as many troops as he could at +Newcastle, and the militia of several counties was called out; but the +people in no degree responded to the efforts of the government. They +looked on coldly, not indeed apparently favouring the rebellion, but as +little disposed to take part against it. The state of public feeling was +described at the time by a member of the administration, Henry Fox, in a +private letter. + +"England, Wade says, and I believe, is for the first comer, and if you +can tell me whether these six thousand Dutch and the ten battalions of +England, or five thousand French or Spaniards, will be here first, you +know our fate. The French are not come, God be thanked; but had five +thousand landed in any part of this island a week ago, I verily believe +the entire conquest would not have cost a battle." + +The prince indeed was doing his best to obtain assistance from France, +conscious how much his final success depended upon French succour. + +King Louis for a time appeared favourable. The prince's brother, Henry of +York, had arrived from Rome, and the king proposed to place him at the +head of the Irish regiments in the king's service and several others to +enable him to effect a landing in England; but with his usual insincerity +the French king continued to raise difficulties and cause delays until it +was too late, and he thus lost for ever the chance of placing the family +who had always been warm friends of France, and who would in the event of +success have been his natural friends and allies, on the throne of +England. + +In the meantime Prince Charles had taken up his abode in Edinburgh, where +he was joined by most of the gentry of Scotland. He was proclaimed king +in almost every town of the Tweed, and was master of all Scotland, save +some districts beyond Inverness, the Highland forts, and the castles of +Edinburgh and Stirling.. Prince Charles behaved with the greatest +moderation. He forbade all public rejoicing for victory, saying that he +could not rejoice over the loss which his father's misguided subjects had +sustained. He abstained from any attempt to capture Edinburgh Castle, or +even to cut off its supplies, because the general of the castle +threatened that unless he were allowed to obtain provisions he would fire +upon the city and lay it in ruins, and he even refused to interfere with +a Scotch minister who continued from his pulpit to pray for King George. + +In one respect he carried his generosity so far as to excite discontent +among his followers. It was proposed to send one of the prisoners taken +at Preston to London with a demand for the exchange of prisoners taken or +to be taken in the war, and with the declaration that if this were +refused, and if the prince's friends who fell into the enemy's hands were +put to death as rebels, the prince would be compelled to treat his +captives in the same way. It was evident that this step would be of great +utility, as many of the prince's adherents hesitated to take up arms, not +from fear of death in battle, but of execution if taken prisoners. + +The prince, however, steadily refused, saying, "It is beneath me to make +empty threats, and I will never put such as this into execution. I cannot +in cold blood take away lives which I have saved in the heat of action." + +Six weeks after the victory the prince's army mustered nearly six +thousand men; but Macleod, Macdonald, and Lovat, who could have brought a +further force of four thousand men, still held aloof. Had these three +powerful chiefs joined at once after the battle of Prestonpans, Prince +Charles could have marched to London, and would probably have succeeded +in placing his father on the throne, without having occasion to strike +another blow; but they came not, and the delay caused during the +fruitless negotiations enabled the English troops to be brought over from +Flanders, while Prince Charles on his side only received a few small +consignments of arms and money from France. + +But in the meantime Edinburgh was as gay as if the Stuart cause had been +already won. Receptions and balls followed each other in close +succession, and Prince Charles won the hearts of all alike by his +courtesy and kindness, and by the care which he showed for the comfort of +his troops. + +At the commencement of the campaign Lord George Murray had but one aide +de camp besides Ronald. This was an officer known as the Chevalier de +Johnstone, who afterwards wrote a history of the campaign. After the +battle of Prestonpans he received a captain's commission, and immediately +raised a company, with which he joined the Duke of Perth's regiment. Two +other gentlemen of family were then appointed aides de camp, and this +afforded some relief to Ronald, whose duties had been extremely heavy. + +A week after the battle Lord George said to Ronald: + +"As there is now no chance of a movement at present, and I know that you +care nothing for the court festivities here, I propose sending you with +the officers who are riding into Glasgow tomorrow, with the orders of the +council that the city shall pay a subsidy of five thousand pounds towards +the necessities of the state. The citizens are Hanoverians to a man, and +may think themselves well off that no heavier charge is levied upon them. +Do you take an account of what warlike stores there are in the magazines +there, and see that all muskets and ammunition are packed up and +forwarded." + +The next morning Ronald started at daybreak with several other mounted +gentlemen and an escort of a hundred of Clanranald's men, under the +command of the eldest son of that chief, for Glasgow, and late the same +evening entered that city. They were received with acclamation by a part +of the population; but the larger portion of the citizens gazed at them +from their doorways as they passed in sullen hostility. They marched +direct to the barracks lately occupied by the English troops, the +gentlemen taking the quarters occupied by the officers. A notification +was at once sent to the provost to assemble the city council at nine +o'clock in the morning, to hear a communication from the royal council. + +As soon as Malcolm had put up Ronald's horse and his own in the stables, +and seen to their comfort, he and Ronald sallied out. It was now dark, +but they wrapped themselves up in their cloaks so as not to be noticed, +as in the hostile state of the town they might have been insulted and a +quarrel forced upon them, had they been recognized as two of the new +arrivals. The night, however, was dark, and they passed without +recognition through the ill lighted streets to the house of Andrew +Anderson. They rang at the bell. A minute later the grille was opened, +and a voice, which they recognized as that of Elspeth, asked who was +there, and what was their business. + +"We come to arrest one Elspeth Dow, as one who troubles the state and is +a traitor to his majesty." + +There was an exclamation from within and the door suddenly opened. + +"I know your voice, bairn. The Lord be praised that you have come back +home again!" and she was about to run forward, when she checked herself. +"Is it yourself, Ronald?" + +"It is no one else, Elspeth," he replied, giving the old woman a hearty +kiss. + +"And such a man as you have grown!" she exclaimed in surprise. For the +two years had added several inches to Ronald's stature, and he now stood +over six feet in height. + +"And have you no welcome for me, Elspeth?" Malcolm asked, coming forward. + +"The Lord preserve us!" Elspeth exclaimed. "Why, it's my boy Malcolm!" + +"Turned up again like a bad penny, you see, Elspeth." + +"What is it, Elspeth?" Andrew's voice called from above. "Who are these +men you are talking to, and what do they want at this time of night?" + +"They want some supper, Andrew," Malcolm called back, "and that badly." + +In a moment Andrew ran down and clasped his brother's hand. In the +darkness he did not notice Malcolm's companion, and after the first +greeting with his brother led the way up stairs. + +"It is my brother Malcolm," he said to his wife as he entered the room. + +Ronald followed Malcolm forward. As the light fell on his face Andrew +started, and, as Ronald smiled, ran forward and clasped him in his arms. + +"It is Ronald, wife! Ah, my boy, have you come back to us again?" + +Mrs. Anderson received Ronald with motherly kindness. + +"We had heard of your escape before your letter came to us from Paris. +Our city constables brought back the news of how you had jumped +overboard, and had been pulled into a boat and disappeared. And finely +they were laughed at when they told their tale. Then came your letter +saying that it was Malcolm who had met you with the boat, and how you had +sailed away and been wrecked on the coast of France; but since then we +have heard nothing." + +"I wrote twice," Ronald said; "but owing to the war there have been no +regular communications, and I suppose my letters got lost." + +"And I suppose you have both come over to have a hand in this mad +enterprise?" + +"I don't know whether it is mad or not, Andrew; but we have certainly +come over to have a hand in it," Malcolm said. "And now, before we have a +regular talk, let me tell you that we are famishing. I know your supper +is long since over, but doubtless Elspeth has still something to eat in +her cupboard. Oh, here she comes!" + +Elspeth soon placed a joint of cold meat upon the table, and Ronald and +Malcolm set to at once to satisfy their hunger. Then a jar of whiskey and +glasses were set upon the table, and pipes lighted, and Ronald began a +detailed narration of all that had taken place since they had last met. + +"Had my father and mother known that I was coming to Scotland, and should +have an opportunity of seeing you both, they would have sent you their +warmest thanks and gratitude for your kindness to me," he concluded. "For +over and over again have I heard them say how deeply they felt indebted +to you for your care of me during so many years, and how they wished that +they could see you and thank you in person." + +"What we did was done, in the first place, for my brother Malcolm, and +afterwards for love of you, Ronald; and right glad I am to hear that you +obtained the freedom of your parents and a commission as an officer in +the service of the King of France. I would be glad that you had come over +here on any other errand than that which brings you. Things have gone on +well with you so far; but how will they end? I hear that the Jacobites of +England are not stirring, and you do not think that with a few thousand +Highland clansmen you are going to conquer the English army that beat the +French at Dettingen, and well nigh overcame them at Fontenoy. Ah, lad, it +will prove a sore day for Scotland when Charles Stuart set foot on our +soil!" + +"We won't talk about that now, Andrew," Malcolm said good temperedly. +"The matter has got to be fought out with the sword, and if our tongues +were to wag all night they could make no difference one way or another. +So let us not touch upon politics. But I must say, that as far as Ronald +and I are concerned, we did not embark on this expedition because we had +at the moment any great intention of turning Hanoverian George off his +throne; but simply because Ronald had made France too hot to hold him, +and this was the simplest way that presented itself of getting out of the +country. As long as there are blows to be struck we shall do our best. +When there is no more fighting to be done, either because King James is +seated on his throne in London, or because the clans are scattered and +broken, we shall make for France again, where by that time I hope the +king will have got over the breach of his edict and the killing of his +favourite, and where Ronald's father and mother will be longing for his +presence." + +"Eh, but it's awful, sirs," Elspeth, who as an old and favourite servant +had remained in the room after laying the supper and listened to the +conversation, put in, "to think that a young gallant like our Ronald +should have slain a man! He who ought not yet to have done with his +learning, to be going about into wars and battles, and to have stood up +against a great French noble and slain him. Eh, but it's awful to think +of!" + +"It would be much more awful, Elspeth, if the French noble had killed me, +at least from the light in which I look at it." + +"That's true enough," Elspeth said. "And if he wanted to kill you, and it +does seem from what you say that he did want, of course I cannot blame +you for killing him; but to us quiet bodies here in Glasgow it seems an +awful affair; though, after you got in a broil here and drew on the city +watch, I ought not to be surprised at anything." + +"And now we must go," Ronald said, rising. "It is well nigh midnight, and +time for all decent people to be in bed." + + + +CHAPTER XV: A Mission. + + +The next morning early Ronald proceeded to take an inventory of the arms +and ammunition left behind by the troops when they had marched to join +Sir John Cope at Stirling. Having done this he saw that they were all +packed up in readiness to be sent off the next day under the escort, who +were also to convey the money which the city was required to pay. For the +provost and council, knowing that it was useless to resist the order, and +perhaps anxious in the present doubtful state of affairs to stand well +with Prince Charles, had arranged that the money should be forthcoming of +the following morning. After his work was over Ronald again spent the +evening at Andrew Anderson's. + +The next morning he returned to Edinburgh with the arms and escort. It +was late when he arrived; but as he knew that Lord George Murray would be +at work in his tent, he repaired there at once. + +"We have brought back the money and arms, Lord George. I have handed over +the arms and ammunition at the magazine tent, and those in charge of the +money have gone into the town with a part of the escort to give it over +to the treasurer." + +"How many arms did you get?" + +"Two hundred and twenty-three muskets and eighty pistols, fourteen kegs +of gunpowder, and well nigh a ton of lead." + +"That is more than I had expected. And now, Leslie, I have an important +mission for you. The prince this morning asked me whom I could recommend, +as a sure and careful person likely to do the business well, to go down +into Lancashire to visit the leading Jacobites there, and urge them to +take up arms. I said that I knew of none who would be more likely to +succeed than yourself. Your residence of two years in France has rubbed +off any Scotch dialect you may have had, and at any rate you could pass +for a northern Englishman. In the next place, your youth would enable you +to pass unsuspected where an older man might be questioned. The prince +agreed at once, and took shame to himself that he had not before given +promotion to one who was his companion on his voyage to Scotland, the +more so as he had made Johnstone a captain. Your claims are far greater +than his, and moreover you have served as an officer in the French army. +But, in truth, the fault is in some degree your own, for you spend all +your time in carrying out your duties, and do not show yourself at any of +the levees or festivities. And you know, with princes, as with other +people, out of sight is out of mind. However, the prince at once took +steps to repair the omission, and has signed your commission as captain. +Here it is. You will understand, of course, that it is for past services, +and that you are perfectly free to decline this mission to the south if +you would rather not undertake it. It is unquestionably a dangerous one." + +"I will undertake it readily, sir," Ronald said, "and I thank you +sincerely for bringing my name before the prince, and the prince himself +for his kindness in granting me his commission, which so far I have done +but little to win. I shall be able, I trust, to carry out this mission to +his satisfaction; and although I am ignorant of the country I shall have +the advantage of taking with me my brave follower, Malcolm Anderson, who +for years was in the habit of going with droves of cattle down into +Lancashire, and will not only know the country but have acquaintances +there, and being known as a drover would pass without suspicion of his +being engaged with politics." + +"That will do well," Lord George said. "I will get the list of persons on +whom you should call prepared tomorrow. You had best go to Sir Thomas +Sheridan and Francis Strickland, who came over with you, and get them to +present you to Secretary Murray and recommend you to him. If he hears +that your mission is of my recommendation he will do all he can to set +the prince against you. Everything that I do is wrong in his eyes, and I +do believe that he would ruin the cause in order to injure me, did he see +no other way to accomplish that end. Therefore, if he mentions my name, +as he is like to do, knowing that you have been my aide de camp, be sure +that you say nought in my favour, or it will ruin you with him. You will, +of course, attend the prince's levee tomorrow, and had best make +preparation to start at nightfall." + +The next day, accordingly, Ronald called upon Sir Thomas Sheridan and +Strickland, and telling them that the prince had determined to send him +on a mission into Lancashire, asked them to present him to Secretary +Murray, from whom he would receive orders for his guidance and +instruction as to the persons whom he was to visit. The two gentlemen +proceeded with him to the house in which Secretary Murray had taken up +his abode, and introduced him, with much warmth, as a fellow passenger on +board the Doutelle. + +"You have been serving since as Lord Murray's aide de camp?" + +"Yes, sir, the prince recommended me to him at Perth, and I have since +had the honour to carry his orders." + +"Captain Leslie, for so the prince has granted him a commission," Sir +Thomas said, "has served two years in the French army, and was present at +Dettingen and Fontenoy. He mentioned to me on the voyage that he had the +honour of being presented by Marshal Saxe to the King of France, and that +he received his commission from the marshal, to whom he had acted as aide +de camp at Fontenoy." + +"You have begun well, indeed, young sir," Murray said, "to have received +at your age, for I judge that you are not yet twenty, commissions in the +French army and ours." + +Ronald bowed. + +"He has another claim upon all you Scottish gentlemen," Sir Thomas said, +"for Colonel Macdonald told us, when he introduced him to us at Nantes, +that it was through his interference and aid alone that he escaped safely +from Glasgow, and that all his papers, with the names of the king's +friends in Scotland, did not fall into George's hands. He was taken +prisoner for his share in that affair, but escaped from the ship in the +Thames, and succeeded in crossing to France. So you see, young as he is, +he has rendered good service to the cause." + +The expression of the secretary's face, which had before been cold and +distant, changed at once. He had been aware that Ronald had been chosen +for this business on the recommendation of Lord George Murray, and his +jealousy of that nobleman had at once set him against Ronald, of whose +antecedents he was entirely ignorant; but what he now heard entirely +altered the case, and disposed him most favourably towards him, +especially as his own name would have been one of the most prominent in +the list, he having been in constant communication with Colonel Macdonald +during the stay of the latter in Scotland. + +"I had no idea it was to you that we are all so indebted," he said +warmly. "I heard from Colonel Macdonald, after his return from France, +that he owed his escape entirely to the quickness and bravery of a young +gentleman of whose name he was ignorant, but who, he feared, would suffer +for his interference on his behalf, and prayed me and all other loyal +gentlemen of Scotland to befriend you should they ever discover your +name, for that we assuredly owed it to you that we escaped imprisonment, +if not worse. I am truly glad to meet you and thank you in person. And so +you are going on this mission?" + +"I have undertaken to do my best, sir. Fortunately I have a faithful +follower who fought beside my father in '15, followed him to France and +fought by his side in the Scottish Dragoons for fifteen years, and who +has since been my best friend. He worked for years, when I was a child, +as a drover of cattle from the Highlands into England. He knows +Cumberland and Lancashire well, and would be known at every wayside inn. +He will accompany me, and I shall pass as his nephew, therefore no +suspicion will be likely to light upon me." + +"And you set out tonight?" + +"Yes, sir, if my orders and letters are ready." + +"There will not be many letters," the secretary said. "It would not do +for you to have documents upon you which might betray you and our friends +there should you be arrested. I will give you a list of the gentlemen on +whom you have to call, which you had best learn by heart and destroy +before you cross the frontier. You shall have one paper only, and that +written so small that it can be carried in a quill. This you can show to +one after the other. If you find you are in danger of arrest you can +destroy or swallow it. I will give them to you at the prince's levee this +afternoon, and will send to your tent a purse of gold for your expenses." + +"I shall need but little for that, sir," Ronald said smiling. + +"For your expenses, no," the secretary said; "but one never can say what +money may be required for. You may have to buy fresh horses, you may want +it to bribe someone to conceal you. Money is always useful, my young +friend. By the way, what family of Leslies do you belong to? I heard that +one of your name had accompanied the prince, but no more." + +"My father was Leslie of Glenlyon." + +"Indeed!" the secretary exclaimed. "Of course, I know the name well. The +lands were confiscated; but we shall soon set that right, and I will see +that they are added to when the time comes to reward the king's friends +and punish his foes." + +Ronald now took his leave and returned to Malcolm, who was making +preparation for the enterprise. He had already purchased two suits of +clothes, such as would be worn by Lowland drovers, and was in high +spirits, being more elated than was Ronald himself at the latter's +promotion. In the course of the day he bought two rough ponies, as being +more suitable for the position they were to assume than the horses with +which they had been furnished at Perth. Ronald attended the levee, and +thanked the prince for the favour which he bestowed upon him. + +"You are a young gentleman after my own heart," Prince Charles said, "and +I promised myself on shipboard that we should be great friends; but I +have been so busy since I landed, and you have been so occupied in my +service, that I have seen but little of you. On your return I hope that I +shall be able to have you near my person. I am half jealous of you, for +while you are younger than I am you have seen good service and taken part +in great battles, but hitherto I have led a life almost of idleness." + +Ronald bowed deeply at the prince's gracious speech. On his return to his +tent he found a messenger from the secretary with a purse which, on +counting its contents, they found to amount to a hundred guineas. + +They started immediately, and travelled twenty miles before stopping for +the night at a small wayside inn. + +"This seems like old times to me," Malcolm said as, after eating supper, +they sat by a turf fire, "except that on my way down I had the herd to +look after. There is no fear of our being questioned or suspected till we +reach the border, for there is not an English soldier between the Forth +and the Tweed; nor is it likely that we shall meet with any difficulty +whatever till we get to Carlisle. Cope's forces, or what remain of them, +are at Newcastle, and it will be there that the English will gather, and +the western road is likely to be open until, at any rate, Prince Charles +moves south. George's troops have plenty to think about without +interfering with the Lowlands drovers. At the same time, after we have +once crossed the Tweed, we may as well leave the high road. I know every +bypath over the fells." + +On the third day after starting they crossed the border and were among +the hills of Cumberland. They found that among the villages great +apprehension existed. The tales of the rapine and destruction wrought in +the old times by the Scottish forays had been handed down from father to +son, and nothing less than the destruction of their homes and the loss of +their flocks and herds was looked for. Malcolm was welcomed warmly at the +little village inn where they put up for the night. + +"Why, it's well nigh three years since I saw you last," the host said, +"and before that it was seldom two months without our seeing you. What +have you been doing with yourself?" + +"I have been gathering the herds in the Highlands," Malcolm said, "while +others have driven them down for sale; but at present my occupation is +gone. The Highlanders are swarming like angry bees whose hive has been +disturbed, and even if we could collect a herd it would not be safe to +drive it south; it would be seized and despatched to Edinburgh for the +use of the clans there." + +"Is it true that there are fifty thousand of them, and that they have +sworn to kill every English man, woman, and child?" + +"No, they are not so strong as that," Malcolm said. "From what I hear I +should say they were not more than half; and I do not think there is any +occasion for peaceful people to be afraid, for they say that the prince +has treated all the prisoners who fell into his hands in the kindest +manner, and that he said that the English are his father's subjects as +well as the Scots, and that he will see that harm is done to no man." + +"I am right glad to hear it," the innkeeper said. "I don't know that I am +much afraid myself; but my wife and daughter are in a terrible fright, +and wanted me to quit the house and go south till it is all over." + +"There is no occasion for that, man," Malcolm said; "you will have no +reason for fear were the whole of the clans to march through your +village, unless you took it into your head to stand at the door and +shout, 'God bless King George.'" + +"I care not a fig about King George or King James," the man said. "It's +nought to me who is king at London, and as far as I know that's the way +with all here. Let them fight it out together, and leave us hard working +folks to ourselves." + +"I don't suppose either James or George would care for that," Malcolm +said laughing; "but from what I have heard of Prince Charles I should say +that there is nothing in the world that he would like better than to +stand with broadsword or dagger against the Duke of Cumberland, and so +settle the dispute." + +"That would be the most sensible thing to my mind," the innkeeper said; +"but what brings you here, Anderson, since you have no herd with you?" + +"I am just getting out of it all," Malcolm said. "I have had my share of +hard knocks, and want no more of them. I don't want to quarrel with +Highlanders or Lowlanders, and as trade is at a standstill at present, +and there's nothing for me to do in the Highlands, I thought I would come +south till it was all over. There is money to collect and things to look +after, and I have to notify to our regular customers that the herds will +come down again as soon as the tempest is over; and between ourselves," +he said in a lower voice, "I wanted to get my nephew out of harm's way. +He has a hankering to join the prince's army, and I don't want to let him +get his brains knocked out in a quarrel which isn't his, so I have +brought him along with me." + +"He is a good looking young fellow, I can see, and a strong one. I don't +wonder that he wanted to mount the white cockade; lads are always wanting +to run their heads into danger. You have had your share of it, as you +say; still you are wise to keep the lad out of it. I don't hold with +soldiering, or fighting in quarrels that don't concern you. + +Malcolm and Ronald travelled through Cumberland and Westmoreland, calling +upon many of the gentlemen to whom the latter had been charged to deliver +Prince Charles's messages. They could not, however, flatter themselves +that their mission was a success, for from few of those on whom they +called did they receive assurances that they were prepared to take +action; all the gentlemen professed affection for the Stuarts, but +deprecated a descent into England unless the prince were accompanied by a +strong body of French troops. + +The rising of '15 had been disastrous for the Jacobites of the North of +England, and though all declared that they were ready again to take up +arms and risk all for the cause of the Stuarts, if the prince was at the +head of a force which rendered success probable, they were unanimously of +opinion that it would be nothing short of madness to rise until at any +rate the prince had marched into England at the head of a strong army. + +The principal personage upon whom they called was Mr. Ratcliff, a brother +of the Earl of Derwentwater, who had been executed after the rising of +'15. That gentleman assured them that he himself was ready to join the +prince as soon as he came south, but that he wished the prince to know +that in his opinion no large number of English would join. + +"The memory of '15 is still too fresh," he said; "while the Stuarts have +been absent so long that, although there are great numbers who would +prefer them to the Hanoverians, I do not believe that men have the cause +sufficiently at heart to risk life and property for it. Many will give +their good wishes, but few will draw their swords. That is what I wish +you to say to Prince Charles. Among gentlemen like myself the feeling of +respect and loyalty to his father's house is as strong as ever, and we +shall join him, however desperate, in our opinion, the chances of success +may be; but he will see that the common people will stand aloof, and +leave the battle to be fought out by the clansmen on our side and +George's troops on the other." + +Some weeks were passed in traversing the country to and fro, for the +desired interviews were often only obtained after considerable loss of +time. They could not ride up as two Highland drovers to a gentleman's +house, and had to wait their chances of meeting those they wished to see +on the high road, or of sending notes requesting an interview, couched in +such terms that while they would be understood by those to whom they were +addressed they would compromise no one if they fell into other hands. +There was indeed the greatest necessity for caution, for the authorities +in all the towns and villages had received orders from the government to +be on the lookout for emissaries from the north, and they were frequently +exposed to sharp examination and questioning. Indeed it was only +Malcolm's familiarity with the country, and the fact that he had so many +acquaintances ready to testify that he was, as he said, a Scotch drover, +in the habit for many years of journeying down from the north with +cattle, that enabled them to escape arrest. + +After much thought they had decided upon a place of concealment for the +quill containing Ronald's credentials, which would, they thought, defy +the strictest scrutiny. A hole had been bored from the back into the heel +of Ronald's boot deep enough to contain the quill, and after this was +inserted in the hiding place the hole was filled up with cobbler's wax, +so that it would need a close examination indeed to discover its +existence. Thus, although they were several times closely searched, no +document of a suspicious nature was found upon them. + +Their money was the greatest trouble, as the mere fact of so large a sum +being carried by two drovers would in itself have given rise to +suspicions, although had they been on their return towards Scotland the +possession of such an amount would have been easily explained as the +proceeds of the sale of the cattle they had brought down. They had +therefore left the greater part of it with a butcher in Carlisle, with +whom Malcolm had often had dealings, retaining only ten pounds for their +necessary expenses. + +The day after they reached Manchester four constables came to the little +inn where they were stopping and told them that they were to accompany +them before the magistrates. + +"I should like to know what offence we are charged with," Malcolm said +angrily. "Things have come to a pretty pass, indeed, when quiet drovers +are to be hauled before magistrates without rhyme or reason." + +"You will hear the charge quickly enough when you are before their +worships," the constable said; "but that is no affair of mine--my +orders are simply to take you there." + +"Well, of course we must go," Malcolm said grumblingly; "but here we have +been well nigh twenty years travelling to and fro between England and +Scotland, as my host here can testify, without such a thing happening +before. I suppose somebody has been robbed on the highway, and so you +sharp sighted gentlemen clap hands on the first people you come across." + +Three magistrates were sitting when Ronald and Malcolm were brought into +the courthouse. They were first asked the usual questions as to their +names and business, and then one of the magistrates said: + +"Your story is a very plausible one; but it happens that I have here +before me the reports, sent in from a score of different places, for in +times like these it is needful to know what kinds of persons are +travelling through the country, and two men answering to your description +are reported to have visited almost every one of these places. It is +stated in nearly every report that you are drovers ordinarily engaged in +bringing down herds of Highland cattle, and it is added that in every +case this account was verified by persons who have previously known you. +All this would seem natural enough, but you seem to have journeyed hither +and thither without any fixed object. Sometimes you have stopped for two +days at little villages, where you could have had no business, and, in +short, you seem for upwards of a month to have been engaged in wandering +to and fro in such a way as is wholly incompatible with the affairs upon +which you say you were engaged." + +"But you will observe, sir," Malcolm said quietly, "that I have not said +I am engaged upon any affairs whatever. I am not come to England on +business, but solely to escape from the troubles which have put a stop to +my trade in the Highlands, and as for fifteen years I was engaged in +journeying backwards and forwards, and had many friends and +acquaintances, I came down partly, as I have said, to avoid being mixed +up in the trouble, partly to call upon old acquaintances, and partly to +introduce to them my nephew, who is new to the work, and will shortly be +engaged in bringing down cattle here. I thought the present was a good +opportunity to show him all the roads and halting places in order that he +might the better carry out the business." + +"Your story has been well got up," one of the magistrates said, "though I +doubt whether there be a single word of truth in it. However, you will be +at present searched, and detained until we get to the bottom of the +matter. This is not a time when men can travel to and fro through the +country without exciting a suspicion that they are engaged upon other +than lawful business. At present I tell you that in our eyes your conduct +appears to be extremely suspicious." + +The prisoners were then taken to a cell and searched with the utmost +rigour. Their clothes were examined with scrupulous care, many of the +seams being cut open and the linings slit, to see if any documents were +concealed there. Their shoes were also carefully examined; but the mud +had dried over the opening where the quill was concealed, and the +officials failed to discover it. Even their sticks were carefully +examined to see if they contained any hollow place; but at last, +convinced that had they been the bearers of any documents these must have +been discovered, the officials permitted them to resume their clothes, +and then paying no heed to the angry complaints of Malcolm at the state +to which the garments had been reduced, they left the prisoners to +themselves. + +"Be careful what you say," Malcolm whispered to Ronald. "Many of these +places have cracks or peepholes, so that the prisoners can be watched and +their conversation overheard." + +Having said this Malcolm indulged in a long and violent tirade on the +hardship of peaceful men being arrested and maltreated in this way, and +at the gross stupidity of magistrates in taking an honest drover known to +half the countryside for a Jacobite spy. Ronald replied in similar +strains, and any listeners there might have been would certainly have +gained nothing from the conversation they overheard. + +"I should not be surprised," Malcolm said in low tones when night had +come and all was quiet, "if some of our friends outside try to help us. +The news will speedily spread that two men of the appearance of drovers +have been taken on suspicion of being emissaries from Scotland, and it +will cause no little uneasiness among all those on whom we have called. +They cannot tell whether any papers have been found upon us, nor what we +may reveal to save ourselves, so they will have a strong interest in +getting us free if possible." + +"If we do get free, Malcolm, the sooner we return to Scotland the better. +We have seen almost all those whom we are charged to call upon, and we +are certainly in a position to assure the prince that he need hope for no +rising in his favour here before he comes, and that it is very doubtful +that any numbers will join him if he marches south." + +The next morning they were removed from the cell in which they had been +placed to the city jail, and on the following day were again brought +before the magistrates. + +"You say that you have been calling on people who know you," one of the +magistrates began; "and as I told you the other day we know that you have +been wandering about the country in a strange way, I now requite that you +shall tell us the names of all the persons with whom you have had +communication." + +The question was addressed to Malcolm as the oldest of the prisoners. +Ronald looked round the court, which was crowded with people, and thought +that in several places he could detect an expression of anxiety rather +than curiosity. + +"It will be a long story," Malcolm said in a drawling voice, "and I would +not say for sure but that I may forget one or two, seeing that I have +spoken with so many. We came across the hills, and the first person we +spoke to was Master Fenwick, who keeps the Collie Dog at Appleswade. I +don't know whether your worship knows the village. I greeted him as +usual, and asked him how the wife and children had been faring since I +saw him last. He said they were doing brawly, save that the eldest boy +had twisted his ankle sorely among the fells." + +"We don't want to hear all this nonsense," the magistrate said angrily. +"We want a list of persons, not what you said to them." + +"It will be a hard task," Malcolm said simply; "but I will do the best I +can, your worship, and I can do no more. Let me think, there was Joseph +Repton and Nat Somner--at least I think it was Nat, but I won't be sure +to his Christian name--and John Dykes, and a chap they called Pitman, +but I don't know his right name." + +"Who were all these people?" the magistrate asked. + +"Joe Repton, he is a wheelwright by trade, and Nat Somner he keeps the +village shop. I think the others are both labouring men. Anyhow they were +all sitting at the tap of the Collie Dog when I went in." + +"But what have we to do with these fellows?" the magistrate exclaimed +angrily. + +"I don't know no more than a child," Malcolm said; "but your worship +ordered me to tell you just the names of the persons I met, and I am +doing so to the best of my ability." + +"Take care, prisoner," the magistrate said sternly; "you are trifling +with the court. You know what I want you to tell me. You have been to +these villages," and he read out some fifteen names. "What did you go +there for, and whom did you see?" + +"That is just what I was trying to tell your worship in regular order, +but directly I begin you stop me. I have been going through this district +for fifteen years, and I am known in pretty well every village in +Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire. Having been away for three +years, and my trade being stopped by the war, as your worship well knows, +I have been going round having a crack with the people I know. Such as +were butchers I promised some fine animals next time I came south; such +as were innkeepers I stayed a night with and talked of old times. If your +worship will have patience with me I can tell you all the names and what +I said to each of them, and what they said to me, and all about it." + +"I don't want to know about these things. I am asking you whether you +have not been calling on some of the gentry." + +"Indeed, now," Malcolm said with an air of astonishment, "and this is the +first time that I have heard a word about the gentry since I came into +the court. Well, let me think now, I did meet Squire Ringwood, and he +stopped his horse and said to me: 'Is that you, Malcolm Anderson, you +rascal;' and I said, 'It's me, sure enough, squire;' and he said, 'You +rascal, that last score of beasts I bought of you--'" + +"Silence!" shouted the magistrate as a titter ran through the court. "All +this fooling will do you no good, I can tell you. We believe that you are +a traitor to the king and an emissary of the Pretender. If you make a +clean breast of it, and tell me the names of those with whom you have +been having dealings, there may be a hope of mercy for you; but if not, +we shall get at the truth other ways, and then your meanness of condition +will not save you from punishment." + +"Your worship must do as you like," Malcolm said doggedly. "I have done +my best to answer your questions, and you jump down my throat as soon as +I open my mouth. What should a man of my condition have to do with kings +or pretenders? They have ruined my trade between them, and I care not +whether King George or King James get the best of it, so that they do but +make an end of it as soon as possible, and let me bring down my herds +again. There's half a dozen butchers in the town who know me, and can +speak for me. I have sold thousands of beasts to Master Tregold; but if +this is the treatment an honest man meets with I ain't likely to sell +them any more, for as soon as I am let free and get the money the +constables have taken from me I am off to Glasgow and if I ever come +south of the border again, may I be hung and quartered." + +Finding that nothing was to be made out of the prisoners, the magistrate +ordered them to be taken back to jail. + + + +CHAPTER XVI: The March to Derby. + + +Two days later when the jailer brought in breakfast to their cell he +dropped on the table by the side of the loaf a tiny ball of paper, and +then without a word went out and locked the back door. Malcolm put his +finger to his lips as Ronald was about to utter an exclamation of joy. + +"One's appetite is not as good here as it was when we were tramping the +hills, Ronald; but one looks forward to one's meals; they form a break in +the time." + +So saying, he took up one of the lumps of bread and began to ear, +securing at the same time the pellet of paper. "We can't be too careful," +he said in a whisper. "It is quite possible that they may be able to +overhear us." + +"I don't see how," Ronald replied in the same tone; "I see no crack or +crevice through which sound could pass." + +"You may not see one," Malcolm said, "but it may exist for all that. One +of the boards of the ceiling may be as thin as paper, and anyone +listening through could hear every word we say when we speak in our +natural voices. The magistrates evidently believe that they have made a +valuable capture, and would give anything to prove that their suspicions +are correct. Now, I will go and stand at that grated opening and look at +this paper, if they are watching us they will see nothing then." + +The little piece of paper when unfolded contained but a few words: "Keep +up your courage. You have friends without working for you. Destroy this." + +Malcolm at once again rolled up the pellet, put it into his mouth and +swallowed it, and then whispered to Ronald what he had just read. + +"I thought," he whispered, "that we should soon get a message of some +sort. The news of our arrest will have set the hearts of a score of +people quaking, and they would do anything now to get us out from this +prison. They have already, you see, succeeded in bribing our warder." + +At his evening visit the warder passed into Ronald's hand a small parcel, +and then, as before, went out without speaking. + +"I am confirmed in the belief that we can be overheard," Malcolm said. +"Had the man not been afraid of listeners he would have spoken to us. Now +let us see what he has brought us this time." + +The parcel contained a small file, a saw made of watch spring, and a tiny +phial of oil. + +"So far so good," Malcolm said quietly. "Our way through these bars is +clear enough now. But that is only the beginning of our difficulties. +This window looks into the prison yard, and there is a drop of some forty +feet to begin with. However, I have no doubt our friends will send us the +means of overcoming these difficulties in due course. All we have to +concern ourselves about now is the sawing through of these bars." + +As soon as it was dark they began the work, relieving each other in +turns. The oil prevented much sound being made, but to deaden it still +further they wrapped a handkerchief over the file. The bars had been but +a short time in position and the iron was new and strong. It was +consequently some hours before they completed their work. When they had +done, the grating was left in the position it before occupied, the cuts +being concealed from any but close observation by kneading up small +pieces of bread and pressing them into them, and then rubbing the edges +with iron filings. + +"That will do for tonight," Malcolm said. "No one is likely to pay us a +visit; but if they did, they would not notice the bars unless they went +up and shook them. Tomorrow morning we can put a finishing touch to the +work." + +As soon as it was daylight they were upon their feet. + +"It does very well as it is," Malcolm said, examining the grating. "It is +good enough to pass, and we need not trouble further about it. Now +collect every grain of those iron filings. No, don't do that on any +account," he broke in, as Ronald was preparing to blow some of it from +the lower stonework through the opening. "Were you to do that, it would +be quite possible that one of the prisoners walking in the yard might see +it, and would as likely as not report the circumstance to one of the +warders in order to curry favour and perhaps obtain a remission of his +sentence. Scrape it inside and pour every atom down the crevices in the +floor. That done, we are safe unless anyone touches the grating." + +They watched their warder attentively when he next came into the cell, +but this time he had no message for them. "We must not be impatient," +Malcolm said; "our friends have a good many arrangements to make, for +they will have to provide for our getting away when we are once out; +besides, they will probably have to bribe other warders, and that kind of +thing can't be done in a hurry." + +It was not for another two days that the warder made any fresh sign. +Then, as on the first occasion, he placed a pellet of paper on the table +with their bread. + +"This is a good deal larger than the last," Ronald whispered. + +It was not until some little time after they had finished their meal that +Ronald moved to the grating and unrolled the little ball of paper; it +contained only the words: + +"You will receive a rope this evening. With this lower yourselves from +your window into the courtyard. Start when you hear the church bells +strike midnight, cross the court and stand against the wall near the +right hand corner of the opposite side. The third window on the second +floor will be opened, and a rope lowered to you. Attach yourselves to +this, and you will be pulled up from above." + +After reading the note Ronald passed it on to Malcolm, who, as before, +swallowed it, but had this time to tear it into several pieces before +doing so. The warder was later bringing their supper than usual that +evening, and it was dark when he came in. As he entered the room he let +the lamp fall which he carried. + +"Confound the thing!" he said roughly. "Here, take hold of this bread, +and let me feel for the lamp. I can't be bothered with going down to get +another light. You can eat your supper in the dark just as well, I have +no doubt." + +As he handed Ronald the bread he also pushed into his hand the end of the +rope, and while he pretended to search for the lamp he turned round and +round rapidly, and so unwound the rope, which was twisted many times +round his body. As soon as this was done he picked up the lamp, and with +a rough "Goodnight," left them. + +"It is just as I suspected," Malcolm said in Ronald's ear. "There is a +peephole somewhere, otherwise there could be no occasion for him to have +dropped the lamp. It is well that we have always been on our guard." + +They ate their bread in silence, and then after a short talk on the +stupidity of the English in taking two drovers for messengers of Prince +Charles, they lay down on their rough pallets to pass with what patience +they could the long hours before midnight, for it was late in October, +and it was little after five o'clock when the warder visited them. They +felt but slight anxiety as to the success of the enterprise, for they had +no doubt that every detail had been carefully arranged by their friends +without, although certainly it seemed a strange method of escape that +after lowering themselves from a third floor window they should +afterwards be hauled up into a second. At last, after what seemed almost +an endless watch, they heard the church clocks strike twelve, and +simultaneously rose to their feet. Not a word was spoken, for although it +was improbable in the extreme that any watcher would be listening at that +hour of the night, it was well to take every precaution. The grating was +lifted out and laid down on one of the couches so that all noise should +be avoided. The rope was then strongly fastened to the stump of one of +the iron bars. + +"Now, Malcolm, I will give you a leg up; I am younger and more active +than you are, so you had better go first." + +Without debating the question, Malcolm put his foot on Ronald's hand, and +in a moment was seated in the opening of the window. Grasping the rope he +let himself quietly out, and lowered himself to the ground, reaching it +so noiselessly that Ronald, who was listening, did nor hear a sound. +After waiting a minute, however, he sprang up on to the sill, and feeling +that the rope was slack, was soon by Malcolm's side below. Then both +removed their shoes and hung them round their necks, and walking +noiselessly across the court they took up their post under the window +indicated in the note. In less than a minute the end of a rope was +dropped upon their heads. + +"You go first this time, Ronald," Malcolm said, and fastened it beneath +Ronald's arms. Then he gave a pull at the rope to show that they were +ready. The rope tightened, and Ronald found himself swinging in the air. +He kept himself from scraping against the walls by his hands and feet, +and was especially careful as he passed the window on the first floor. In +a minute he was pulled into the room on the second floor by the men who +had hoisted him up. A low "Hush!" warned him that there was still a +necessity for silence. The rope was lowered again, and Ronald lent his +aid to hoist Malcolm up to the window. As soon as he was in, it was as +slowly and carefully closed. + +"You are mighty heavy, both of you," a voice whispered. "I should not +have thought it would have been such hard work to lift a man up this +height. Now, follow us, and be sure you make no noise." + +Two flights of stairs were descended, and then they stood before a small +but heavy door; some bolts were drawn and a key turned in the lock, this +being done so noiselessly that Ronald was sure they must have been +carefully oiled. The two men passed through with them, locking the door +behind them. + +"Thank God we are out!" Malcolm said fervently. "I have been in a watch +house more than once in my young days, but I can't say I like it better +as I grow older." They walked for some minutes, and then their guides +opened a door and they entered a small house. + +"Stir up those peats, Jack," one of the men said, "and blow them a bit, +while I feel for a candle." + +In a minute or two a light was obtained. + +"That's very neatly done, I think, gentlemen," laughed the man addressed +as Jack, and who they now saw was the warder who had attended upon them. +"We had rare trouble in hitting upon that plan. The cell you were in +opened upon a corridor, the doors to which are always locked by the chief +constable himself; and even if we could have got at his key, and opened +one of them, we should have been no nearer escape, for two of the warders +sleep in the lodge, and there would be no getting out without waking +them, and they could not be got at. They are both of them married men, +with families, and that sort of man does not care about running risks, +unless he happens to be tired of his wife and wanting a change. Nat here +and I have no incumbrances, and weren't sorry of a chance to shift. +Anyhow, there was no way, as far as we could see, of passing you out +through that part of the prison, and at last the idea struck us of +getting you out the way we did. That wing of the jail is only used for +debtors, and they are nothing like so strict on that side as they are on +the other. Some of the warders sleep there, so there was no difficulty in +getting hold of the key for an hour and having a duplicate made. Till +yesterday all the cells were full, and we had to wait till a man, whose +time was just up, moved out. After that it was clear sailing." + +"Well, we are immensely obliged to you," Ronald said. + +"Oh, you needn't be obliged to us," the warder replied; "we are well paid +for the job, and have a promise of good berths if Prince Charles gets the +best of it. Anyhow, we shall both make for London, where we have +acquaintances. Now we are going to dress up; there's no time to be lost +talking. There is a light cart waiting for us and horses for you half a +mile outside the town." + +He opened a cupboard and took our two long smock frocks, which he and his +companion put on. + +"Now, gentlemen, will you put on these two suits of soldiers' clothes. I +think they will about fit you." + +Ronald and Malcolm were soon attired as dragoons. + +"There's a regiment of them here," the man said, "so there was no +difficulty in buying a cast off suit and getting these made from it. As +to the helmets, I guess there will be a stir about them in the morning. +We got hold of a soldier today and told him we wanted a couple of helmets +for a lark, and he said, for a bottle of brandy he would drop them out of +a barrack window at ten o'clock tonight; and he kept his word. Two of +them will be surprised in the morning when they find that their helmets +have disappeared; as to the swords and belts, I don't know that they are +quite right; they were bought at an old shop, and I believe they are +yeomanry swords, but I expect they are neat enough. I was to give you +this letter to take with you; it is, as you see, directed to General Wade +at Newcastle, and purports to come from the colonel of your regiment +here, so that if by any chance you are questioned on the way, that will +serve as a reason for your journeying north. Here is a purse of twenty +guineas; I think that's about all." + +"But are we not to see those who have done us such service," Ronald +asked, "in order that we may thank them in person?" + +"I don't know who it is any more than the man in the moon," the warder +replied. "It was a woman dressed as a serving wench, though I doubt it +was only a disguise, who came to me. She met me in the street and asked +me if I should like to earn fifty pounds. I said I had no objection, and +then after a good deal of beating about the bush it came out that what +was wanted was that I should aid in your escape. I didn't see my way to +working it alone, and I told her so. She said she was authorized to offer +the same sum to another, so I said I would talk it over with Nat. He +agreed to stand in, and between us we thought about the arrangements; but +I never got to know any more about her. It was nothing to me whom the +money came from, as long as it was all right. We have had half down, and +are to have the other half when we get to the cart with you. And now if +you are ready we will be starting. The further we get away from here +before morning the better." + +They made their way quietly along the streets. The town was in total +darkness, and they did not meet a single person abroad, and in a quarter +of an hour they were in the open country. Another ten minutes and they +came upon the cart and horses. Three men were standing beside them, and +the impatient stamp of a horse's hoof showed that the horses were tied up +closely. A lantern was held up as the party came up. + +"All safe?" + +"All safe," Ronald replied. "Thanks, many thanks to you for our freedom." + +The man holding the lantern was masked, so they could not see his face. +He first turned to the two warders, and placed a bag of money in their +hand. + +"You have done your work well," he said; "the cart will take you thirty +miles on your road, and then drop you. I wish you a safe journey. You had +best hide your money in your boots, unless you wish it to fall into the +hands of highwaymen. The London road is infested with them." + +With a word of farewell to Ronald and Malcolm, the two warders climbed +into the cart, one of them mounted beside them and took the reins, and in +another minute the cart drove away in the darkness. As soon as it had +started the man with the lantern removed his mask. + +"Mr. Ratcliff!" Ronald exclaimed in surprise. + +"Yes, it is myself. There are half a dozen of us engaged in the matter. +As soon as we heard of your arrest we determined to get you out. I was +only afraid you would have been taken up to London before we could get +all our plans arranged, for I knew they had sent up for instructions. It +was well that we were ready to act tonight, for orders were received this +afternoon that you should be sent up under an escort tomorrow. You +puzzled them rarely at your examination, and they could make nothing of +you. Our greatest fear was that you might betray yourselves in the prison +when you fancied you were alone, for we learned from the men who have +just left us that you were placed in a special cell where all that you +said could be overheard, and your movements to some extent watched +through a tiny hole in the wall communicating with the cell next to it. +It widens out on that side so that a man can get his ear or his eye to +the hole, which is high up upon the wall, and but a quarter of an inch +across, so that it could scarcely be observed unless by one who knew of +its existence. The warder said that they could hear plainly enough +through this hole, but could see very little. However, they do not seem +to have gathered much that way." + +"We were on guard, sir; my friend Malcolm thought it possible that there +might be some such contrivance." + +"And now, my young friend," Mr. Ratcliff said, "you had best mount at +once; follow this road for half a mile, and then take the broad road to +the left; you cannot mistake it. It goes straight to Penrith. You have +got the letter to General Wade?" + +"Yes, sir, and the money; we are indeed in every way greatly indebted to +you." + +"Say nothing about it," Mr. Ratcliff said. "I am risking my life as well +as my fortune in the cause of Prince Charles, and this money is on his +service. I hear he is already on the march south. Repeat to him when you +join him what I have already told you, namely, that I and other gentlemen +will assuredly join him; but that I am convinced there will be no general +rising in his favour unless a French army arrive to his assistance. The +delay which has taken place has, in my opinion, entirely destroyed his +chances, unless he receives foreign assistance. Wade has ten thousand men +at Newcastle, the Duke of Cumberland has gathered eight thousand in the +Midlands, and there is a third army forming to cover London. Already many +of the best regiments have returned from Holland, and each day adds to +their number. Do all you can to dissuade him from advancing until French +aid arrives; but tell him also that if he comes with but half a dozen +followers, Charles Ratcliff will join him and share his fate, whatever it +be." + +With a hearty shake of the hand he leapt on his horse, and, followed by +his servant, galloped off in one direction, while Ronald and Malcolm set +out in the other. + +"This is a grand disguise," Ronald said. "We might ride straight into +Wade's camp at Newcastle without being suspected." + +"I have no doubt we could," Malcolm agreed. "Still, it will be wiser to +keep away from the neighbourhood of any English troops. Awkward questions +might be asked, and although the letter you have for the general may do +very well to impress any officers of militia or newly raised troops we +may meet on the road, and would certainly pass us as two orderlies +conveying despatches, it would be just as well not to have to appear +before the general himself. Our swords and belts would probably be +noticed at once by any cavalry officers. I know nothing about the English +army, and do not know how much the yeomanry swords and belts may differ +from those of the line. However, it is certain the less observation we +attract from the soldiers the better; but as to civilians we can ride +straight on through towns and villages with light hearts." + +"We may as well breathe our horses a bit, Malcolm, now there is no +occasion for haste, and we can jog along at our own pace. There is no +probability of pursuit, for when they find that we and the warders are +missing and see the rope from our window they will be sure that we shall +have started early and are far away by the time they find out we are +gone." + +Accordingly they travelled quietly north, boldly riding through small +towns and villages, putting up at little inns, and chatting freely with +the villagers who came in to talk over the news, for the north was all +excitement. Orders had been issued for all the militia to turn out, but +there was little response, for although few had any desire to risk their +lives in the cause of the Stuarts, fewer still had any intention of +fighting for the Hanoverians. + +When they arrived within a few miles of Newcastle they left the main road +and struck across country, their object being to come down upon the road +running north from Carlisle, for they thought it likely that parties of +General Wade's troops would be scattered far over the country north of +Newcastle. At a farm house they succeeded in buying some civilian +clothes, giving out that they were deserters, and as they were willing to +pay well, the farmer, who had no goodwill towards the Hanoverians, had no +difficulty in parting with two of his best suits. + +They were now in a country perfectly well known to Malcolm, and +travelling by byways across the hills they crossed the Cheviots a few +miles south of Carter Fell, and then rode down the wild valleys to +Castletown and thence to Canobie of the Esk. As they entered the little +town they found the wildest excitement prevailing. An officer with two +orderlies had just ridden in to say that quarters were to be prepared for +Prince Charles, and a quantity of bullocks and meal got in readiness for +the use of the army, which would arrive late that evening. Ronald soon +found the officer who had brought the order and recognized him as one of +Lord Perth's aides de camp. He did not know Ronald in his present dress, +but greeted him heartily as soon as he discovered who he was. + +"How is it the troops are coming this way?" Ronald asked. + +"They are marching through Liddesdale from Kelso. We halted there for two +days, and orders were sent forward to Wooler to prepare quarters. This +was to throw Wade off the scent and induce him to march north from +Newcastle to oppose us on that road, while, as you see, we have turned +west and shall cross into Cumberland and make a dash at Carlisle." + +A few hours later the prince arrived with his army, and as soon as he +entered the quarters prepared for him Ronald proceeded there and made his +report. + +"I could wish it had been better, Captain Leslie," the prince said; "but +the die is cast now, and I cannot think that our friends in the north, +who proved so loyal to our cause in '15, will hang back when we are among +them. When they see that Charles Ratcliff and other gentlemen whom you +have visited range themselves under our banner I believe the common +people will join us also. Now give me a full account of your mission." + +Ronald gave the list of the gentry he had visited, and described his +arrest and imprisonment in Manchester and the manner in which Mr. +Ratcliff had contrived his escape. + +"You have done all that is possible, sir," the prince said, "and at an +early opportunity I will show you I appreciate your services." + +On the next day, the 8th of November, the corps crossed the border; on +the 9th they were joined by another column, which had marched from +Edinburgh by the western road, and the united force marched to Carlisle +and sat down before it. The walls of the city were old and in bad +condition, the garrison was ill prepared for a siege. It consisted of a +company of invalids in the castle, under the command of Colonel Durand, +and a considerable body of Cumberland Militia. The walls, however, old as +they were, could for some time have resisted the battery of four pounder +guns which formed the prince's sole artillery. + +The mayor returned no answer to the prince's summons and orders were +issued to begin to throw up trench works, but scarcely had the operations +begun when news arrived that Marshal Wade was marching from Newcastle to +relieve the city. The siege was at once abandoned, and the prince marched +out with the army to Brampton and took up a favourable position there to +give battle. The news proved incorrect, and the Duke of Perth with +several regiments were sent back to resume the siege. + +On the 13th the duke began to raise a battery on the east side of the +town, but after a few shots had been fired from the walls the courage of +the besieged failed them. The white flag was hung out, and the town and +castle surrendered on the condition that the soldiers and militia might +march away, leaving their arms and horses behind and engaging not to +serve again for a year. On the 17th the prince made a triumphal entry +into the place, but was received with but little show of warmth on the +part of the inhabitants. + +A halt was made at Carlisle and a council was held to determine upon the +next step to be taken. The news which had been received from Scotland was +very unfavourable. Lord Strathallan, who had been appointed by the prince +as commander in chief, and directed to raise as many troops as possible, +had collected between two and three thousand men at Perth, and Lord Lewis +Gordon had raised three battalions in Aberdeenshire; but on the other +hand a considerable force had been collected at Inverness for King +George. The towns of Glasgow, Paisley, and Dumfries had turned out their +militia for the house of Hanover. The officers of the crown had +re-entered Edinburgh and two regiments of cavalry had been sent forward +by Marshal Wade to their support. + +While even Scotland was thus wavering it seemed almost madness for the +little army to advance into England. The greater portion of the +Highlanders had from the first objected strongly to leave their country, +and upwards of a thousand had deserted and gone home on the march down +from Edinburgh. They had started less than six thousand strong, and after +leaving a garrison of two hundred men in Carlisle, but four thousand five +hundred were available for the advance south, while Wade, with his ten +thousand men, would be in their rear and two English armies of nearly +equal strength be waiting to receive them. At the council the opinions of +the leaders were almost unanimous against an advance, but upon Lord +George Murray saying that if Prince Charles decided upon advancing the +army would follow him, he determined upon pressing forward. + +The army began its advance on the 20th of November, and halted a day at +Penrith, upon the news that Marshal Wade was moving to attack them; but +the English general had not made any move, and the Scotch again pushed on +through Shap, Kendal, and Lancaster, to Preston. During the march Prince +Charles marched with his troops clad in Highland garb, and with his +target thrown across his shoulder. He seldom stopped for dinner, but ate +his food as he walked, chatting gaily with the Highlanders, and by his +cheerfulness and example kept up their spirits. The strictest discipline +was enforced, and everything required by the troops was paid for. At +Preston the prince on his entry was cheered by the mob, and a few men +enlisted. + +From Preston the army marched to Wigan, and thence to Manchester. The +road was thronged with people, who expressed the warmest wishes for the +prince's success; but when asked to enlist, they all hung back, saying +they knew nothing about fighting. Still the feeling in favour of the +prince's cause became stronger as he advanced south, and at Manchester he +was received with the acclamations of the inhabitants, the ringing of the +bells, and an illumination of the city in the evening. The people mounted +white cockades, and the next day about two hundred men enlisted and were +enrolled under the name of the Manchester Regiment, the command of which +was given to Mr. Francis Townley, a Roman Catholic belonging to an old +Lancashire family, who, with Mr. Ratcliff and a few other gentlemen, had +joined the army on the advance. + +The leaders, however, of the prince's army were bitterly disappointed at +the general apathy of the people. Lancashire had in '15 been the +stronghold of the Jacobites, and the mere accession of two or three +hundred men was evident that nothing like a popular rising was to be +looked for, and they had but themselves to rely upon in the struggle +against the whole strength of England. Marshal Wade was in full march +behind them. The Duke of Cumberland lay at Lichfield in their front with +a force of eight thousand veteran troops; while a third army, of which +the Royal Guards were the nucleus, was being formed at Finchley. Large +bodies of militia had been raised in several districts. Liverpool had +declared against them; Chester was in the hands of the Earl of +Cholmondeley; the bridges of the Mersey had been broken down; +difficulties and dangers multiplied on all sides. + +Prince Charles, ever sanguine, was confident that he should be joined by +large numbers as he advanced south; but his officers were now thoroughly +alarmed, and the leaders in a body remonstrated with Lord George Murray +against any further advance. He advised them, however, to offer no +further opposition to the prince's wishes until they came to Derby, +promising that, unless by that time they were joined by the Jacobites in +considerable numbers, he would himself, as general, propose and insist +upon a retreat. Ronald utilized the short halt at Manchester to obtain +new uniforms for himself and Malcolm, which he was glad to exchange for +the farmer's garb, which had been the occasion of a good deal of joking +and mirth among his fellow officers on the downward march. + +On the first of December, Prince Charles, at the head of one division, +forded the Mersey near Stockport, where the water was waist deep. The +other division, with the baggage and artillery, crossed lower down, at +Cheadle, on a hastily constructed bridge, and the two columns joined that +evening at Macclesfield. Here Lord George Murray succeeded in misleading +the Duke of Cumberland as to his intentions by a dexterous manoeuvre. +Advancing with a portion of his force he dislodged and drove before him +the Duke of Kingston and a small party of English horse posted at +Congleton, and pursued them some distance along the road towards +Newcastle under Tyne. + +The Duke of Cumberland, supposing that the prince's army were on their +march either to give him battle or to make their way into Wales, where +the Jacobite party were extremely strong, pushed forward with his main +body to Stone. Lord George Murray, however, having gained his object, +turned sharp off to the left, and after a long march arrived at Ashborne, +where the prince, with the other division of the army, had marched +direct. The next afternoon they arrived at Derby, having thus altogether +evaded the Duke of Cumberland, and being nearly three days' march nearer +London than was his army. + +The prince that night was in high spirits at the fact that he was now +within a hundred and thirty miles of London, and that neither Wade's nor +Cumberland's forces interposed between him and the capital. But his +delight was by no means shared by his followers, and early next morning +he was waited upon by Lord George Murray and all the commanders of +battalions and squadrons, and a council being held, they laid before the +prince their earnest and unanimous opinion that an immediate retreat to +Scotland was necessary. + +They had marched, they said, so far on the promise either of an English +rising or a French descent upon England. Neither had yet occurred. Their +five thousand fighting men were insufficient to give battle to even one +of the three armies that surrounded them--scarcely adequate, indeed, to +take possession of London were there no army at Finchley to protect it. +Even did they gain London, how could they hold it against the united +armies of Wade and Cumberland? Defeat so far from home would mean +destruction, and not a man would ever regain Scotland. + +In vain the prince replied to their arguments, in vain expostulated, and +even implored them to yield to his wishes. After several hours of stormy +debate the council broke up without having arrived at any decision. The +prince at one time thought of calling upon the soldiers to follow him +without regard to their officers; for the Highlanders, reluctant as they +had been to march into England, were now burning for a fight, and were +longing for nothing so much as to meet one or other of the hostile armies +opposed to them. The prince's private advisers, however, Sheridan and +Secretary Murray, urged him to yield to the opinion of his officers, +since they were sure that the clansmen would never fight well if they +knew that their chiefs were unanimously opposed to their giving battle. +Accordingly the prince, heartbroken at the destruction of his hopes, +agreed to yield to the wishes of his officers, and at a council in the +evening gave his formal consent to a retreat. + + + +CHAPTER XVII: A Baffled Plot. + + +Utterly disheartened and dispirited the army commenced its march north. +The prince himself was even more disappointed than his soldiers, and +showed by his manner how bitterly he resented the decision at which his +officers had arrived. It had seemed to him that success was within his +grasp, and that he had but to march to London to overthrow the Hanoverian +dynasty. And it is by no means improbable that his instincts were more +correct than the calculations of his advisers. The news of his rapid +march south had sent a thrill through the country; and although so far +the number of those who had joined him was exceedingly small, at that +moment numbers of gentlemen in Wales and other parts of the country were +arming their tenants, and preparing to take the field. + +There was no hostile force between himself and London, for the force at +Finchley was not yet organized, and could have offered no effectual +opposition. A panic reigned in the metropolis, and the king was preparing +to take ship and leave the country. Had the little army marched forward +there is small doubt that James would have been proclaimed king in +London. But it may be doubted whether Prince Charles could have +maintained the advantage he had gained. Two armies, both superior to his +own, were pressing on his rear, and would have arrived in London but a +few days after himself; and although the Londoners might have accepted +him, they would hardly have risen in arms to aid him against Cumberland's +army. Had this halted at a distance, the reinforcements which might have +joined the prince would have been more than counterbalanced by the +regiments of English and Hanoverian troops which the king could have sent +over, and although the strife might have been lengthened the result would +in all probability have been the same. + +Prince Charles had no ability in governing. His notions of the absolute +power of kings were as strong as those of his ancestors, and, surrounded +as he was by hotheaded Highlanders, he would speedily have caused +discontent and disgust even among those most favourably inclined by +hereditary tradition to the cause of the Stuarts. But of all this he was +ignorant, and in the retreat from Derby he saw the destruction of his +hopes. + +Hitherto he had marched on foot with the Highlanders, chatting gaily as +he went. Now he rode in rear of the column, and scarce exchanged a word +with even his most intimate advisers. The Highlanders no longer preserved +the discipline which had characterized their southward march. Villages +were plundered and in some cases burned, and in retaliation the peasantry +killed or took prisoners stragglers and those left behind. Even at +Manchester, where the reception of the army had been so warm a few days +before, its passage was opposed by a violent mob, and the prince was so +offended at the conduct of the townspeople that he imposed a fine of five +thousand pounds upon the city. + +The next morning the march was continued. The Highlanders laid hands on +every horse they could find, and so all pressed on at the top of their +speed for the border. The Duke of Cumberland, who had fallen back in all +haste for the protection of London, was close to Coventry when he heard +that the Scotch had retreated northward. With all his cavalry, and a +thousand foot whom he mounted on horses supplied by the neighbouring +gentry, he set out in pursuit. At Preston he was joined by another body +of horse, sent across the country from the army of Marshal Wade; but it +was not until he entered Westmoreland that he came up with the rear guard +of the insurgents, which was commanded by Lord George Murray. + +Defeating some local volunteers who molested him, Lord George learned +from the prisoners that the duke with four thousand men was close at +hand, and he sent on the news to the prince, who despatched two +regiments, the Stuarts of Appin and the Macphersons of Cluny, to +reinforce him. It was nearly dark when by the light of the moon Lord +George saw the English infantry, who had now dismounted, advancing. He at +once charged them at the head of the Macphersons and Stuarts, and in a +few minutes the English were completely defeated, their commander, +Colonel Honeywood, being left severely wounded on the field, with a +hundred killed or disabled men, while the loss of the Scotch was but +twelve. + +It was with great difficulty that the Highlanders could be recalled from +the pursuit, and Lord George himself sent an urgent message to the prince +begging for a further reinforcement, in order that he might maintain his +ground and defeat the whole force of the duke. As usual his wishes were +disregarded, and he was ordered to fall back and join the main body at +Penrith. The check, however, was so effective that the duke made no +further attempt to harass the retreat of the Highlanders. + +Passing through Carlisle, some men of a Lowland regiment, and Colonel +Twonley with his regiment raised at Manchester, were left there as a +garrison, so that the road should be kept open for another and, as the +prince hoped, not far distant invasion. The step was, however, a cruel +one, for the Duke of Cumberland at once laid siege to the place, battered +a breach in its ancient wall, and the garrison were forced to surrender. +Many of them were afterwards executed and imprisoned, and ruin fell upon +all. + +Charles with his army marched north to Glasgow, where they remained eight +days, requisitioning supplies from the town. During their stay Ronald and +Malcolm put up at the house of Andrew Anderson. + +"What think you of the chances now, Malcolm?" Andrew asked his brother, +after hearing what had taken place since he had last seen him. + +"I think no better and no worse of it than I did before, brother. They +have had more success than I looked for. I did not think they would ever +have got as far south as Derby. Who would have thought that a few +thousand Highlanders could have marched half through England? But I see +no prospect of success. The prince is badly advised. He has but one +really good soldier with him, and he is set against him by the intrigues +and spite of Secretary Murray and his friends, and partly, it may be, by +Lord George's own frankness of speech. He has at his back but half the +Highlands, for the other portion stand aloof from him. In the Lowlands he +has found scarce an adherent, and but a handful in England. The +Highlanders are brave; but it is surely beyond human expectation that +five or six thousand Highlanders can vanquish a kingdom with a brave and +well trained army with abundant artillery. Ronald and I mean to fight it +out to the end; but I do not think the end will be very far off." + +"I am sorry for the young prince," Andrew said. "He is a fine fellow, +certainly--handsome and brave and courteous, and assuredly clement. For +three times his life has been attempted, and each time he has released +those who did it without punishment. I could not but think, as I saw him +ride down the street today, that it was sad that so fine a young man +should be doomed either to the block or to a lifelong imprisonment, and +that for fighting for what he has been doubtless taught to consider his +right. There are many here who are bitter against him; but I am not one +of them, and I am sorry for him, sorry for all these brave gentlemen and +clansmen, for I fear that there will be a terrible vengeance for all that +has been done. They have frightened the English king and his ministers +too sorely to be ever forgiven, and we shall have sad times in Scotland +when this is all over." + +Two evenings later Ronald noticed that Andrew, who had been absent for +some time, and had only returned just in time for supper, looked worried +and abstracted, and replied almost at random to any questions put to him. + +"It is of no use," he said suddenly when his wife had left the room after +the conclusion of the meal. "I am a loyal subject of King George, and I +wish him every success in battle, and am confident that he will crush out +this rebellion without difficulty, but I cannot go as far as some. I +cannot stand by and see murder done on a poor lad who, whatever his +faults, is merciful and generous to his enemies. Malcolm, I will tell you +all I know, only bidding you keep secret as to how you got the news, for +it would cost me my life were it known that the matter had leaked out +through me." + +"This evening five of the council, knowing that I am a staunch king's +man, took me aside after the meeting was over, and told me that there was +a plan on foot to put an end to all the trouble by the carrying off or +slaying of Prince Charles. I was about to protest against it, when I saw +that by so doing I should, in the first place, do no good; in the +second, be looked upon as a Jacobite; and in the third, be unable to +learn the details of what they were proposing. So I said that doubtless +it was a good thing to lay by the heels the author of all these troubles, +and that the life of one man was as nought in the balance compared to the +prosperity of the whole country. Whereupon they revealed to me their +plan, asking me for a subscription of a hundred pounds to carry it out, +and saying truly that I should get back the money and great honour from +the king when he learned I had done him such service. After some +bargaining I agreed for fifty pounds." + +"But what is the plot, Andrew?" Malcolm said anxiously. + +"It is just this. The prince, as you know, goes about with scant +attendance, and though there are guards in front of his house, there are +but two or three beside himself who sleep there. There is a back entrance +to which no attention is paid, and it will be easy for those who know the +house to enter by that door, to make their way silently to his chamber, +and either to kill or carry him off. I threw my voice in against killing, +pointing out that the king would rather have him alive than dead, so that +he might be tried and executed in due form. This was also their opinion, +for they had already hired a vessel which is lying in the stream. The +plan is to seize and gag him and tie his arms. There will be no +difficulty in getting him along through the streets. There are few folks +abroad after ten o'clock, and should they meet anyone he will conclude +that it is but a drunken Highlander being carried home. You see, Malcolm, +there is not only honour to be gained from the king, but the thirty +thousand pounds offered for the prince's person. I pretended to fall in +with the plan, and gave them the fifty pounds which they lacked for the +hire of the vessel, the captain refusing to let them have it save for +money paid down. Now, Malcolm, I have told you and Ronald all I know +about the matter, and it is for you to see how a stop may be put to it." + +"The scoundrels!" Malcolm said. "Their loyalty to the king is but a veil +to hide their covetousness for the reward. When is it to take place, and +how many men are likely to be engaged in it?" + +"Six trusty men of the city watch and their five selves. I said I would +subscribe the money, but would have no active share in the business. They +might have all the honour, I would be content with my share of the reward +offered. Two of them with four of the guards will enter the house and +carry off the prince. The rest will wait outside and follow closely on +the way down to the port ready to give aid if the others should meet with +any obstruction. The whole will embark and sail to London with him." + +"And when is this plot to be carried out?" Malcolm asked. + +"Tomorrow at midnight. Tide will be high half an hour later; they will +drop down the river as soon as it turns, and will be well out to sea by +the morning. And now I have told you all, I will only ask you to act so +that as little trouble as possible may arise. Do not bring my name into +the matter if you can avoid doing so; but in any case I would rather run +the risk of the ruin and death which would alight upon me when this +rebellion is over than have such a foul deed of treachery carried out. +There is not a Scotchman but to this day curses the name of the traitor +Menteith, who betrayed Wallace. My name is a humble one, but I would not +have it go down to all ages as that of a man who betrayed Charles Stuart +for English gold." + +"Make yourself easy, brother; Ronald and I will see to that. When once +treachery is known it is easy to defeat, and Ronald and I will see that +your name does not appear in the matter." + +"Thank God that is off my mind!" Andrew said. "And I will off to bed, or +Janet will wonder what I am talking about so long. I will leave you two +to settle how you can best manage the affair, which you can do without my +help, for matters of this kind are far more in your way than in mine." + +"This is a villainous business, Ronald," Malcolm said when they were +alone; "and yet I am not surprised. Thirty thousand pounds would not +tempt a Highlander who has naught in the world save the plaid in which he +stands up; but these money grubbing citizens of Glasgow would sell their +souls for gain. And now what do you think had best be done in the matter, +so that the plot may be put a stop to, and that without suspicion falling +upon Andrew? It would be easy to have a dozen men hiding in the yard +behind the house and cut down the fellows as they enter." + +"I do not think that would do, Malcolm; it would cause a tumult, and the +fact could not be hidden. And besides, you know what these Highlanders +are; they already loathe and despise the citizens of Glasgow, and did +they know that there had been a plot on foot to capture and slay the +prince, nothing could prevent their laying the town in ashes." + +"That is true enough. What do you propose then, Ronald?" + +"I think it best that if there should be any fighting it should be on +board the ship, but possibly we may avoid even that. I should say that +with eight or ten men we can easily seize the vessel, and then when the +boat comes alongside capture the fellows as they step on to the deck +without trouble, and leave it to the prince to settle what is to be done +with them." + +"That is certainly the best plan, Ronald. I will get together tomorrow +half a dozen trusty lads who will ask no questions as to what I want them +to do, and will be silent about the matter afterwards. We must get from +Andrew tomorrow morning the name of the vessel, and see where she is +lying in the stream, and where the boat will be waiting for the prince." + +The next night Ronald and Malcolm with six men made their way one by one +through the streets so as not to attract the attention of the watch, and +assembled near the strand. Not until the clock struck twelve did they +approach the stairs at the foot of which the boat was lying. There were +two men in it. + +"You are earlier than we expected," one said as they descended the steps. +"The captain said a quarter past twelve." + +"Yes, we are a little early," Malcolm replied as he stepped into the +boat; "we are ready earlier than we expected." + +A moment later Malcolm suddenly seized one of the sailors by the throat +and dragged him down to the bottom of the boat, a handkerchief was +stuffed into his mouth, and his hands and feet tied. The other was at the +same time similarly secured. + +So suddenly and unexpected had been the attack that the sailors had had +no time to cry out or to offer any resistance, and their capture was +effected without the slightest sound being heard. The oars were at once +got out and the boat was rowed out towards the vessel lying out in the +middle of the stream with a light burning at her peak. As they approached +the side the captain appeared at the gangway. + +"All is well, I hope?" he asked. + +"Could not be better," Malcolm replied as he seized the rope and mounted +the gangway, the others closely following him. As he sprang upon the deck +he presented a pistol at the captain's head. + +"Speak a word and you die," he said sternly. + +Taken by surprise, the captain offered no resistance, but suffered +himself to be bound. Two or three sailors on deck were similarly seized +and secured, the hatchway was fastened to prevent the rest of the crew +from coming on deck, and the ship being thus in their possession two of +the men at once took their places in the boat and rowed back to the +stairs. + +A quarter of an hour later those on board heard a murmur of voices on +shore, and two or three minutes later the splash of oars as the boat +rowed back to the ship. Ronald put on the captain's cap and stood at the +gangway with a lantern. + +"All right, I hope?" he asked as the boat came alongside. + +"All right, captain! You can get up your anchor as soon as you like." + +Two men mounted on to the deck, and then four others carried up a figure +and were followed by the rest. As the last one touched the deck Ronald +lifted the lantern above his head, and, to the astonishment of the +newcomers, they saw themselves confronted by eight armed men. + +The six men of the watch, furious at the prospect of losing the reward +upon which they had reckoned, drew their swords and rushed forward; but +they were struck down with handspikes and swords, for Ronald had +impressed upon his men the importance of not using their pistols, save in +the last extremity. In two minutes the fight was over. The five citizens +had taken little part in it, save as the recipients of blows; for +Malcolm, furious at their treachery, had bade the men make no distinction +between them and the watch, and had himself dealt them one or two heavy +blows with his handspike after he had seen that the guard was +overpowered. + +The whole of them were then bound, and warned that their throats would be +cut if they made the least noise. The prince was released from his bonds, +and he was at once conducted by Malcolm and Ronald to the cabin, where a +light was burning. + +The prince was so much bewildered by the events that had occurred that he +did not yet understand the state of the case. He had been awoke by a gag +being roughly forced into his mouth, while at the same moment his hands +were tightly bound. Then he was lifted from his bed, some clothes were +thrown on to him, a man took his place on either side, and, thrusting +their arms into his, threatened him with instant death if he did not come +along with them without resistance. Then he had been hurried down stairs +and along the streets, two men keeping a little ahead and others +following behind. He had been forced into a boat and rowed up to a ship, +and on reaching the deck a desperate combat had suddenly commenced all +round him. Then the gag had been removed and the bonds cut. Bewildered +and amazed he gazed at the two men who had accompanied him to the cabin. + +"Why, Captain Leslie!" he exclaimed. "Is it you? What means all this +scene through which I have passed?" + +"It means, your royal highness," Ronald said respectfully, "that I and my +friend Malcolm obtained information of a plot on the part of some of the +citizens to carry you off and sell you to the English. We could have +stopped it by attacking them as they entered the house to seize you; but +had we done so an alarm must have been raised, and we feared that the +Highlanders, when they knew of the treachery that had been attempted +against you, might have fallen upon the citizens, and that a terrible +uproar would have taken place. Therefore we carried out another plan. We +first of all obtained possession of the ship in which you were to have +been taken away, and then overcame your captors as they brought you on +board. All this has been done without any alarm having been given, and it +now rests with you to determine what shall be done with these wretches." + +"You have done well, indeed, Captain Leslie, and I thank you and your +friend not only for the great service you have rendered me, but for the +manner in which you have done it. I ought to have foreseen this. Did not +the Lowlanders sell King Charles to the English? I might have expected +that some at least would be tempted by the reward offered me. As for +punishment for these men, they are beneath me. And, moreover, if I can +trust my eyes and my ears, the knocks which you gave them will be +punishment enough even did I wish to punish them, which I do not. I could +not do so without the story of the attempt being known, and in that case +there would be no keeping my Highlanders within bounds. As it is they are +continually reproaching me with what they call my mistaken clemency, and +there would be no restraining them did they know of this. No, we had best +leave them to themselves. We will order the captain to put to sea with +them at once, and tell him he had best not return to Glasgow until I have +left it. They will have time to reflect there at leisure, and as, +doubtless, they have each of them given reasons at home for an absence of +some duration there will be no anxiety respecting them. And now, +gentlemen, will you fetch in those who have aided in my rescue. I would +thank every one of them for the service they have rendered, and impress +upon them my urgent desire that they should say nothing to anyone of this +night's work." + +While the prince was speaking to the men, Malcolm went out, and having +unbound the captain, ordered him to deliver up the sum which he had +received for the conveyance of the prince and his captors to England. + +The captain did as he was ordered. + +"How much is there here?" Malcolm asked. + +"Three hundred pounds." + +Malcolm counted out fifty of it and placed them in his pocket, saying to +Ronald: + +"There is no reason Andrew should be a loser by the transaction. That +will leave two hundred and fifty, which I will divide among our men when +we get ashore." + +Malcolm then gave the prince's orders to the captain; that he must, +immediately they left the ship, get up his anchor as before intended, and +make out to sea; and that under pain of being tried and executed for his +share in this treacherous business, he was not to return to Glasgow with +his eleven passengers for the space of a week. + +The prince and his rescuers then entered the boats and rowed to shore, +and the prince regained his apartment without anyone in the house being +aware that he had been absent from it. The next day the prince sent for +Ronald and Malcolm, and in a private interview again expressed to them +his gratitude for his rescue from the hands of his enemies. + +"I have none but empty honour to bestow now," he said; "but believe me, +if I ever mount the throne of England you shall see that Charles Edward +Stuart is not ungrateful." + +The incident was kept a close secret, only two or three of the prince's +most intimate advisers ever informed of it. These were unanimous in +urging that an absolute silence should be maintained on the subject, for +the fact that the attempt would have certainly been crowned with success +had it not been for the measures Ronald had taken, might encourage others +to attempt a repetition of it. + +Having rested his army by a stay of eight days at Glasgow, Prince Charles +set out on the 3rd of January, 1746, for Stirling, where he was joined by +Lords John Drummond, Lewis Gordon, and Strathallan, the first named of +whom had brought some battering guns and engineers from France. Their +following raised the force to nearly nine thousand men--the largest +army that Charles mustered during the course of the campaign. The siege +of Stirling was at once commenced; but the castle was strong and well +defended, and the siege made but little progress. + +In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland had been recalled with the greater +part of his force to guard the southern coasts of England, which were +threatened by an invasion by a French force now assembled at Dunkirk, and +which, had it sailed before the Highlanders commenced their retreat from +Derby, might have altogether altered the situation of affairs. The +command of the English army in the north was handed by the duke to +General Hawley, a man after his own heart, violent in temper, brutal and +cruel in conduct. + +He collected at Edinburgh an army of nearly the same strength as that of +Prince Charles, and with these he matched out as far as Falkirk to raise +the siege of Stirling, and, as he confidently boasted, to drive the +rebels before him. Prince Charles, leaving a few hundred men to continue +the siege, matched out to Bannockburn. The English did not move out from +Falkirk, and the prince, after waiting for a day, determined to take the +initiative. + +Hawley himself was stopping at Callendar House at some distance from his +army and General Huske remained in command of the camp. To occupy his +attention the prince despatched Lord John Drummond, with all the cavalry, +by the straight road by Stirling to Falkirk, which ran north of the +English camp. They displayed, as they marched, the royal standard and +other colours, which had the desired effect of impressing Huske with the +idea that the prince with all his army was moving that way. In the +meantime Charles with his main force had crossed the river Carron to the +south and was only separated from the English by Falkirk Muir, a rugged +and rigid upland covered with heath. + +Just as the English were about to take their dinner some country people +brought in the news of the approach of the Highlanders. Huske at once got +his men under arms, but he had no authority, in the absence of Hawley, to +set them in motion. Messengers, however, were sent off on horseback at +once to Callendar House, and the general presently galloped up in +breathless haste, and putting himself at the head of his three regiments +of dragoons, started for Falkirk Muir, which he hoped to gain before the +Highlanders could take possession of it. He ordered the infantry to +follow as fast as possible. A storm of wind and rain beat in the face of +the soldiers, and before they could gain the crest of the muir the +Highlanders had obtained possession. The English then halted and drew up +on somewhat lower ground. + +Between them was a ravine which formed but a small depression opposite +the centre of the English line, but deepened towards the plain on their +right. The English artillery, in the hurry of their advance, had stuck +fast in a morass, but as the Highlanders had brought no guns with them +the forces were equal in this respect. Lord John Drummond had from a +distance been watching the movements of the English, and as soon as he +saw that they had taken the alarm and were advancing against the prince, +he made a detour, and, riding round the English, joined the Highland +infantry. The prince's army was divided into two lines: its right was +commanded by Lord George Murray, the left by Lord John Drummond; the +prince, as at Preston, took up his station in the centre of the second +line on a conspicuous mound, still known by the name of Charlie's Hill. + +The English infantry were also drawn up in two lines, with the Argyle +militia and the Glasgow regiment in reserve behind the second line. The +cavalry were in front under Colonel Ligonier, who, at the death of +Colonel Gardiner, had succeeded to the command of his regiment. General +Hawley commanded the centre and General Huske the right. + +The battle commenced by a charge of Ligonier with his cavalry upon the +Highland right. Here the Macdonald clansmen were posted, and these, at +Lord George Murray's order, reserved their fire until the dragoons were +within ten yards, and then poured in a scathing volley, under which +numbers of the horsemen went down. The two dragoon regiments, which had +fled so shamefully at Preston and Coltbridge, turned and galloped at once +from the field; but Cobham's regiment fought well, and when compelled to +retreat rallied behind the right of the line. + +Lord George Murray endeavoured to get the victorious Macdonalds into line +again; but these were beyond control and rushing forward fell upon the +flank of Hawley's two lines of foot, which were at the same moment +furiously assailed in front; the Highlanders, after pouring in their +fire, dropped their muskets and charged broadsword in hand. + +The English, nearly blinded by the wind and rain, were unable to +withstand this combined assault. General Hawley, who at least possessed +the virtue of courage, rode hither and thither in their front, trying to +encourage them, but in vain, the whole centre gave way and fled in +confusion. On the right, however, the English were defending themselves +successfully. The three regiments placed there, on the edge of the +ravine, maintained so steady a fire that the Highlanders were unable to +cross it, and Cobham's dragoons charged down upon the scattered and +victorious Highlanders in the centre and effectually checked their +pursuit. Prince Charles, seeing the danger, put himself at the head of +the second line and advanced against the three English regiments who +still stood firm. + +Unable to withstand so overwhelming a force these fell back from the +ground they had held, but did so in steady order, their drums beating, +and covering, in their retreat, the mingled mass of fugitives. Had the +Highlanders, at this critical moment, flung themselves with their whole +force upon these regiments the English army would have been wholly +destroyed; but night was already setting in, and the Scottish leaders +were ignorant how complete was their victory, and feared an ambuscade. +Lord John Drummond, a general officer in the French service, especially +opposed the pursuit, saying, "These men behaved admirably at Fontenoy; +surely this must be a feint." + +The Highlanders remained stationary on the field until some detachments, +sent forward by the prince, brought back word that the English had +already retreated from Falkirk. They left behind them on the field four +hundred dead or dying, with a large portion of officers, and a hundred +prisoners; all their artillery, ammunition, and baggage fell into the +hands of the Highlanders, whose total loss was only about a hundred. The +English, on their retreat, burned to the ground the royal palace at +Linlithgow. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Culloden. + + +The victory of Falkirk brought but little advantage to Prince Charles, +and dissensions arose among the officers; Lord George Murray being +furious with Lord John Drummond for preventing the complete destruction +of the English army, while Lord John Drummond severely criticised Lord +George for the confusion which had taken place among his troops after +their success. + +Great numbers of the Highlanders, who had spent the night after the +battle in plundering the English camp and stripping the slain, made off +with their booty to the mountains, and the number of desertions was +increased by the withdrawal of the greater part of Glengarry's clansmen. +On the day after the battle the musket of one of the Clanranald clansmen +went off by accident and killed the son of Glengarry. His clansmen loudly +demanded life for life, and Clanranald having reluctantly consented to +surrender his follower, the poor fellow was immediately led out and shot; +but even this savage act of vengeance was insufficient to satisfy the +Glengarry men, the greater part of whom at once left the army and +returned to their homes. + +After the battle the siege of Stirling was renewed; but owing to the +gross incompetence of a French engineer, who had come over with Lord +Drummond, the batteries were so badly placed that their fire was easily +silenced by that of the castle guns. The prince, in spite of the advice +of Lord George Murray and the other competent authorities, and listening +only to his favourite councillors, Secretary Murray and Sir Thomas +Sheridan, continued the siege, although on the 30th of January the Duke +of Cumberland arrived in Edinburgh and took the command of the army. + +Never had Scotland a more bitter enemy. Relentless and savage as General +Hawley had been, his deeds were more than rivalled by those of the Duke +of Cumberland, who was justly branded by contemporary historians with the +name of "the butcher." He was, however, an able general, of great +activity and high personal courage. + +After halting but one night in Edinburgh he set out at the head of his +army to meet the enemy; but these did not repeat their tactics at +Falkirk. Disgusted at the conduct of the prince in slighting their advice +and listening only to his unworthy counsellors, Lord George Murray with +all the principal military leaders held a consultation, and presented a +memorial to the prince. In this they stated that, seeing the great +numbers of Highlanders who had gone home, they were of opinion that +another battle could not be fought with a chance of success, and +therefore recommended that the army should at once retire to the +Highlands, where a sufficient number of men could be kept together to +defy the efforts of the enemy at such a season of the year, and that in +the spring ten thousand Highlanders could be got together to go +wheresoever the prince might lead them. Prince Charles was struck with +grief and dismay at this decision, but as all the military leaders had +signed it he was forced to give way. + +The army at once blew up its magazines, spiked its guns, and marched for +the north in two divisions with much confusion and loss of order. The +Duke of Cumberland pursued, but was unable to come up to them, and halted +at Perth. + +Ronald, who had, from the time he returned to the army, again taken up +his former appointment of aide de camp to Lord George Murray, had during +this time tried his best to reconcile the differences which were +constantly breaking out between that general, the prince, and the clique +who surrounded him. It was a difficult task, for Lord George's +impetuosity and outspoken brusqueness, and his unconcealed contempt for +Secretary Murray and Sheridan, reopened the breach as fast as it was +closed. + +Since the day when he had saved the prince from being carried off at +Glasgow the latter had shown a marked partiality for Ronald's society, +and the latter had therefore many opportunities of intervening to prevent +open quarrels from breaking out. The prince himself was frequently +greatly depressed in spirits, and the light hearted gaiety which had +distinguished him on the first landing was now fitful and short lived. +His disappointment at the failure of a campaign in which he had won every +battle was deep and bitter. He had relied upon the aid of France, but no +aid had come. He had been grossly misinformed as to the willingness of +the Jacobites of England to take up arms in his favour; and although a +portion of the Highlanders of Scotland had warmly embraced his cause, yet +many on whom he had relied stood aloof or were in arms against him, while +in the Lowlands he had found but few adherents. + +So far from gaining ground, he was losing it. Numbers of the Highlanders +had gone off to their homes. The retreat from Derby had completely +chilled the enthusiasm of his adherents, while the waverers and time +servers had been induced thereby to declare against him. The Duke of +Cumberland's army steadily increased, and even had the advice of the +Highland chiefs been followed and the army dispersed to reassemble in the +spring, the chances of success would have been no more favourable than at +present, for now that the first surprise and panic were past England +would put forth her whole strength, and would by the spring have an army +assembled in Scotland against which the Highland clans, even if +unanimous, could not hope to cope. + +Ronald was perfectly alive to the hopelessness of final success. He had +seen the British infantry at Dettingen and Fontenoy, and felt sure that +although the wild Highland rush had at first proved irresistible, this +could nor continue, and that discipline and training must eventually +triumph over mere valour. When he and Malcolm talked the matter over +together they agreed that there could be but one issue to the struggle, +and that ruin and disaster must fall upon all who had taken part in the +enterprise. + +"I feel thankful indeed," Ronald said one day, "that I am here only as a +private gentleman risking my own life. I do not know what my feelings +would be, if, like these Highland chiefs, I had brought all my kinsmen +and followers with me into the field. The thought of the ruin and misery +which would fall upon them would be dreadful. I fear that the vengeance +which will be taken after this is over will be far greater and more +widespread than that which followed '15. All say that the Duke of +Cumberland is brutal and pitiless, and the fact that we were nearly +successful will naturally add to the severity with which the English +government will treat us if we fall into their power. Had the enterprise +been defeated at its commencement they could have afforded to be lenient. +As it is, I fear that they will determine to teach the Highlands such a +lesson as will ensure their never again venturing to rise in arms against +the house of Hanover." + +"And I don't know that they are altogether to be blamed," Malcolm said. +"I am not so young as I was, Ronald, and I see now that I was wrong in +teaching you to be a Jacobite. It is all very well for men like +Tullibardine, who knew the Stuarts on the throne, to fight to put them +back again; but to your generation, Ronald, the Stuarts are after all +only a tradition, and it is a sort of generous madness for you to risk +your life to set them again on the throne of England. It cannot matter a +brass pin to you whether James or George rules at St. James's. It is not, +as in the case of the Royalists in England in Charles's time or of the +Covenanters of Scotland, that a great principle is involved--a +principle for which men may well risk their lives and all they hold dear. +It is a question of persons only, and although I may hold that by right +of descent Charles Edward is Prince of Wales and rightful heir to the +throne of England, that is no reason why I should risk my life to place +him there; and after all it seems to me that if the majority in these +islands determine that they will be ruled by the house of Hanover instead +of the house of Stuart they have some right to make their own choice." + +"You argue like a philosopher, Malcolm," Ronald said laughing, "and do +not remind me in the slightest degree of the Malcolm who used to chat +with me in Glasgow." + +"You are right there, lad. You see I was brought up a Jacobite, and I +have been a soldier all my life, accustomed to charge when I was told to +charge and to kill those I was told to kill; but I own that since I have +been out now I have got to look at matters differently. The sight of all +these poor Highland bodies blindly following their chiefs and risking +life and all for a cause in which they have no shadow of interest has +made me think. A soldier is a soldier, and if he were to sit down to +argue about the justice of every cause in which he is ordered to fight +there would be an end to all discipline. But these poor fellows are not +soldiers, and so I say to myself, What concern have they in this matter? +Their chiefs would gain honours and rewards, patents of high nobility, +and additions to their estates if the Stuarts conquered, but their +followers would gain nothing whatever. No, lad, if we get over this +scrape I have done with fighting; and I hope that no Stuart will ever +again succeed in getting Scotland to take up his cause. I shall go on +fighting for Prince Charles as long as there is a man left with him; but +after that there is an end of it as far as I am concerned, and I hope as +far as Scotland is concerned." + +"I hope so too, Malcolm. When Scotland is herself divided, Ireland +passive, and all England hostile, success is hopeless. The Stuarts will +never get such another chance again as they had on the day when we turned +our backs on London at Derby, and I hope that they will not again make +the attempt, especially as it is manifest now that France has only used +them as tools against England, and has no idea of giving them any +effectual aid." + +Charles on approaching Inverness found it toughly fortified and held by +Lord Loudon with a force of two thousand men. The prince halted ten miles +from the town at Moy Castle, where he was entertained by Lady M'Intosh, +whose husband was serving with Lord Loudon, but who had raised the clan +for Prince Charles. The prince had but a few personal attendants with +him, the army having been halted at some distance from the castle. + +One evening Ronald had ridden over to Moy Castle with some despatches +from Lord George Murray to the prince, and had remained there to dine +with him. It was late before he mounted his horse. He was, as usual, +accompanied by Malcolm. They had ridden but a short distance through the +wood which surrounded the castle when a shot was fired, and almost +immediately afterwards four or five men came running through the trees. + +"What is the matter?" Malcolm shouted. + +"The English army are upon us!" one of the M'Intoshes--for they were +clansmen who had been sleeping in the wood--answered. + +"They must intend to seize the prince," Ronald said, "and will already +have sent round a body of horse to cut off his retreat. Scatter through +the wood, men, and do each of you raise the war cry of one of the clans +as if the whole army were here. This may cause a delay and enable the +prince to ride off. Malcolm, do you ride back with all speed to the +castle and warn the prince of Loudon's approach." + +The Highlanders at once obeyed Ronald's orders, and in a minute or two +the war cries of half a dozen of the principal clans in Prince Charles's +army rang through the woods, while at the same time the Highlanders +discharged their muskets. Ronald also shouted orders, as to a large body +of men. + +The English, who had made sure of effecting a successful surprise, +hesitated as they heard the war cries of the clans ringing through the +woods, and believing that the whole of Prince Charles's army were at hand +and they were about to be attacked in overwhelming numbers, they +retreated hastily to Inverness. No sooner had Ronald discovered that they +had fallen back than he rode off to inform the prince that the danger was +over. + +He found Prince Charles mounted, with Lady M'Intosh on horseback by his +side, and the retainers in the castle gathered round, broadsword in hand, +in readiness to cut their way through any body of the enemy's horse who +might intercept their retreat. Charles laughed heartily when he heard of +the strategy which Ronald had employed to arrest the advance of the +enemy, and thanked him for again having saved him from falling into the +hands of the enemy. + +The English made their retreat to Inverness in such confusion and dismay +that the affair became known in history as the "rout of Moy." + +The next morning, the 17th of February, the prince called up his army, +and the next day advanced against Inverness. Lord Loudon did not await +his coming. The panic of his soldiers two days before showed him that no +reliance could be placed upon them, and embarking with them in boats he +crossed the Moray Frith to Cromarty, where the troops shortly afterwards +disbanded upon hearing that the Earl of Cromarty was marching against +them with some Highland regiments. + +The town of Inverness was occupied at once, and the citadel surrendered +in a few days. The army, now in a barren and mountainous region, were +deprived of all resources. Many ships with supplies were sent off from +France, but few of them reached their destination; several being captured +by British cruisers, and others compelled to go back to French ports. + +The supply of money in the treasury was reduced to the lowest ebb, and +Charles was obliged to pay his troops in meal, and even this was +frequently deficient, and the men suffered severely from hunger. Many +deserted, and others scattered over the country in search of subsistence. + +In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland's army was receiving powerful +reinforcements. In February Prince Frederick of Hesse Cassel, with five +thousand of his troops, who had been hired by the British government, +landed at Leith. These troops were placed in garrison in all the towns in +the south of Scotland, thus enabling the Duke of Cumberland to draw +together the whole of the English forces for his advance into the +Highlands. + +On the 8th of April he set out from Aberdeen with eight thousand foot and +nine hundred horse. He marched along the coast accompanied by the fleet, +which landed supplies as needed. At the Spey, Lord John Drummond had +prepared to defend the fords, and some works had been thrown up to +protect them; but the English cannon were brought up in such numbers that +Lord John, considering the position untenable, retired to Inverness, +while the English army forded the Spey, and on the 14th entered Nairn, +where some skirmishing took place between their advance guard and the +Highland rear. + +Prince Charles and his principal officers rested that night at Culloden +House and the troops lay upon the adjacent moor. On the morning of the +15th they drew up in order of battle. The English, however, rested for +the day at Nairn, and there celebrated the Duke of Cumberland's birthday +with much feasting, abundant supplies being landed from the fleet. + +The Highlanders, on the other hand, fasted, only one biscuit per man +being issued during the day. Consequently many straggled away to +Inverness and other places in search of food. Lord Cromarty, with the +regiments under his command, were absent, so that barely five thousand +men were mustered in the ranks. At a council of war Lord George Murray +suggested that a night surprise should be made on the duke's camp at +Nairn, and as this was the prince's own plan it was unanimously agreed +to. + +Before, however, the straggling troops could be collected it was eight +o'clock at night. Nairn was twelve miles distant, and the men, weakened +by privation and hunger, marched so slowly across the marshy ground that +it was two o'clock in the morning before the head of the columns arrived +within four miles of the British camp, while the rear was still far away, +and many had dropped out of the ranks from fatigue. + +It was now too late to hope that a surprise could be effected before +daylight, and the army retraced its steps to Culloden Moor. Worn out and +exhausted as they were, and wholly without supplies of provisions, Lord +George Murray and the other military officers felt that the troops could +not hope to contend successfully against a vastly superior army, fresh, +well fed, and supported by a strong force of artillery, on the open +ground, and he proposed that the army should retire beyond the river +Bairn, and take up a position there on broken ground inaccessible to +cavalry. + +The prince, however, supported by Sir Thomas Sheridan and his other evil +advisers, overruled the opinion of the military leaders, and decided to +fight on level ground. The Highlanders were now drawn up in order of +battle in two lines. On the right were the Athole brigade, the Camerons, +the Stuarts, and some other clans under Lord George Murray; on the left +the Macdonald regiments under Lord John Drummond. This arrangement, +unfortunately, caused great discontent among the Macdonalds, just as +their being given the post of honour at Falkirk had given umbrage to the +other clans. + +At eleven o'clock the English army was seen approaching. It was formed in +three lines, with cavalry on each wing, and two pieces of cannon between +every two regiments of the first line. The battle began with an artillery +duel, but in this the advantage was all on the side of the English, the +number of their pieces and the skill of their gunners being greatly +superior. + +Prince Charles rode along the front line to animate his men, and as he +did so several of his escort were killed by the English cannonade. A +storm of snow and hail had set in, blowing full in the face of the +Highlanders. At length Lord George Murray, finding that he was suffering +heavily from the enemy's artillery fire, while his own guns inflicted but +little damage upon them, sent to Prince Charles for permission to charge. + +On receiving it he placed himself at the head of his men, and with the +whole of the right wing and centre charged the enemy. They were received +with a tremendous musketry fire, while the English artillery swept the +ranks with grape; but so furious was their onslaught that they broke +through Munro and Burrel's regiments in the first line and captured two +pieces of cannon. But behind were the second line drawn up three deep, +with the front rank kneeling, and these, reserving their fire until the +Highlanders were close at hand, opened a rolling fire so sustained and +heavy that the Highlanders were thrown into complete disorder. + +Before they could recover themselves they were charged by horse and foot +on both flanks, and driven together till they became a confused mass. In +vain did their chiefs attempt to rally them. Exhausted and weakened in +body, swept by the continuous fire of the English, they could do no more, +and at last broke and fled. In the meantime the Macdonalds on the left +remained inactive. In vain Lord John Drummond and the Duke of Perth +called upon them to charge, in vain their chief, Keppoch, rushed forward +with a few of his clansmen and died in front of them. Nothing would +induce them to fight, and when the right and centre were defeated they +fell back in good order, and, joining the remnants of the second line, +retired from the field unbroken. + +Charles, from the heights on which he stood with a squadron of horse, +could scarce believe the evidence of his eyes when he saw the hitherto +victorious Highlanders broken and defeated, and would have ridden down +himself to share their fate had not O'Sullivan and Sheridan seized his +horse by the bridle and forced him from the field. Being pressed by the +English, the retreating force broke into two divisions. The smaller +retreated to Inverness, where they next day laid down their arms to the +Duke of Cumberland; the other, still preserving some sort of order, +marched by way of Ruthven to Badenoch. + +Fourteen colours, two thousand three hundred muskets, and all their +cannon fell into the hands of the English. The loss of the victors in +killed and wounded amounted to three hundred and ten men, that of the +Highlanders to a thousand. No quarter was given to the stragglers and +fugitives who fell into the hands of the English. Their wounded were left +on the ground till the following day without care or food, and the +greater portion of them were then put to death in cold blood, with a +cruelty such as never before or since disgraced an English army. + +Some were beaten to death by the soldiers with the stocks of their +muskets, some were dragged out from the thicket or caverns to which they +had crawled and shot, while one farm building, in which some twenty +wounded men had taken refuge, was deliberately set on fire and burned +with them to the ground. In any case such conduct as this would have +inflicted eternal discredit upon those who perpetrated it; but it was all +the more unjustifiable and abominable after the extreme clemency and +kindness with which Prince Charles had, throughout the campaign, treated +all prisoners who fell into his hands. + +Ronald had ridden close beside Lord George Murray as he led the +Highlanders to the charge; but he had, as they approached the first +English line, received a ball in the shoulder, while almost at the same +instant Malcolm's horse was shot under him. Ronald reeled in the saddle, +and would have fallen had not Malcolm extricated himself from his fallen +horse and run up to him. + +"Where are you hit, lad?" he asked in extreme anxiety. + +"In the shoulder, Malcolm. Help me off my horse, and do you take it and +go on with the troops." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," Malcolm said. "One man will make no +difference to them, and I am going to look after you." + +So saying he sprang up behind Ronald, and placing one arm round him to +support him, took the reins in the other and rode to the rear. He halted +on rising ground, and for a short time watched the conflict. + +"The battle is lost," he said at last. "Lord George's troops are in utter +confusion. The Macdonalds show no signs of moving, though I can see their +officers are urging them to charge. Now, Ronald, the first thing is to +get you out of this, and beyond the reach of pursuit." + +So saying he turned the horse and rode away from the field of battle. + +"Does your shoulder hurt much?" he asked after they had gone a short +distance. + +"It does hurt abominably," Ronald said faintly, for he was feeling almost +sick from the agony he was suffering from the motion of the horse. + +"I am a fool," Malcolm said, "not to have seen to it before we started. I +can't do much now; but at least I can fasten it so as to hurt you as +little as possible." + +He took off his scarf, and, telling Ronald to place his arm in the +position which was most comfortable to him, he bound it tightly against +his body. + +"That is better, is it not?" he asked as he again set the horse in +motion. + +"Much better, Malcolm. I feel that I can go on now, whereas before I +could not have gone much further if all Cumberland's cavalry had been +close behind. How far are you thinking of going? I don't think my horse +can carry double much further. Poor beast, he has had as short rations as +his master, and was on the move all last night." + +"No. But we shall not have to make a very long journey. The English +marched twelve miles before they attacked us, and I do not think they are +likely to closely pursue far tonight; besides, I have no intention of +riding now that there is no fear of immediate pursuit. I think that in +another two miles we shall be safe from any fear of the English cavalry +overtaking us, for we shall then reach a forest. Once in that we shall be +safe from pursuit, and shall soon be in the heart of the hills." + +On reaching the forest Malcolm dismounted, and leading the horse turned +off from the road. Following a little trodden path they were soon in the +heart of the forest, and after keeping on for two hours, and crossing +several hills, he stopped by the side of a stream. + +"We are perfectly safe here," he said, "and can sleep as securely as if +we were in a palace." + +The saddle was taken off and the horse turned loose to graze. Malcolm +then removed Ronald's coat and shirt, bathed the wound for some time with +water, cut some pieces of wood to act as splints, and tearing some strips +off his sash bound these tightly. + +"The ball has regularly smashed the bone, Ronald, and we must be careful +to keep the shoulder in its proper position or you will never look square +again." + +"That does not seem very important to me just at present, Malcolm." + +"No. Just at present the most important question is that of getting +something to eat. We have had nothing today and not much yesterday, and +now that we are no longer in danger of pursuit one begins to feel one is +hungry. You stay here while I go and forage. There ought to be a village +somewhere among the hills nor far away." + +"Do you know the country, Malcolm?" + +"I never came by this path, lad; but I have travelled pretty well all +over the Highlands, and, just as you found to be the case in Lancashire, +there are few villages I do not know. I will first pull you a couch of +this dead bracken, and then be off; an hour's sleep will do you almost as +much good as a meal." + +Ronald lay down on the soft couch Malcolm prepared for him, and before he +had been alone for a minute he was fast asleep. + +The sun was setting when he awoke. Malcolm stood beside him. + +"Here is supper, lad. Not a very grand one, but there's enough of it, +which is more than has been the case for some weeks." + +So saying he laid down by Ronald's side a large loaf of black bread, a +cheese made of sheep's milk, and a bottle of spirits. + +"The village is five miles away, which is farther than I expected. +However, I came back quicker than I went, for I had had a bowl of milk +and as much bread as I could eat. I found the place in a state of wild +excitement, for two or three of the men had just come in from the +battlefield, and brought the news with them. They are all for the Stuarts +there, and you would be well entertained, but there is sure to be a +search high and low, and you would not be safe in any village. However, a +lad has promised to be here in the morning, and he will guide us to a +lonely hut in the heart of the hills, used by the shepherds in summer. +You will be perfectly safe there." + +"It is about three miles from the village, he said. So I can go down two +or three times a week and get food, and learn how things are going on. +The Highlanders may rally again and make another fight of it; but I +hardly expect they will. They are not like regular troops, whose home is +naturally with their colours, and who, after the first rout, try to +rejoin their regiments. There is no discipline among these Highlanders. +Each man does as he likes, and their first impulse after a battle is to +make for their homes--if it is a victory, to carry home their spoil; if +they are defeated, for rest and shelter. At any rate, whether they gather +again or not, you will have to keep perfectly quiet for a time. When your +shoulder is perfectly healed we can act according to circumstances, and +make for the army if there be an army, or for the seacoast if there is +not." + +Although he had eaten but a short time before, Malcolm was quite ready +for another meal, and sitting down beside Ronald he joined him in his +assault upon the black bread and cheese. Then he collected some more of +the bracken, mixed himself a strong horn of whiskey and water, and a much +weaker one for Ronald, after which the two lay down and were fast asleep. + +They were awake at sunrise, and shortly afterwards the lad whom Malcolm +had engaged to act as guide made his appearance. The horse was saddled, +Ronald mounted, and they started at once for their destination among the +hills. They followed the path which Malcolm had taken the afternoon +before for some three miles, and then struck off to the left. Half an +hour took them out of the forest, and they journeyed for an hour along +the bare hillsides, until, lying in a sheltered hollow, they saw the hut +which was their destination. + +"They are not likely to find us here," Malcolm said cheerfully, "even +were they to scour the mountains. They might ride within fifty yards of +this hollow without suspecting its existence. Where are we to get water?" +he asked the lad in Gaelic. + +"A quarter of a mile away over that brow is the head of a stream," the +lad replied. "You cannot well miss it." + +"That is all right," Malcolm said. "I don't mind carrying up provisions +or a bottle of spirits now and then; but to drag all the water we want +three miles would be serious." + +The door of the hut was only fastened by a latch, and they entered +without ceremony. It consisted of but a single room. There were two or +three rough wooden stools, and a heap of bracken in one corner. Nor a +large amount of furniture, but, in the opinion of a Highlander, amply +sufficient. + +"We shall do here capitally," Malcolm said. "Now, what do you think about +the horse, Ronald?" + +"Of course he might be useful if we were obliged to move suddenly; but we +have no food to give him, and if we let him shift for himself he will +wander about, and might easily be seen by anyone crossing these hills. A +horse is always a prize, and it might bring troops out into our +neighbourhood who would otherwise not have a thought about coming in this +direction." + +"I quite agree with you, Ronald. The lad had better take him down to the +village, and give him to the head man there. He can sell him, or keep +him, or get rid of him as he likes. At any rate he will be off our +hands." + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Fugitives. + + +For three weeks Ronald and Malcolm remained in hiding in the hut among +the hills. Every two or three days Malcolm went down to the village and +brought back food. He learned that the remains of the army at Ruthven had +entirely dispersed, the prince himself seeing the hopelessness of any +longer continuing the struggle. Terrible tales of slaughter and +devastation by Cumberland's troops circulated through the hills. The duke +had fixed his headquarters at Fort Augustus, and thence his troops +ravaged the whole country of the clans lately in insurrection. Villages +were burned, cattle slaughtered, women subjected to the grossest insult +and ill treatment, and often wantonly slain, and the fugitives among the +mountains hunted like wild beasts, and slain as pitilessly whenever +overtaken. + +Ronald's arm was healing fast. Youth and a good constitution, and the +care and attention of Malcolm, aided perhaps by the pure mountain air, +did wonders for him. The splints had proved efficacious, and although +they had not yet been taken off, Malcolm was confident that the injury +would be completely repaired. One morning Malcolm had left but half an +hour for the village when he returned. + +"The enemy are in the village," he said. "I can see clouds of smoke +rising in that direction. We had better be off at once. They will be +scouring all the hills here, as they have done elsewhere, and we had +better get out of the neighbourhood." + +There was no packing to be done, and taking with them what remained of +the food Malcolm had last brought, they started on their way. They made +first for the spring from which they had drawn their water, and then +followed the little stream on its way down the hill, as it flowed in the +opposite direction to the village. An hour's walking took them into the +forest. + +"Before we go further let us have a consultation," Malcolm said. "We are +safe now from pursuit, and had better settle upon what course we intend +to adopt. Shall we make for Glasgow, and lie hid there until things blow +over a little; or make for the isles, and stay there until we get a +chance of being taken off by some French ship? That is what they say the +prince has done; and indeed as there would be no chance of his getting a +ship on the east coast, and all the Lowlands are against them, he is +certain to have made for the isles. The Clanranalds and most of the other +islemen are loyal to him, and would receive and shelter him. Skye is +hostile, but elsewhere he will be safe, and would move from island to +island or get across to the mainland by night if the pursuit became too +hot. What do you say, Ronald?" + +"I would not try Glasgow unless as a last resource, Malcolm; you are +known to many there, and as I was there as one of the prince's officers +on two occasions I might easily be recognized. You may be sure that there +is a very strict lookout for fugitives, and every stranger who enters a +town will be closely examined. After some time, when Prince Charles and +the principal chiefs and the leaders will either have escaped across the +water or been hunted down, things will calm down; but at present we must +not try to pass through the Lowlands." + +"At any rate we cannot try to do so till your shoulder is completely +healed, and you can use your arm naturally; but I do not think that we +had better try and cross to the isles just at present. If Prince Charles +is there, or is believed by the English to be there, the search will be +so keen that every stranger would be hunted down; and although the +Highlanders might risk imprisonment and death for the prince himself, +they could not be expected to run the same risk for anyone else. If the +prince escapes it will be because the whole population are with him, and +every man, woman, and child is trying to throw the pursuers off the +scent. No, I think we should be safer in Edinburgh itself than in the +isles. We will make a shift to live as we can for a month or so; by that +time I hope you will be able to use one arm as well as the other, and we +will then boldly go down into the Lowlands in our old characters as two +drovers." + +"That will be the best plan, no doubt," Ronald agreed; "the difficulty +will be the getting over the next month." + +"We shall manage that," Malcolm said; "fortunately you have still got +some money left." + +"Yes, I have over fifty pounds; it was lucky I was able to draw it, as we +returned north, from the man I left it with at Carlisle." + +"Yes, and you wanted to give it back to the treasury," Malcolm said, "and +would have done it if I had not almost quarrelled with you about it, +saying that it had been given you for a certain purpose, that you had +carried out that purpose, and had, therefore, a right to it, and that you +would be only looked upon as a fool if you offered to pay it back. +However, there it is now, and lucky it is you have got it. However hard +the times, however great the danger, a man will hardly starve in Scotland +with fifty pounds in his pocket; so now we will turn our faces west, and +make for the head of one of the lochs; there are plenty of fish to be had +for catching, and with them and a little oatmeal and a bottle or two of +whiskey we can live like lords." + +They walked for some hours, and stopped for the night in the hut of a +shepherd, who received them hospitably, but could give them but little +food, his scanty supplies being almost exhausted, for, as he told them, +"the hills are full of fugitives, and those who come all cry for meal; as +for meat, there is no want of it. Men won't starve as long as there are +sheep and cattle to be had for lifting them, and at present there are +more of these than usual in the hills, for they have all been driven up +from the villages lest they should fall into the hands of the troopers; +but meal is scarce, for men dare not go down to the villages to buy, and +we only get it when the women bring it up as they have a chance." + +In the morning the shepherd gave them directions as to the way they +should take, and a few hours later they came down upon the head of one of +the many deep inlets on the western coast. A small fishing boat stood on +the shore, but they dared not descend into this, but made their way to +the point where, as the shepherd had told them, a stream which flowed +from a mountain tarn some miles inland made its way down into the sea. + +The banks were thickly wooded for some two miles from its outlet; beyond +that was a moorland covered with heather. They determined to encamp near +the upper edge of the wood, and at once set to with their swords to cut +down branches and construct a hut. This was completed before dusk, and +Malcolm then started for the village on the seashore. Ronald besought him +to be most careful. + +"There is likely," he said, "to be a party of soldiers in every village +round the coast, for they will know that all the chiefs and officers +would be making for the sea. The clansmen have only to remain in the +hills until this persecution dies out, and then go quietly home again; +but for the leaders the only hope is escape by sea." + +"I will be careful, lad," Malcolm said. "I shall not enter the village, +but will hang about in its outskirts until I come across someone, and +with plenty of money in my pocket it is hard if I cannot manage to get a +bag of meal and a net, even if the place is full of English soldiers." + +Three hours later Malcolm returned laden with a sack containing forty +pounds of meal, a jar with two gallons of whiskey, and a net. + +"There," he said as he entered; "we can do for a month now, if needs be. +There is a party of militia in the village, and I hear the whole coast is +closely watched, and there are a number of English cruisers among the +islands." + +"How did you get the things?" + +"I waited till a woman came down with a bundle of faggots, and told her +what I wanted. She said at first it was impossible; but when I said I was +prepared to pay well she altered her tone, and said she would send her +husband out to me. He soon came, and after some bargaining he agreed to +bring me out the things I wanted for three pounds, and here they are. I +see you have got a fire alight, so we will make some cakes at once. I +have brought a griddle and two horns with me." + +The next morning they set to work to fish. The net was stretched across +the lower end of a pool, and they then stripped and waded in, splashing +and throwing stones as they went. It was just up to their necks in the +deepest parts, shallowing to two feet below. When they reached the net +they found two fine salmon caught there, and carrying these ashore they +split one and placed it above the fire. The net was then removed, and in +half an hour they were sitting down to a breakfast of grilled salmon and +hot oatmeal cakes, which Ronald thought the most delicious repast he had +ever tasted. + +For three weeks they remained at this spot. They were not always alone, +being sometimes joined for a day or two by other fugitives, who, like +themselves, were wandering near the sea coast seeking escape. These +seldom stayed long, for it was felt unsafe to keep in parties of more +than two or three at the utmost. Some of the fugitives were in wretched +condition, having been wandering among the moors and forests for weeks, +and as the fishing was very successful, Ronald and Malcolm were able to +give them at parting a good supply of smoked salmon, and a portion of +meal, of which Malcolm from time to time brought a fresh supply up from +the village. + +The people there knew little of what was passing in the outer world; but +from the conversation of the soldiers they were sure that Prince Charles +had so far escaped capture, and an opinion began to prevail that he had +succeeded in making his escape by sea, in spite of the vigilance of the +English cruisers. + +By the end of the three weeks even Malcolm admitted that Ronald's wound +was completely cured. Two large blue scars showed where the bullet had +passed through, and beneath this could be felt a lump where the broken +bone had knitted together, and this would in time become as strong as the +rest of the shoulder. Malcolm's splints had done their duty, and the eye +could detect no difference between the level or width of the two +shoulders. Ronald could move his arm freely in all directions, and, +except that he could not at present venture to put any strain upon the +arm, he might be considered as perfectly cured. They determined, +therefore, to continue their way. In the first place, however, it was +necessary to procure other clothes, for Ronald was still in uniform, and +although Malcolm's attire was not wholly military, it yet differed +materially from that of a countryman. + +"We shall have to get other clothes when we get south," Malcolm said; +"for a Highlander's dress would be looked upon with as much suspicion in +Glasgow as would that uniform of yours. But until we get down to the +Lowlands the native garb will be the best." + +Accordingly he paid another visit to the village, and with the utmost +difficulty persuaded the man he had before dealt with to bring him two +suits of clothes, such as were worn by the fishermen there. In these, +although Malcolm's small stock of Gaelic would betray them at once for +other than they seemed to the first clansman who might address them, they +could pass muster with any body of English troops they might meet by the +way. + +Before starting they caught and smoked as many salmon as they could +carry, as the fishermen of the coast were in the habit of exchanging fish +for sheep with their inland neighbours. They cut each a short pole, and +slung some fish at each end, and then placing it on their shoulder, +started on their way. They kept along the hillside until they struck the +track--for it could scarcely be called a road--leading from the +village into the interior, and then boldly followed this; for the +difficulty of travelling across the hilly and broken country was so great +that they preferred to run the slight extra risk of keeping to the road, +feeling certain that for the first day's march at least their appearance +and the fish they carried would answer for themselves with any body of +troops they might meet. + +Of this, however, they did not think there was much chance. The +authorities would have long since learned the futility of hunting the +fugitives among the hills, and would be confining their efforts to the +sea coast. They were now at a considerable distance from the scene of the +bloody persecutions of Cumberland and Hawley, and although in other parts +of Scotland severe measures might be adopted against known adherents of +the Stuarts, it was among the Highland clans only that savage and +wholesale massacres were being carried into effect. + +Occasionally in the course of the day's walk they met with clansmen +passing along the road. These generally passed with a brief word of +greeting in Gaelic. One or two who stopped to speak recognized at once by +Malcolm's accent that the wayfarers were not what they pretended to be; +but they asked no questions, and with a significant smile and an +expression of good wishes went on their way. + +At the village where they stopped, after a long day's journey, the same +line of conduct was observed towards them. The inhabitants guessed at +once that they were in disguise; but the edicts against those who +assisted fugitive insurgents were so severe that none made any open sign +of their recognition. They paid for their night's lodging and food with a +portion of their fish, which they were indeed glad to get rid of. + +The next day they resumed their journey, and towards sunset arrived at a +village where they saw a party of English cavalry, who had apparently but +just arrived. The men were cleaning their horses, and an officer was +sitting on a bench in front of the principal house in the village; for he +had already made a close inspection of every house in the village, and +the angry faces of the women and the sullen looks of a few men there were +about showed how they resented the disturbance of their households. + +It was too late to retreat, and Malcolm and Ronald walked boldly to the +public house in the centre of the village. The officer at once rose and +walked across to him. + +"Who are you?" he asked; "and where do you come from?" + +Malcolm shook his head and said in Gaelic: + +"I do not understand English." + +"What fools these people are!" the officer exclaimed. "Ho, within there!" + +The landlady came to the door. + +"Do you speak English?" + +"I speak a little," the woman said. + +"Just ask these men who they are and where they come from." + +The woman asked the question in Gaelic, and Malcolm replied: + +"We are, as you see, fishermen, and we come from Huish." + +As he spoke there was a slight change in the woman's face; but it passed +away, and she translated Malcolm's answer to the officer. + +"But that is forty miles away," the officer said. "What do they do with +their fish at this distance from their home?" + +The question being put in Gaelic by the woman, Malcolm replied that owing +to the boats being seized by the soldiers, and trade being at a +standstill, they could no longer make a living at home, and were +therefore on their way to Glasgow to ship as sailors. They were carrying +their fish with them to pay for their food and lodging on the way. + +The story was probable enough, and the officer's suspicion was allayed. + +"They are fine looking fellows, both of them," he said to himself as he +returned to his bench. "Father and son, I suppose. The young one would +make a strapping soldier. Like enough he was at Culloden. However, thank +goodness, I have no grounds for suspecting or detaining them. I am sick +of this brutal business of fugitive hunting. We are officers and not +butchers, and this slaying of brave men who have met us fairly in battle +is a disgrace to the British name." + +Ronald and Malcolm followed the woman into the house. + +"I am ready to buy some of your fish," she said in a loud tone of voice +in Gaelic, "for there will be many to feed this evening; as my house is +full of soldiers I cannot take you in, but if you like you can sleep in +that shed over there. I can cook one of your fish for you, and let you +have some black bread; but that is all I can do. Now, how much do you +want for the fish?" + +Malcolm named a low price, and the woman took three or four of the +largest. For these she offered him the price he had asked. He glanced +round, and seeing that they were not overlooked, he shook his head. + +"We don't want money," he said. "We are well provided. Many thanks for +keeping our secret." + +The woman nodded, and without another word the two went out and sat down +on a stone bench outside until the landlady brought out a platter with a +fish and some black bread. This they ate where they sat. Malcolm then +went in to get some tobacco, and returned with his pipe alight, and sat +with Ronald watching with apparent interest the operations of the +soldiers until night closed in. Then they retired to the shed the +landlady had pointed out, and found that a large bundle of freshly +gathered rushes had been shaken out to form a bed. Carrying in their +poles with their now diminished load of fish, they closed the door and +threw themselves down upon the rushes. + +"That has passed off well," Malcolm said. "Tomorrow we will only go a +mile or so out of the village, and stop in the first wood we come to, and +go on at night. Thirty miles will take us close down to Dumbarton, and +there we must manage to get some fresh clothes." + +"We shall be able to leave our poles behind us," Ronald said, "and that +will be a comfort. Although my load of fish was not nearly as heavy as +yours, still carrying it on one shoulder was no joke, and I shall be +heartily glad to get rid of it." + +"I shall not be sorry myself," Malcolm said; "but there will be no +occasion to waste the fish. We shall be up and away long before the +soldiers are stirring, and we may as well hand them over as a present to +the landlady." + +This was done, and at an early hour in the morning they were upon the +road again. After an hour's walking they stopped in a wood till evening +and then continued on their way until they reached Dumbarton, where they +threw themselves down beside some boats drawn up upon the shore, and +slept till the morning. + +They then boldly entered the town, and as their garb was similar to that +of the men who brought down the fish caught at the villages on the coast, +no attention whatever was paid to them. They had no difficulty in +purchasing the clothes they required, and carrying them out of the town +they changed in the first retired spot they reached, and, as two Lowland +drovers, tramped on to Glasgow. With their bonnets pulled well down over +their eyes they entered the town. They had little fear of discovery, for +none would be likely to recognize in Ronald the gaily dressed young +officer of Prince Charles. + +As to Malcolm, he felt safe from molestation. He was, of course, known to +many drovers and others, but they would not concern themselves with what +he had been doing since they last saw him, and even had they noticed him +when he was there with Ronald, would not denounce an old comrade. He +went, therefore, boldly to the little inn where he had been in the habit +of staying when in the city. + +"Ah, Malcolm, is that you, man?" the landlord said as he entered. "I +didna think o' seeing you again. I thought it likely ye were laying stiff +and stark somewhere out on the muirs. Eh, man, you are a foolish fellow +to be mixing yourself up in the affairs of ithers." + +"I have done with it now, Jock, for good and all," Malcolm said, "and am +going back to my old trade again." + +"I think you are a fule to come back here so soon. There's mony a one +marked ye as ye rode in behind that young officer of the prince's, and if +they denounce you now they would soon clap you in between four walls." + +"Hoots, man!" Malcolm laughed; "who would trouble themselves about a body +like me!" + +"There are bleudy doings up i' the Highlands," the landlord said gravely, +"if a' they say is true." + +"It is true, Jock, more shame to them; but they wouldn't do in Glasgow +what they are doing there. They are hunting down the clansmen like wild +beasts; but here in the Lowlands they will not trouble themselves to ask +who was for King George and who was against him, except among those who +have got estates they can confiscate." + +"May be no," the landlord replied. "Still, Malcolm, if you will take my +advice you won't show yourself much in the streets, nor your friend +either," he added significantly. "You may be safe, but the citizens are +smarting yet over the requisitions that were made upon them, and your +friend had best keep in his room as long as ye stay here." + +Malcolm nodded. + +"He will be careful, Jock, never fear. We shall be off again as soon as +we get a chance. I will leave him here while I go down the town and find +whether there is a herd starting for England. If there is we will go with +it; if not, I shall try and get a passage by sea." + +Malcolm could not hear of any drove of cattle going south. The troubles +had, for the time, entirely put a stop to the trade. After it was dark he +went to Andrew's. His brother's face expressed both pleasure and dismay +at seeing him. + +"Right glad I am to see you have got safely through it all, Malcolm, but +you must be mad to show yourself here again at present. But how is the +boy? We have troubled sorely over him. I trust that he too has come +safely through it?" + +"Safe and sound, Andrew, save that he had a bullet through his shoulder +at Culloden; but he is tight enough again now." + +"And what have you been doing ever since?" + +"Curing his shoulder and fishing;" Malcolm briefly related their +adventures since Culloden. + +"And is he with you here in Glasgow, Malcolm? Surely you are not mad +enough to bring him here, where he is known to scores of people as one of +the rebel officers!" + +"He is here, sure enough," Malcolm said, "and safer than he has been for +some time. It is nearly two months since Culloden, and people are +beginning to think of other things, except in the Highlands, where those +fiends Cumberland and Hawley are burning and slaying. Ronald is dressed +like a drover, and no one is likely to recognize him. However, he will +remain within doors. And now, brother, I want you to take us a passage in +the next vessel sailing for London. If I go to a shipper he may ask +questions, and like enough it may be necessary to get passes signed +before we can go on board." + +"Certainly it is," Andrew said. "A strict lookout is kept to prevent the +rebel leaders from escaping, and no captain of a ship is permitted to +take a passenger unless he is provided with a pass, signed by a +magistrate, saying that he is a peaceable and well known person." + +"But just at present we are both peaceable persons, Andrew, and we can +certainly claim to be well known citizens." + +"It is no joking matter, Malcolm, I can tell you," Andrew said irritably; +"but of course I will see what I can do. And now I will put on my bonnet +and come with you and have a chat with Ronald. It will not do to bring +him here tonight, but we must arrange for him to come and see Janet +before he sails. I shall not tell her anything about it till he is ready +to start, for you know she is very particular, and I am afraid I shall +have to say what is not quite true to get the order. I can sign it +myself, but it must have the signature of the provost too." + +So saying he took his cap and accompanied Malcolm to the lodging. + +"Stay here a moment, Andrew," Malcolm said when he arrived within a few +yards of the little inn. "I will see that there is no one drinking +within. It wouldna look well to see a decent bailie of the city going +into a liquor shop after dark. It will be best for me to fetch him out +here, for I doubt there's any room where you could talk without fear of +being overheard." + +Ronald, who was sitting with his cap pulled down over his eyes as if +asleep, in a corner of the room, where three or four drovers were smoking +and talking, was called out by Malcolm. + +"I am right glad to see you again," Andrew Anderson said heartily. "Janet +and I have passed an ill time since the battle was fought. Elspeth has +kept up our hopes all along. She said she was sure that you were alive, +quite downright sure; and though neither Janet nor I have much faith in +superstitions, the old woman's assertions that she should assuredly know +it if you were dead did somehow keep up our spirits. Besides, I had faith +in Malcolm's knowledge of the country, and knew you were both famous for +getting into scrapes and out of them, so I thought that if neither bullet +nor sabre had stretched you on the moor of Culloden you would manage to +win your way out of the trouble somehow. However, I think you are pretty +safe here. The bloody doings of Cumberland have shocked every Scotchman, +and even those who were strongest against the Stuarts now cry shame, and +so strong is the feeling that were the prince to appear now with a +handful of followers I believe the whole country would rise in his +favour. So deep is the wrath and grief at the red slaughter among the +Highlands there would not be many Scotchmen found who would betray a +fellow Scot into the hands of these butchers. I will make inquiry +tomorrow as to what ships are sailing, and will get you a passage in the +first. There may be some difficulty about the permit; but if I can't get +over it we must smuggle you on board as sailors. However, I don't think +the provost will ask me any questions when I lay the permit before him +for his signature. He is heart and soul for the king, but, like us all, +he is sick at heart at the news from the North, and would, I think, shut +an eye if he saw a Jacobite making his escape. And now, lad, I must be +going back, for the hour is getting late and Janet does not know why I am +away. Come to us tomorrow evening as soon as the shop closes. Janet and +Elspeth will be delighted to see you, and we will have a long talk over +all that you have gone through." + +On the following evening Ronald and Malcolm presented themselves at +Andrew's and were received with delight by Elspeth and Mrs. Anderson. The +latter had, while the rebellion appeared to have a chance of success, +been its bitter opponent, and had spoken often and wrathfully against her +husband's brother and Ronald embarking in such an enterprise; but with +its overthrow all her enmity had expired, and she would have been ready +to give assistance not only to them, but to any other fugitive trying to +escape. + +"I have good news for you," Andrew said, when the first greetings were +over. "A vessel sails in the morning, and I have taken passages for you +in it; and what is more, have brought your permits. I went to the provost +and said to him, 'Provost, I want you to sign these permits for two +friends of mine who are wanting to go up to London.' + +"'Who are they?' said he. + +"'They are just two drover bodies,' I said. He looked at me hard. + +"'One question, Andrew. I know how you feel just at present. You are a +loyal man like myself, but we all feel the same. I will sign your permit +for any save one. Give me your word that neither of these men is Charles +Stuart. I care not who they may be beside, but as a loyal subject of King +George I cannot aid his arch enemy to escape.' + +"'I give you my word, provost,' I said. 'One is--' + +"'I don't want to know who they are,' he interrupted. 'I had rather not +know. It is enough for me that you give me your word that neither of them +is Charles Stuart,' and he took the pen and signed the permit. 'Between +ourselves,' he went on, 'I shall be glad to hear that the misguided young +man is safe across the water, but as Provost of Glasgow I could lend him +no help to go.' + +"'They say he has got safe away already,' I said. + +"'I think not, Andrew; the coast has been too closely watched for that. +The young man is hiding somewhere among the isles, among the Clanranalds +or Macdonalds. I fear they will have him yet. I dread every day to get +the news; but I hope beyond all things, that if they do lay hands on him +it will be through the treachery of no Scot.' + +"'I hope not, provost,' I said. 'They haven't got over throwing it in our +teeth that we sold King Charles to Cromwell.' So we just shook hands and +said goodbye, and here is the permit." + +They spent a long evening talking over the past. + +"I wonder if I shall ever see you again, Ronald!" Mrs. Anderson said, +with tears in her eyes, as they rose to say goodbye. + +"You need nor fear about that, Janet, woman," her husband said. "Ronald +and Malcolm aye fall on their legs, and we shall see them back again like +two bad pennies. Besides," he went on more seriously, "there will be an +end of these savage doings in the north before long. Loyal men in +Scotland are crying out everywhere against them, and the feeling in +England will be just as strong when the truth is known there, and you +will see that before long there will be a general pardon granted to all +except the leaders. Fortunately Ronald and Malcolm are not likely to be +in the list of exceptions, and before a year is up they will be able to +come back if they will without fear of being tapped on the shoulder by a +king's officer." + +"I shall come back again if I can, you may be sure," Ronald said. "Of +course I do not know yet what my father and mother's plans may be; but +for myself I shall always look upon Scotland as my home, and come back to +it as soon as I have an opportunity." + +"You do not intend to stay in the French army?" + +"Certainly not. After the treatment my father has received I have no +inclination to serve France. The chief reason why Scotchmen have entered +her service has been that they were driven from home, and that they +looked to France for aid to place the Stuarts on the throne again. Now +that the time has come, France has done nothing to aid, and has seen the +Stuart cause go down without striking a blow to assist it. I consider +that cause is lost for ever, and shall never again draw my sword against +the House of Hanover. Nor have I had any reason for loving France. After +living in a free country like Scotland, who could wish to live in a +country where one man's will is all powerful--where the people are +still no better than serfs--where the nobles treat the law as made only +for them--where, as in my father's case, a man may not even marry +according to his own will without incurring the risk of a life's +imprisonment? No, I have had enough of France; and if ever I get the +opportunity I shall return to Scotland to live." + +The next morning early Ronald and Malcolm embarked on board a ship. Their +permits were closely scrutinized before the vessel started, and a +thorough search was made before she was allowed to sail. When the +officers were satisfied that no fugitives were concealed on board they +returned to shore, and the vessel started on her voyage for London. + + + +CHAPTER XX: Happy Days. + + +On arriving in London, after ten days' voyage, Ronald and Malcolm +obtained garments of the ordinary cut. The one attired himself as an +English gentleman, the other in a garb suitable to a confidential +attendant or steward, and after a stay of two or three days they made +their way by coach down to Southampton. + +Here they remained for a week, and then effected a bargain with the +captain of a fishing lugger to set them on shore in France. As the two +countries were at war this could only be done by landing them at night at +some quiet spot on the French coast. The lugger cruised about a couple of +days, and then, choosing a quiet night when there was a mist on the +water, she ran in as closely as she dared, then the boat was lowered, and +Malcolm and Ronald were rowed to shore and landed a few miles south of +Boulogne. + +When it was light they made their way to a village; here but few +questions were asked them, for many refugees from Scotland and England +were crossing to France. As they had been well provided with funds by +Andrew they posted to Paris, and on arriving there put up at the inn +where they had stopped on the occasion of their first visit. + +"We must be careful," Malcolm said, "how we stir out until we know how +things stand. The first thing to do is to find out whether the regiment +is still in Paris." + +This they were not long in doing, as their host was able to inform them +at once that it had left the capital several months before, and on +comparing dates they found that its departure had followed within a day +or two that of their own flight from Paris. + +"It was no doubt meant as a punishment," Ronald said, "on Colonel Hume +for acting as my second in that affair with the duke. I hope that no +further ill befell him." + +His mind was set easy on this score by the news that Colonel Hume had +accompanied his regiment. On asking after Marshal Saxe they learned that +he was away on the frontier, where he had been carrying on the war with +great success, Antwerp, Mons, Namur, and Charleroi all having been +captured. + +The king was in person with the army. This being the case Ronald saw that +it was of no use remaining in Paris, as he was without friend or +protector there, and he dared not rejoin his regiment until he learned +whether the king's anger was as hot as ever. He therefore started at once +with Malcolm and travelled down to La Grenouille. + +It was a joyful meeting between him and his parents, who were in the +greatest anxiety respecting him, for although he had written several +times, communication was uncertain owing to the war, the only chance of +sending letters being by such French vessels as arrived at Scottish ports +after running the gauntlet with English cruisers. Some of these had been +captured on the way back, and only two of Ronald's letters had arrived +safely. The last of these had been written a few days after the battle of +Falkirk, and Ronald had then stated that he no longer had any hope of the +final success of the expedition. They had received the news of the defeat +at Culloden, and had since passed nearly three months of painful +suspense, relieved only by the arrival of Ronald himself. He found his +mother looking well and happy; his father had somewhat recovered from his +rheumatism, and looked a younger man by some years than when he saw him +last. + +"He will recover fast now," the countess said; "but he has worried about +you night and day, Ronald. I hope that you will stay with us for a time. +We have seen so little of you yet." + +Ronald learned that a few days after his flight an officer had appeared +at the chateau with the royal order for his arrest, and it was from him +that his parents had first learned the news of his duel with the Duke of +Chateaurouge and its result. + +"I could hardly believe my ears, Ronald," his father said; "to think that +my son, scarce a man yet, should have killed in fair fight one of the +first duellists in France. It seemed almost incredible. Malcolm told me +that you were a first rate swordsman, but this seemed extraordinary +indeed. The officer remained here for three days, and then, convinced +that you had not made in this direction, left us. A day or two afterwards +we received the letter you wrote us from Nantes, saying that you were +starting for Scotland with the prince. I grumbled sorely over my +rheumatism, I can tell you, which prevented my drawing my sword once more +for the Stuarts; but it was no use my thinking of it." + +"No, indeed," the countess said; "and I can tell you, Ronald, that had he +been ever so well I should not have let him go. After being separated +from one's husband for sixteen years one is not going to let him run off +to figure as a knight errant at his pleasure." + +"Your friend Colonel Hume wrote to us," the colonel said with a smile at +his wife's word, "giving us details of the duel, and speaking of your +conduct in the highest terms. He said that at present the king was +furious; but that he hoped in time he would get over it. Colonel Hume had +seen Marshal Saxe, who had promised on the first opportunity to speak to +the king, and to open his eyes to the character of his late favourite, +and to tell him of the attempts which the duke had made to prevent the +royal orders for our release being carried out, and to remove you by +assassination. Two months ago he wrote again to us from Antwerp, which +had just fallen, saying that Marshal Saxe had bid him tell us that the +king was in a much more favourable disposition, and that he had taken the +opportunity when his majesty was in a good humour to tell him the whole +circumstances of your journey with the orders for our release, and that +in consequence the king had made other inquiries respecting the late +duke, and had acknowledged that he had been greatly deceived as to his +character. At the same time, as your name had been by the king's order +removed from the list of officers of the Scottish Dragoons immediately +after the duel, he recommended that should you return to France you +should not put yourself in the king's way or appear at all in public for +the present. + +"'The marshal,' Colonel Hume wrote, 'has made your affair a personal +matter, and he, as is his habit in war, will persevere until he succeeds. +His reputation and influence are higher than ever, and are daily rising; +be assured that when the campaign is over, and he reaps all the honours +to which he is entitled, he will push your claim as before.'" + +In the first week in October the suspense from which they had suffered as +to the fate of Prince Charles was relieved by the news that on the 29th +of September he had safely landed at the little port of Roscoff near +Morlaix. He made his way to Paris, and Ronald, accompanied by Malcolm, +took horse at once and rode there to pay his respects to the prince, and +congratulate him on his escape. The prince received him with great warmth +and cordiality, and from his own lips Ronald learned the story of his +adventures. + +He had, eight days after Culloden, embarked for the cluster of islets to +which the common name of Long Island is applied. After wandering from +place to place and suffering greatly from hunger, he gained South Uist, +where his wants were relieved by Clanranald. The English, suspecting or +learning that he was there, landed two thousand men on the island, and +commenced an active search for him. He must have been detected had not +Flora Macdonald--stepdaughter of a captain in a militia regiment which +formed part of the troops who had landed--upon being appealed to by +Lady Clanranald, nobly undertaken to save him. + +She obtained from her stepfather a passport to proceed to Skye with a +manservant and a maid. Charles was dressed in female clothes, and passed +as Betty Bourk, while a faithful Highlander, Neil M'Eachan, acted as her +servant. They started at night in an open boat, and disembarked in Skye. +Skye was ever a hostile country, as its chief, Sir Alexander Macdonald, +who had at first wavered, was now a warm supporter of the Hanoverians, +and was with the Duke of Cumberland. Nevertheless Flora appealed to his +wife, Lady Margaret, a daughter of the Earl of Eglinton, and informed her +that her attendant was Prince Charles in disguise. Lady Margaret nobly +responded to her appeal. Her own house was full of militia officers, and +she intrusted Charles to the charge of Macdonald of Kingsburgh, her +husband's kinsman and factor, who took the party to his house. + +The next day Charles took leave of Flora Macdonald with warm expressions +of gratitude, and passed over to the Isle of Rasay, in the disguise of a +male servant. Thence he made his way to the mainland, where on landing he +was compelled to lie in concealment for two days cooped up within a line +of sentries. After many dangers he took refuge in a mountain cave +inhabited by seven robbers, who treated him with the greatest kindness, +and supplied his wants for the three weeks he remained with them. After +many other adventures he joined his faithful adherents Cluny and Locheil, +who were in hiding in a retreat on the side of Mount Benalder, and here +he lived in comparative comfort until he heard that two French vessels +under the direction of Colonel Warren of Dillon's regiment had anchored +in Lochnanuagh. + +Travelling by night he made his way to that place, and embarked on the +20th of September, attended by Locheil, Colonel Roy Stuart, and about a +hundred other fugitives who had learned of the arrival of the French +vessels. It was almost precisely the spot at which he had disembarked +fourteen months before. A fog concealed the vessel as she passed through +the British fleet lying to intercept her, and they reached Roscoff after +a nine days' voyage. + +Such was the tale which Prince Charles told to Ronald. He had after +Culloden entirely recovered his high spirits, and had borne all his +fatigues and hardships with the greatest cheerfulness and good humour, +making light of hunger, fatigue, and danger. Ronald only remained two +days in Paris, and then returned home. + +In October the campaign of Flanders ended with the complete defeat of +Prince Charles of Lorraine at Rancaux, and Marshal Saxe returned to +Paris, where he was received with enthusiasm by the population. The royal +residence of Chambord was granted him for life, and he was proclaimed +marshal general of the king's armies. A fortnight later Colonel Leslie +received a letter from him, saying that he had received his majesty's +command that he with the countess and his son should present themselves +in Paris, and that he was happy to say that the king's disposition was +most favourable. They set off at once. On their arrival there they called +upon Marshal Saxe, who greeted the colonel as an old friend, and refused +to listen to the warm expression of gratitude of Leslie and the countess. + +"Say nothing about it, madam," he exclaimed. "Your son won my heart, and +I was only too glad to be of service to him and my old comrade here. What +is the use of a man winning victories if he cannot lend a helping hand to +his friends!" + +The next day they went down to Versailles, where Marshal Saxe presented +them to the king in a private audience. Louis received them graciously. + +"I fear, countess, that you and your husband have been treated with some +harshness; but our royal ear was deceived by one in whom we had +confidence. Your husband and yourself were wrong in marrying without the +consent and against the will of your father, and such marriages cannot be +permitted; but at the request of Marshal Saxe, who has done so much for +France that I cannot refuse anything he asks, I have now consented to +pardon and overlook the past, and have ordered my chancellor to prepare +an order reinstating you in all the possessions and estates of the +countess, your mother. I hope that I shall often see you together with +your husband and son, both of whom have done good service as soldiers of +France, at my court; and now that I see you," he said with a gracious +smile, "I cannot but feel how great a loss our court has suffered by your +long absence from it." + +Upon leaving the king's private chamber and entering the great audience +hall Colonel Hume came up and grasped the hand of his old friend, and was +introduced by him to his wife; while many of the courtiers, who were +either connections or friends of the family of the countess, also +gathered round them, for the news that she was restored to royal favour +had spread quickly. The countess knew how small was the real value of +such advances, but she felt that it was best for her husband and son's +sake to receive them amicably. For a few weeks they remained in Paris, +taking part in the brilliant fetes which celebrated the success of the +French arms, and they then retired to the handsome chateau which was now +the property of the countess. + +Here they lived quietly for two years, making occasional visits to Paris. +At the end of that time Ronald received a letter from Andrew Anderson, to +whom he had written several times since his return to France. He told him +that he had just heard that Glenlyon and the rest of the property which +had been confiscated after the rising of 1715 was for sale. It had been +bestowed upon a neighbouring chief, who had been active in the Hanoverian +cause. He was now dead without leaving issue, and his wife, an English +lady, was anxious to dispose of the property and return to England. + +"I do not know whether your father is disposed to buy back his estates," +Andrew wrote, "but I hear that a general amnesty will very shortly be +issued to all who took part in the insurrection, saving only certain +notorious persons. The public are sick of bloodshed. There have been +upwards of eighty trials and executions, besides the hundreds who were +slaughtered in the Highlands. Besides this, thousands have been +transported. But public opinion is now so strong, and persons of all +shades of politics are so disgusted with the brutal ferocity which has +been shown, that it is certain government will ere long be compelled to +pass an act of amnesty. In the meantime, if it should be your father's +wish to purchase the property, I can buy it in my name. The priced asked +is very low. The income arising from it is stated to be about four +hundred a year, and four thousand pounds will be accepted for it. I +understand that as the late owner took no part in the insurrection, and +joined the Duke of Cumberland when he came north, the property is in good +condition and the clansmen have escaped the harrying which befell all +those who sided with Charles Stuart." + +Ronald at once laid the letter before his father, who, after reading it +through, passed it, without a word, to the countess. + +"You would like to return to Scotland?" she asked quietly, when she read +it. "Do not hesitate to tell me, dear, if you would. It is no matter to +me whether we live there or here, so long as I have you and Ronald with +me." + +Colonel Leslie was silent. + +"For Ronald's sake," she went on, "perhaps it would be better so. You are +both of opinion that the cause of the Stuarts is lost for ever, and he is +determined that he will never again take part in any rising. He does not +care again to enter the French army, nor, indeed, is there any reason why +Scotchmen should do so, now that they no longer look for the aid of the +King of France to set the Stuarts on the English throne. I myself have no +ties here. My fifteen years of seclusion have separated me altogether +from my family, and although they are willing enough to be civil now, I +cannot forget that all those years they did nothing towards procuring our +liberty. The king has so far given way that he has restored me my +mother's estates, but it was only because he could not refuse Marshal +Saxe, and he does not like French lands to be held by strangers; +therefore I feel sure, that were I to ask his permission to sell my +estates and to retire with you to Scotland he would at once grant my +request." + +"No, Amelie, it would not be fair to accept your generous offer." + +"But it would be no sacrifice," she urged. "I have little reason to love +France, and I can assure you I should be just as happy in your country as +in my own." + +"But it would be exile," the colonel said. + +"No more exile than you and Ronald are suffering here. Besides, I suppose +we should get as many comforts in Scotland as here in France. Of course +our estates here will fetch a sum many times larger than that which would +purchase Glenlyon, and we need not live all our time among the mountains +you tell me of, but can go sometimes to Edinburgh or even to London. Even +if you did not wish it, I should say it would be far better to do so for +Ronald's sake. You have lived so long in France that you may have become +a Frenchman; but it is not so with Ronald." + +It was not until two or three days later that the discussion came to an +end and the countess had her way. Colonel Leslie had resisted stoutly, +but his heart beat at the thought of returning to the home of his youth +and ending his days among the clansmen who had followed him and his +fathers before him. Ronald had taken no part whatever in the debate, but +his mother read in his eyes the delight which the thought of returning to +Scotland occasioned him. As soon as this was settled they went to Paris, +and as the countess had foreseen, the king was pleased at once to give +his consent to her disposing of her lands on his approval of the +purchaser. + +No difficulty was experienced on this score, as a noble whose lands +adjoined her own offered at once to purchase them. As soon as this was +arranged instructions were sent to Andrew to purchase not only the +Glenlyon property, but the other estates of its late owner. + +In due time a letter was received from Andrew saying that he had arranged +for the purchase of the whole for the sum of thirteen thousand pounds, +and the money was at once sent over through a Dutch banking house. Very +shortly afterwards, at the end of 1747, the act of general amnesty was +passed, and as Ronald's name was not among those excluded from its +benefits they at once prepared to return to Scotland. The journey was +facilitated by the fact that shortly after the passing of the act, peace +was concluded between England and France. + +Accompanied by Malcolm, Colonel Leslie, the countess, and Ronald sailed +for Scotland. The colonel and his wife remained in Edinburgh while Ronald +and Malcolm went to Glasgow, where Andrew had in readiness all the papers +transferring the estates purchased in his name to Colonel Leslie, who +shortly afterwards journeyed north with his wife and son and took +possession of his ancestral home amid the enthusiastic delight of the +clansmen, who had never ceased to regret the absence of him whom they +considered as their rightful chief. + +There is little more to tell. Colonel Leslie lived but a few years after +returning home, and Ronald then succeeded him as Leslie of Glenlyon. He +had before this married the daughter of a neighbouring gentleman, and +passed his time between Glenlyon and Edinburgh, varied by an occasional +visit to London. + +The countess never regretted her native land, but, happy in the affection +of her son and daughter in law and their children, lived happily with +them until nearly the end of the century. Malcolm remained the faithful +and trusty friend of the family; and his brother and his wife were +occasionally persuaded to pay a visit to Glenlyon, where their kindness +to Ronald as a child was never forgotten. Happily the rising of '45 was +the last effort on behalf of the Stuarts. Scotland accepted the decision +as final, and the union between the two countries became close and +complete. Henceforth Scotchmen went no longer to fight in the armies of +France, but took service in that of their own country, and more than one +of Ronald's grandsons fought stoutly in Spain under Wellington. + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bonnie Prince Charlie, by G. A. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Bonnie Prince Charlie + A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7006] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 21, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org) + + + + +Bonnie Prince Charlie +A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden +by G. A. Henty + + + +CHAPTER I: The Return of a Prodigal. + + +It was a dull evening in the month of September, 1728. The apprentices +had closed and barred the shutters and the day's work was over. Supper +was laid in the long room over the shop, the viands were on the table, +and round it were standing Bailie Anderson and his wife, his foreman John +Gillespie, and his two apprentices. The latter were furtively eying the +eatables, and wondering how much longer the grace which their master was +delivering would be. Suddenly there was a knock at the door below. No one +stirred until the bailie had finished his grace, before which time the +knock had been twice repeated. + +"Elspeth, woman," the bailie said when he had brought the grace to an +end, "go down below and see who knocks so impatiently; look through the +grille before you open the door; these are nor times when one opens to +the first stranger who knocks." + +The old servant, who had been standing behind her mistress, went +downstairs. The door was opened, and they heard an exclamation of +surprise at the answer to her question, "Who is it that's knocking as if +the house belonged to him?" + +Those gathered up stairs heard the bolts withdrawn. There was a confused +sound of talking and then a heavy step was heard ascending the stairs, +and without introduction a tall man, wrapped in a cloak and carrying a +child of some two years old, strode into the room. He threw his hat on to +a settle and advanced straight towards the bailie, who looked in surprise +at this unceremonious entry. + +"Don't you know me, Andrew?" + +"Heaven preserve us," the bailie exclaimed, "why it's Malcolm!" + +"Malcolm himself," the visitor repeated, "sound in wind and limb." + +"The Lord be praised!" the bailie exclaimed as he grasped the other's +hand and wrung it warmly. "I had thought you dead years and years ago. +Janet, this is my brother Malcolm of whom you have often heard me speak." + +"And of whom you can have heard little good, mistress, if my brother has +spoken the truth concerning me. I was ever a ne'er do well, while Andrew +struck hard and fast to our father's trade." + +"My husband has ever spoken with affection of you," Janet Anderson said. +"The bailie is not given to speak ill of any, much less of his own flesh +and blood." + +"And now sit down, Malcolm. Supper is waiting, and you are, I doubt not, +ready for it. It is ill talking to a fasting man. When you have done you +shall tell me what you have been doing for the last fifteen years, and +how it comes that you thus suddenly come back among us with your boy." + +"He is no boy of mine," Malcolm said; "but I will tell you all about it +presently. First let me lay him down on that settle, for the poor little +chap is fast asleep and dead tired out. Elspeth, roll up my cloak and +make a pillow for him. That's right, he will do nicely now. You are +changed less than any of us, Elspeth. Just as hard to look at, and, I +doubt not, just as soft at heart as you used to be when you tried to +shield me when I got into scrapes. And now to supper." + +Little was said during the meal; fortunately the table was bounteously +spread, for the newcomer's appetite was prodigious; but at last he was +satisfied, and after a long drink at the horn beside him, which Elspeth +had kept filled with ale, he said: + +"There's nothing like a Scottish meal after all, Andrew. French living is +well enough for a time, but one tires of it; and many a time when I have +been lying down supperless on the sod, after marching and fighting the +whole day, I have longed for a bowl of porridge and a platter well filled +with oatmeal cakes." + +Supper over, John and the apprentices retired. Elspeth went off to +prepare the guest's chamber and to make up a little bed for the child. + +"Now, brother, let us hear your story; but, first of all, perhaps you +want to light your pipe?" + +"That do I," Malcolm replied, "if Mistress Janet has no objection +thereto." + +"She is accustomed to it," the bailie said, answering for her. "I smoke +myself; I deem that tobacco, like other things, was given for our use, +and methinks that with a pipe between the lips men's brains work more +easily and that it leadeth to pleasant converse." + +Janet went to a cupboard, brought out two long pipes and a jar of +tobacco, placed two tumblers, a flat bottle, and a jug of water on the +table. + +"That is right," the bailie said. "I do not often touch strong waters. +The habit, as I see too plainly, is a harmful one, and in this good city +of Glasgow there are many, even of those so placed that they should be an +example to their fellows, who are given nightly to drink more than is +good for them; but on an occasion like the present I deem it no harm to +take a glass." + +"I should think not," Malcolm said heartily; "it is long since I tasted a +glass of real Scotch spirit, and I never need an excuse for taking a +glass of whatever it be that comes in my way. Not, Mistress Janet, that I +am a toper. I don't say that at the sack of a town, or at times when +liquor is running, so to speak, to waste, I am more backward than the +rest; but my hand wouldn't be as steady as it is if I had been one of +those who are never so happy as when they are filling themselves with +liquor. And now, Andrew, to my story. You know that when I saw you last +-- just when the troubles in `15 began -- in spite of all your warnings +to the contrary, I must needs throw myself into the thick of them. You, +like a wise man, stuck to your shop, and here you are now a bailie of +Glasgow; while I, who have been wandering over the face of the earth +fighting for the cause of France and risking my life a thousand times in +a matter which concerned me in no way, have returned just as penniless as +I set out." + +"It is said, brother Malcolm," Janet said mildly, "that a rolling stone +gathers no moss." + +"That is true enough," Malcolm assented; "and yet do you know there are +few rolling stones who, if their time were to come over again, would +remain fixed in their bed. Of course we have not the pleasures of home, +of wives and children; but the life of adventure has its own joys, which +I, for one, would not change for the others. However, brother, as you +know, I threw myself heart and soul into that business. + +"The last time I saw you was just as I was starting with a score of +others to make our way to join the Earl of Mar's army at Perth. I have +seen many an army since, but never did I see sixteen thousand finer +fighting men than were there assembled. The Laird of Mackintosh brought +five hundred clansmen from Inverness shire, the Marquis of Huntly had +five hundred horse and two thousand foot, and the Earl Marischal had a +thousand men. The Laird of Glenlyon brought five hundred Campbells, and +the Marquis of Tullibardine fourteen hundred, and a score of other chiefs +of less power were there with their clansmen. There were enough men there +to have done anything had they been properly armed and led; but though +arms and ammunition had been promised from France, none came, and the +Earl of Mar had so little decision that he would have wrecked the finest +army that ever marched. + +"The army lay doing nothing for weeks, and just before we were expecting +a movement, the company I belonged to was sent with a force of +Highlanders under Mackintosh to join the army under the Lords +Derwentwater, Kenmure, and Nithsdale. Lord Derwentwater had risen with a +number of other gentlemen, and with their attendants and friends had +marched against Newcastle. They had done nothing there but remained idle +near Hexham till, joined by a force raised in the Lowlands of Scotland by +the Earls of Nithsdale, Carnwath, and Wintoun, the united army marched +north again to Kelso, where we joined them. + +"We Scots soon saw that we had gained nothing by the change of +commanders. Lord Derwentwater was ignorant of military affairs, and he +was greatly swayed by a Mr. Forster, who was somehow at the head of the +business, and who was not only incompetent, but proved to be a coward, if +not, as most folks believed, a traitor. So dissension soon broke out, and +four hundred Highlanders marched away north. After a long delay it was +resolved to move south, where, it was said, we should be joined by great +numbers in Lancashire; but by this time all had greatly lost spirit and +hope in the enterprise. We crossed the border and marched down through +Penrith, Appleby, and Kendal to Lancaster, and then on to Preston. + +"I was little more than a lad, Andrew, but even to me it seemed madness +thus to march into England with only two thousand men. Of these twelve +hundred were foot, commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh; the others were +horse. There were two troops of Stanhope's dragoons quartered in Preston, +but these retired when we neared the town, and we entered without +opposition. Next day, which was, I remember, the 10th of November, the +Chevalier was proclaimed king, and some country gentlemen with their +tenants came in and joined us. + +"I suppose it would have come to the same thing in the end, but never +were things so badly managed as they were by Mr. Forster. + +"Preston was a strong natural position; an enemy coming from the south +could only reach it by crossing a narrow bridge over the river Ribble a +mile and a half away, and this could have been held by a company against +an army. From the bridge to the town the road was so narrow that in +several places two men could not ride abreast. It ran between two high +and steep banks, and it was here that Cromwell was nearly killed when he +attacked Charles's troops. + +"Well, all these places, where we might certainly have defended +ourselves, were neglected, and we were all kept in the town, where we +formed four main posts. One was in the churchyard, and this was commanded +by Brigadier Mackintosh. In support of this was the volunteer horse under +Derwentwater and the three other lords. Lord Charles Murray was in +command at a barricade at a little distance from the churchyard. Colonel +Mackintosh had charge of a post at a windmill; and the fourth was in the +centre of the town. + +"Lord Derwentwater was a poor general, but he was a brave man. He and his +two brothers, the Ratcliffs, rode about everywhere, setting an example of +coolness, animating the soldiers, and seeing to the work on the barriers. +Two days after we reached the town we heard that General Wilde was +approaching. Colonel Farquharson was sent forward with a portion of +Mackintosh's battalion to hold the bridge and the pass; but Mr. Forster, +who went out on horseback, no sooner saw the enemy approaching than he +gave orders to Farquharson and his men to retreat to the town. If I had +been in Farquharson's place I would have put a bullet through the +coward's head, and would have defended the bridge till the last. + +"After that everything was confusion; the Highlanders came back into the +town furious and disheartened. The garrison prepared to receive the +enemy. Mr. Forster was seen no more, and in fact he went straight back to +the house where he was lodging and took his bed, where he remained till +all was over. The enemy came on slowly. They could not understand why +strong posts should be left undefended, and feared falling in an +ambuscade. I was at the post commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh. I had +joined a company commanded by Leslie of Glenlyon, who had brought with +him some twenty men, and had made up his company with men who, like +myself, came up without a leader. His company was attached to +Mackintosh's regiment. + +"Presently the English came in sight, and as soon as they ascertained +that we were still there, which they had begun to doubt, they attacked +us. We beat them back handsomely, and Derwentwater with his cavalry +charged their dragoons so fiercely that he drove them out of the town. It +was late in the afternoon when the fight began, and all night the +struggle went on. At each of our posts we beat them back over and over +again. The town was on fire in half a dozen places, but luckily the night +was still and the flames did not spread. We knew that it was a hopeless +fight we were making; for, from some prisoners, we learned that three +regiments of dragoons were also coming up against us, and had already +arrived at Clitheroe. From some inhabitants, I suppose, the enemy learned +that the street leading to Wigan had nor been barricaded, and Lord +Forrester brought up Preston's regiment by this way, and suddenly fell on +the flank of our barrier. It was a tough fight, but we held our own till +the news came that Forster had agreed to capitulate. + +"I don't say that our case wasn't hopeless. We were outnumbered and had +no leader; sooner or later we must have been overpowered. Still, no +capitulation should have been made except on the terms of mercy to all +concerned. But Forster no doubt felt safe about himself, and that was all +he cared for; and the end showed that he knew what he was about, for +while all the brave young noblemen, and numbers of others, were either +executed or punished in other ways, Forster, who had been the leading +spirit who had persuaded them to rise, and led them into this strait, was +after a short imprisonment suffered to go free. I tell you, brother +Andrew, if I were to meet him now, even if it were in a church, I would +drive my dagger into his heart. + +"However, there we were. So furious were we that it was with difficulty +the officers could prevent us from sallying out sword in hand and trying +to cut our way through the enemy. As to Forster, if he had appeared in +the streets he would have been hewn to pieces. However, it was useless to +resist now; the English troops marched in and we laid down our arms, and +our battalions marched into a church and were guarded as prisoners. It +was not a great army they had taken, for there were but one thousand four +hundred and ninety captured, including noblemen, gentlemen, and officers. + +"Many of us were wounded more or less. I had got a slice on the shoulder +from a dragoon's sword. This I gained when rushing out to rescue Leslie, +who had been knocked down, and would have been slain by three dragoons +had I not stood over him till some of our men rushed out and carried him +in. He was not badly hurt, the sword having turned as it cut through his +bonnet. My action won his regard, and from that time until a month since +we have never been separated. Under a strong escort of soldiers we were +marched south. In most places the country people mocked us as we passed; +but here and there we saw among the crowds who gathered in the streets of +the towns through which we passed, faces which we passed, faces which +expressed pity and sympathy + +"We were not badly treated on the march by our guard, and had little to +complain of. When we reached Barnet we fell out as usual when the march +was over, and I went up to the door of a house and asked a woman, who +looked pityingly at us, for a drink of water. She brought me some, and +while I drank she said: + +"'We are Catholics and well wishers of the Chevalier; if you can manage +to slip in here after it is dark we will furnish you with a disguise, and +will direct you to friends who will pass you on until you can escape. + +"'Can you give me disguises for two?' I asked. `I will not go without my +captain.' + +"'Yes,' she said, `for two, but no more.' + +"`I will steal away after dark,' I said as I gave her back the jug. + +"I told Leslie what had happened, and he agreed to join me in time to +escape, for there was no saying what fate might befall us in London; and, +indeed, the very next morning severities commenced, the whole of the +troops being obliged to suffer the indignity of having their arms tied +behind them, and so being marched into London. + +"After it was dark Leslie and I managed to steal away from our guards, +who were not very watchful, for our uniform would at once have betrayed +us, and the country people would have seized and handed us over. The +woman was on the watch, and as soon as we neared the door she opened it. +Her husband was with her and received us kindly. He at once furnished us +with the attire of two countrymen, and, letting us out by a back way, +started with us across the country. + +"After walking twenty miles he brought us to the house of another +adherent of the Chevalier, where we remained all day. So we were passed +on until we reached the coast, where we lay hid for some days until an +arrangement was made with the captain of a fishing boat to take us to +sea, and either to land us at Calais or to put us on board a French +fishing boat. So we got over without trouble. + +"Long before that, as you know, the business had virtually come to an end +here. The Earl of Mar's army lay week after week at Perth, till at last +it met the enemy under Argyle at Sheriffmuir. + +"You know how that went. The Highland clans in the right and centre +carried all before them, and drove the enemy from the field, but on the +left they beat us badly. So both parties claimed the victory. But, +victory or defeat, it was fatal to the cause of the Chevalier. Half the +Highland clans went off to their homes that night, and Mar had to fall +back to Perth. + +"Well, that was really the end of it. The Chevalier landed, and for a +while our hopes rose. He did nothing, and our hopes fell. At last he took +ship and went away, and the affair was over, except for the hangings and +slaughterings. + +"Leslie, like most of the Scottish gentlemen who succeeded in reaching +France, took service with the French king, and, of course, I did the +same. It would have done your heart good to see how the Scottish +regiments fought on many a field; the very best troops of France were +never before us, and many a tough field was decided by our charge. Leslie +was a cornet. He was about my age; and you know I was but twenty when +Sheriffmuir was fought. He rose to be a colonel, and would have given me +a pair of colours over and over again if I would have taken them; but I +felt more comfortable among our troopers than I should have done among +the officers, who were almost all men of good Highland family; so I +remained Leslie's right hand. + +"A braver soldier never swung a leg over saddle; but he was always in +some love affair or another. Why he didn't marry I couldn't make out. I +suppose he could never stick long enough to one woman. However, some four +years ago he got into an affair more serious than any he had been in +before, and this time he stuck to it in right earnest. Of course she was +precisely one of the women he oughtn't to have fallen in love with, +though I for one couldn't blame him, for a prettier creature wasn't to be +found in France. Unfortunately she was the only daughter of the Marquis +de Recambours, one of the wealthiest and most powerful of French nobles, +and there was no more chance of his giving his consent to her throwing +herself away upon a Scottish soldier of fortune than to her going into a +nunnery; less, in fact. However, she was as much in love with Leslie as +he was with her, and so they got secretly married. Two years ago this +child was born, but she managed somehow to keep it from her father, who +was all this time urging her to marry the Duke de Chateaurouge. + +"At last, as ill luck would have it, he shut her up in a convent just a +week before she had arranged to fly with Leslie to Germany, where he +intended to take service until her father came round. Leslie would have +got her out somehow; but his regiment was ordered to the frontier, and it +was eighteen months before we returned to Paris, where the child had been +in keeping with some people with whom he had placed it. The very evening +of his return I was cleaning his arms when he rushed into the room. + +"'All is discovered,' he said; 'here is my signet ring, go at once and +get the child, and make your way with it to Scotland; take all the money +in the escritoire, quick!' + +"I heard feet approaching, and dashed to the bureau, and transferred the +bag of louis there to my pocket. An official with two followers entered. + +"'Colonel Leslie,' he said, 'it is my duty to arrest you by order of his +gracious majesty;' and he held out an order signed by the king. + +"'I am unconscious of having done any wrong, sir, to his majesty, whom I +have served for the last sixteen years. However, it is not for me to +dispute his orders;' thereupon he unbuckled his sword and handed it to +the officers. 'You will look after the things till I return, Malcolm. As +I am sure I can clear myself of any charge that may be brought against +me, I trust to be speedily back again. + +"'Your trooper need not trouble himself,' the officer said; `the official +with me will take charge of everything, and will at once affix my seal to +all your effects.' + +"I went down stairs and saw the colonel enter a carriage with the two +officials, then I went straight to the major. 'Colonel Leslie has been +arrested, sir, on what charge I know not. He has intrusted a commission +to me. Therefore, if you find I am absent from parade in the morning you +will understand I am carrying out his orders.' + +"The major was thunderstruck at the news, but told me to do as the +colonel had ordered me, whatever it might be. I mounted the colonel's +horse at once and rode to the house where the child was in keeping. The +people knew me well, as I had often been there with messages from the +colonel. When I showed them the signet ring, and told them that I had +orders to take the child to his father, they made no opposition. I said I +would return for him as soon as it was dusk. I then went and purchased a +suit of civilian clothes, and returning to the house attired myself in +these, and taking the child on the saddle before me, rode for the +frontier. + +"Following unfrequented roads, travelling only at night, and passing a +day in a wood, I passed the frontier unmolested, and made my way to +Ostend, where I sold the horse and took passage in the first ship sailing +for Leith. I arrived there two days ago, and have walked here, with an +occasional lift in a cart; and here I am, brother Andrew, to ask you for +hospitality for a while for myself and Leslie's boy. I have a hundred +louis, but these, of course, belong to the child. As for myself, I +confess I have nothing; saving has never been in my line." + +"You are heartily welcome, Malcolm, as long as you choose to stop; but I +trust that ere long you will hear of Colonel Leslie." + +"I trust so," Malcolm said; "but if you knew the court of France as well +as I do you would not feel very sanguine about it. It is easier to get +into a prison than out of one." + +"But the colonel has committed no crime!" the bailie said. + +"His chance would be a great deal better if he had," Malcolm laughed. "A +colonel of one of his majesty's Scottish regiments can do a good deal in +the way of crime without much harm befalling him; but when it comes to +marrying the daughter of a nobleman who is a great personage at court, +without his consent, it is a different affair altogether, I can tell you. +Leslie has powerful friends, and his brother officers will do what they +can for him; but I can tell you services at the court of France go for +very little. Influence is everything, and as the nobleman the marquis +intended to be the husband of his daughter is also a great personage at +court and a friend of Louis's, there is no saying how serious a matter +they may make of it. Men have been kept prisoners for life for a far less +serious business than this." + +"But supposing he is released, does he know where to communicate with +you?" + +"I am afraid he doesn't," Malcolm said ruefully. "He knows that I come +from Glasgow, but that is all. Still, when he is freed, no doubt he will +come over himself to look for his son, and I am sure to hear of his being +here." + +"You might do, and you might not," the bailie said. "Still, we must hope +for the best, Malcolm. At any rate I am in no haste for the colonel to +come. Now I have got you home again after all these years, I do not wish +to lose you again in a hurry." + +Malcolm only remained for a few weeks at his brother's house. The +restraint of life at the bailie's was too much for him. Andrew's was a +well ordered household. The bailie was methodical and regular, a leading +figure in the kirk, far stricter than were most men of his time as to +undue consumption of liquor, strong in exhortation in season and out of +season. His wife was kindly but precise, and as outspoken as Andrew +himself. For the first day or two the real affection which Andrew had for +his younger brother, and the pleasure he felt at his return, shielded +Malcolm from comment or rebuke; but after the very first day the bailie's +wife had declared to herself that it was impossible that Malcolm could +long remain an inmate of the house. She was not inhospitable, and would +have made great sacrifices in some directions for the long missing +brother of her husband; but his conduct outraged all the best feelings of +a good Scotch housewife. + +Even on that first day he did not come punctually to his meals. He was +away about the town looking up old acquaintance, came in at dinner and +again at supper after the meal had already begun, and dropped into his +place and began to eat without saying a word of grace. He stamped about +the house as if he had cavalry spurs still on his heels; talked in a +voice that could be heard from attic to basement; used French and Flemish +oaths which horrified the good lady, although she did not understand +them; smoked at all hours of the day, whereas Andrew always confined +himself to his after supper pipe, and, in spite of his assertions on the +previous evening, consumed an amount of liquor which horrified the good +woman. + +At his meals he talked loudly, kept the two apprentices in a titter with +his stories of campaigning, spoke slightingly of the city authorities, +and joked the bailie with a freedom and roughness which scandalized her. +Andrew was slow to notice the incongruity of his brother's demeanour and +bearing with the atmosphere of the house, although he soon became dimly +conscious that there was a jarring element in the air. At the end of a +week Malcolm broached the subject to him. + +"Andrew," he said, "you are a good fellow, though you are a bailie and an +elder of the kirk, and I thank you for the hearty welcome you have given +me, and for your invitation to stay for a long time with you; but it will +not do. Janet is a good woman and a kindly, but I can see that I keep her +perpetually on thorns. In good truth, fifteen years of campaigning are +but an indifferent preparation for a man as an inmate of a respectable +household. I did not quite know myself how thoroughly I had become a +devil may care trooper until I came back to my old life here. The ways of +your house would soon be as intolerable to me as my ways are to your good +wife, and therefore it is better by far that before any words have passed +between you and me, and while we are as good friends as on the evening +when I returned, I should get out of this. I met an old friend today, one +of the lads who went with me from Glasgow to join the Earl of Mar at +Perth. He is well to do now, and trades in cattle, taking them in droves +down into England. For the sake of old times he has offered me +employment, and methinks it will suit me as well as any other." + +"But you cannot surely be going as a drover, Malcolm!" + +"Why not? The life is as good as any other. I would not sit down, after +these years of roving, to an indoor life. I must either do that or cross +the water again and take service abroad. I am only six and thirty yet, +and am good for another fifteen years of soldiering, and right gladly +would I go back if Leslie were again at the head of his regiment, but I +have been spoiled by him. He ever treated me as a companion and as a +friend rather than as a trooper in his regiment, and I should miss him +sorely did I enter any other service. Then, too, I would fain be here to +be ready to join him again if he sends for me or comes, and I should wish +to keep an eye always on his boy. You will continue to take charge of +him, won't you, Andrew? He is still a little strange, but he takes to +Elspeth, and will give little trouble when he once learns the language." + +"I don't like it at all, Malcolm," the bailie said. + +"No, Andrew, but you must feel it is best. I doubt not that ere this your +wife has told you her troubles concerning me." + +As the bailie on the preceding night had listened to a long string of +complaints and remonstrances on the part of his wife as to his brother's +general conduct he could not deny the truth of Malcolm's supposition. + +"Just so, Andrew," Malcolm went on; "I knew that it must be so. Mistress +Janet has kept her lips closed firm to me, but I could see how difficult +it was for her sometimes to do so. It could not be otherwise. I am as +much out of place here as a wolf in a sheepfold. As to the droving, I +shall not mention to all I meet that I am brother to one of the bailies +of Glasgow. I shall like the life. The rough pony I shall ride will +differ in his paces from my old charger, but at least it will be life in +the saddle. I shall be earning an honest living; if I take more than is +good for me I may get a broken head and none be the wiser, whereas if I +remain here and fall foul of the city watch it would be grief and pain +for you." + +The bailie was silenced. He had already begun to perceive that Malcolm's +ways and manners were incompatible with the peace and quiet of a +respectable household, and that Janet's complaints were not altogether +unreasonable. He had seen many of his acquaintances lift their eyebrows +in disapprobation at the roystering talk of his brother, and had foreseen +that it was probable trouble would come. + +At the same rime he felt a repugnance to the thought that after so many +years of absence his brother should so soon quit his house. It seemed a +reflection alike on his affection and hospitality. + +"You will take charge of the child, won't you?" Malcolm pleaded. "There +is a purse of a hundred louis, which will, I should say, pay for any +expense to which he may put you for some years." + +"As if I would take the bairn's money!" Andrew exclaimed angrily. "What +do you take me for, Malcolm? Assuredly I will take the child. Janet and I +have no bairn of our own, and it's good for a house to have a child in +it. I look upon it as if it were yours, for it is like enough you will +never hear of its father again. It will have a hearty welcome. It is a +bright little fellow, and in time I doubt not that Janet will take +greatly to it. The charge of a child is a serious matter, and we cannot +hope that we shall not have trouble with it, but there is trouble in all +things. At any rate, Malcolm, we will do our best, and if at the end of a +year I find that Janet has not taken to it we will see about some other +arrangement. And, Malcolm, I do trust that you will stay with us for +another week or two. It would seem to me as if I had turned you out of my +house were you to leave me so soon." + +So Malcolm made a three weeks' stay at his brother's, and then started +upon his new occupation of driving Highland cattle down into Lancashire. +Once every two or three months he came to Glasgow for a week or two +between his trips. In spite of Andrew's entreaties he refused on these +occasions to take up his abode with him, but took a lodging not far off, +coming in the evening for an hour to smoke a pipe with his brother, and +never failing of a morning to come in and take the child for a long walk +with him, carrying him upon his shoulder, and keeping up a steady talk +with him in his native French, which he was anxious that the boy should +nor forget, as at some time or other he might again return to France. + +Some weeks after Malcolm's return to Scotland, he wrote to Colonel +Leslie, briefly giving his address at Glasgow; but making no allusion to +the child, as, if the colonel were still in prison, the letter would be +sure to be opened by the authorities. He also wrote to the major, giving +him his address, and begging him to communicate it to Colonel Leslie +whenever he should see him; that done, there was nothing for it but to +wait quietly. The post was so uncertain in those days that he had but +slight hope that either of his letters would ever reach their +destination. No answer came to either of his letters. + +Four years later Malcolm went over to Paris, and cautiously made +inquiries; but no one had heard anything of Colonel Leslie from the day +he had been arrested. The regiment was away fighting in the Low +Countries, and the only thing Malcolm could do was to call upon the +people who had had charge of the child, to give them his address in case +the colonel should ever appear to inquire of them. He found, however, the +house tenanted by other people. He learned that the last occupants had +left years before. The neighbors remembered that one morning early some +officers of the law had come to the house, and the man had been seized +and carried away. He had been released some months later, only to find +that his wife had died of grief and anxiety, and he had then sold off his +goods and gone no one knew whither. Malcolm, therefore, returned to +Glasgow, with the feeling that he had gained nothing by his journey. + + + +CHAPTER II: The Jacobite Agent. + + +So twelve years passed. Ronald Leslie grew up a sturdy lad, full of fun +and mischief in spite of the sober atmosphere of the bailie's house; and +neither flogging at school nor lecturing at home appeared to have the +slightest effect in reducing him to that state of sober tranquillity +which was in Mrs. Anderson's eyes the thing to be most desired in boys. +Andrew was less deeply shocked than his wife at the discovery of Ronald's +various delinquencies, but his sense of order and punctuality was +constantly outraged. He was, however, really fond of the lad; and even +Mrs. Anderson, greatly as the boy's ways constantly disturbed and ruffled +her, was at heart as fond of him as was her husband. She considered, and +not altogether wrongly, that his wilderness, as she called it, was in no +slight degree due to his association with her husband's brother. + +Ronald looked forward to the periodical visits of the drover with intense +longing. He was sure of a sympathetic listener in Malcolm, who listened +with approval to the tales of the various scrapes into which he had got +since his last visit; of how, instead of going to school, he had played +truant and with another boy his own age had embarked in a fisherman's +boat and gone down the river and had not been able to get back until next +day; how he had played tricks upon his dominie, and had conquered in +single combat the son of Councillor Duff, the butcher, who had spoken +scoffing words at the Stuarts. Malcolm was, in fact, delighted to find, +that in spite of repression and lectures his young charge was growing up +a lad of spirit. He still hoped that some day Leslie might return, and he +knew how horrified he would be were he to find that his son was becoming +a smug and well conducted citizen. No small portion of his time on each +of his visits to Glasgow Malcolm spent in training the boy in the use of +arms. + +"Your father was a gentleman," he would say to him, "and it is fitting +that you should know how to handle a gentleman's arms. Clubs are well +enough for citizens' apprentices, but I would have you handle rapier and +broadsword as well as any of the young lairds. When you get old enough, +Ronald, you and I will cross the seas, and together we will try and get +to the bottom of the mystery of your father's fate, and if we find that +the worst has come to the worst, we will seek our your mother. She will +most likely have married again. They will be sure to have forced her into +it; but even if she dare not acknowledge you as her son, her influence +may obtain for you a commission in one of the king's regiments, and even +if they think I'm too old for a trooper I will go as your follower. There +are plenty of occasions at the court of France when a sharp sword and a +stout arm, even if it be somewhat stiffened by age, can do good service." + +The lessons began as soon as Ronald was old enough to hold a light blade, +and as between the pauses of exercise Malcolm was always ready to tell +stories of his adventures in the wars of France, the days were full of +delight to Ronald. When the latter reached the age of fourteen Malcolm +was not satisfied with the amount of proficiency which the lad was able +to gain during his occasional visits, and therefore took him for further +instruction to a comrade who had, like himself, served in France, and had +returned and settled down in Glasgow, where he opened a fencing school, +having been a maitre d'armes among the Scotch regiments. + +The arrangement was, however, kept a profound secret from Andrew and his +wife; but on half holidays, and on any other days when he could manage to +slip away for an hour, Ronald went to his instructor and worked hard and +steadily with the rapier. Had Mrs. Anderson had an idea of the manner in +which he spent his time she would have been horrified, and would +certainly have spared her encomiums on his improved conduct and the +absence of the unsatisfactory reports which had before been so common. + +The cloud of uncertainty which hung over his father's fate could not but +have an influence upon the boy's character, and the happy carelessness +and gaiety which were its natural characteristics were modified by the +thought that his father might be languishing in a dungeon. Sometimes he +would refuse to accompany his school fellows on their rambles or fishing +expeditions, and would sit for hours thinking over all sorts of wild +plans by which he might penetrate to him and aid him to escape. He was +never tired of questioning Malcolm Anderson as to the prisons in which, +if still alive, his father would be likely to be confined. He would ask +as to their appearance, the height of their walls, whether they were +moated or not, and whether other houses abutted closely upon them. One +day Malcolm asked him the reason of these questions, and he replied, "Of +course I want to see how it will be possible to get my father out." And +although Malcolm tried to impress upon him that it would be an almost +impossible task even to discover in which prison his father was kept, he +would not allow himself to be discouraged. + +"There must be some way of finding out, Malcolm. You tell me that +prisoners are not even known by their name to the warders, but only under +a number. Still someone must know -- there must be lists kept of those in +prison, and I shall trust to my mother to find out for me. A great lady +as she is must be able to get at people if she sets about it, and as +certainly she must have loved my father very very much, or she never +would have married him secretly, and got into such trouble for it. I am +sure she will do her best when she finds that you and I have come over to +get him out. When we know that, I think we ought to be able to manage. +You could get employment as a warder, or I could go disguised as a woman, +or as a priest, or somehow. I feel sure we shall succeed if we do but +find out that he is alive and where he is." + +Malcolm knew too much about the strong and well guarded prisons of France +to share in the boy's sanguine hopes, but he did not try to discourage +him. He thought that with such an object in life before him the boy would +devote himself all the more eagerly to exercises which would strengthen +his arm, increase his skill with weapons, and render him a brave and +gallant officer, and in this he was right. As the time went on Ronald +became more and more serious. He took no part whatever in the school boy +games and frolics in which he had been once a leader. He worked hard at +his school tasks the sooner to be done with them, and above all devoted +himself to acquiring a mastery of the sword with a perseverance and +enthusiasm which quite surprised his instructor. + +"I tell you, Malcolm, man," he said one day to his old comrade, after +Ronald had been for upwards of two years his pupil, "if I had known, when +you first asked me to teach the lad to handle a sword, how much of my +time he was going to occupy, I should have laughed in your face, for ten +times the sum you agreed to pay me would not have been enough; but, +having begun it for your sake, I have gone on for the lad's. It has been +a pleasure to teach him, so eager was he to learn -- so ready to work +heart and soul to improve. The boy's wrist is as strong as mine and his +eye as quick. I have long since taught him all I know, and it is practice +now, and not teaching, that we have every day. I tell you I have work to +hold my own with him; he knows every trick and turn as well as I do, and +is quicker with his lunge and riposte. Were it not that I have my extra +length of arm in my favour I could not hold my own. As you know, I have +many of the officers of the garrison among my pupils, and some of them +have learned in good schools, but there is not one of them could defend +himself for a minute against that boy. If it were not that the matter has +to be kept secret I would set him in front of some of them, and you would +see what short work he would make of them. Have you heard the rumours, +Malcolm, that the young Chevalier is likely to follow the example of his +father, thirty years back, and to make a landing in Scotland?" + +"I have heard some such rumours," Malcolm replied, "though whether there +be aught in them I know not. I hope that if he does so he will at any +rate follow the example of his father no further. As you know, I hold to +the Stuarts, but I must own they are but poor hands at fighting. Charles +the First ruined his cause; James the Second threw away the crown of +Ireland by galloping away from the battle of the Boyne; the Chevalier +showed here in `15 that he was no leader of men; and unless this lad is +made of very different stuff to his forefathers he had best stay in +France." + +"But if he should come, Malcolm, I suppose you will join him? I am afraid +I shall be fool enough to do so, even with my fifty years on my head. And +you?" + +"I suppose I shall be a fool too," Malcolm said. "The Stuarts are Scotch, +you see, and with all their faults I would rather a thousand times have a +Scottish king than these Germans who govern us from London. If the +English like them let them keep them, and let us have a king of our own. +However, nought may come of it; it may be but a rumour. It is a card +which Louis has threatened to play a score of times, whenever he wishes +to annoy England. It is more than likely that it will come to nought, as +it has so often done before." + +"But they tell me that there are agents travelling about among the +Highland clans, and that this time something is really to be done." + +"They have said so over and over again, and nothing has come of it. For +my part, I don't care which way it goes. After the muddle that was made +of it thirty years ago it does not seem to me more likely that we shall +get rid of the Hanoverians now. Besides, the hangings and slaughterings +then, would, I should think, make the nobles and the heads of clans think +twice ere they risked everything again." + +"That is true, but when men's blood is up they do not count the cost; +besides, the Highland clans are always ready to fight. If Prince Charles +comes you will see there will not be much hanging back whatever the +consequences may be. Well, you and I have not much to lose, except our +lives." + +"That is true enough, old friend; and I would rather die that way than +any other. Still, to tell you the truth, I would rather keep my head on +my shoulders for a few years if I can." + +"Well, nothing may come of it; but if it does I shall strike a blow again +for the old cause." + +At home Ronald heard nothing but expressions of loyalty to the crown. The +mere fact that the Highlanders espoused the cause of the Stuarts was +sufficient in itself to make the Lowlanders take the opposite side. The +religious feeling, which had always counted for so much in the Lowlands, +and had caused Scotland to side with the Parliament against King Charles, +had not lost its force. The leanings of the Stuarts were, it was known, +still strongly in favour of the Catholic religion, and although Prince +Charles Edward was reported to be more Protestant in feelings than the +rest of his race, this was not sufficient to counterbalance the effect of +the hereditary Catholic tendency. Otherwise there was no feeling of +active loyalty towards the reigning king in Scotland. The first and +second Georges had none of the attributes which attract loyal affection. +The first could with difficulty speak the language of the people over +whom he ruled. Their feelings and sympathies were Hanoverian rather than +English, and all court favours were bestowed as fast as possible upon +their countrymen. They had neither the bearing nor manner which men +associate with royalty, nor the graces and power of attraction which +distinguished the Stuarts. Commonplace and homely in manner, in figure, +and in bearing, they were not men whom their fellows could look up to or +respect; their very vices were coarse, and the Hanoverian men and women +they gathered round them were hated by the English people. + +Thus neither in England nor Scotland was there any warm feeling of +loyalty for the reigning house; and though it was possible that but few +would adventure life and property in the cause of the Stuarts, it was +equally certain that outside the army there were still fewer who would +draw sword for the Hanoverian king. Among the people of the Lowland +cities of Scotland the loyalty which existed was religious rather than +civil, and rested upon the fact that their forefathers had fought against +the Stuarts, while the Highlanders had always supported their cause. +Thus, although in the household and in kirk Ronald had heard King George +prayed for regularly, he had heard no word concerning him calculated to +waken a boyish feeling of loyalty, still less of enthusiasm. Upon the +other hand he knew that his father had fought and suffered for the +Stuarts and was an exile in their cause, and that Hanoverians had handed +over the estate of which he himself would now be the heir to one of their +adherents. + +"It is no use talking of these matters to Andrew," Malcolm impressed upon +him; "it would do no good. When he was a young man he took the side of +the Hanoverians, and he won't change now; while, did Mistress Janet guess +that your heart was with the Stuarts, she would say that I was ruining +you, and should bring you to a gallows. She is not fond of me now, though +she does her best to be civil to her husband's brother; but did she know +that you had become a Jacobite, like enough she would move Andrew to put +a stop to your being with me, and there would be all sorts of trouble." + +"But they could nor prevent my being with you," Ronald said indignantly. +"My father gave me into your charge, not into theirs." + +"That's true enough, laddie; but it is they who have cared for you and +brought you up. When you are a man you can no doubt go which way it +pleases you; but till then you owe your duty and respect to them, and not +to me, who have done nought for you but just carry you over here in my +cloak." + +"I know they have done everything for me," Ronald said penitently. "They +have been very good and kind, and I love them both; but for all that it +is only natural that my father should be first, and that my heart should +be in the cause that he fought for." + +"That is right enough, Ronald, and I would not have it otherwise, and I +have striven to do my best to make you as he would like to see you. Did +he never come back again I should be sorry indeed to see Colonel Leslie's +son growing up a Glasgow tradesman, as my brother no doubt intends you to +be, for I know he has long since given up any thought of hearing from +your father; but in that you and I will have a say when the time comes. +Until then you must treat Andrew as your natural guardian, and there is +no need to anger him by letting him know that your heart is with the king +over the water, any more than that you can wield a sword like a +gentleman. Let us have peace as long as we can. You are getting on for +sixteen now; another two years and we will think about going to Paris +together. I am off again tomorrow, Ronald; it will not be a long trip +this time, but maybe before I get back we shall have news from France +which will set the land on fire." + +A short time after this conversation, as Ronald on his return from +college (for he was now entered at the university) passed through the +shop, the bailie was in conversation with one of the city magistrates, +and Ronald caught the words: + +"He is somewhere in the city. He came down from the Highlands, where he +has been going to and fro, two days since. I have a warrant out against +him, and the constables are on the lookout. I hope to have him in jail +before tonight. These pestilent rogues are a curse to the land, though I +cannot think the clans would be fools enough to rise again, even though +Charles Stuart did come." + +Ronald went straight up to his room, and for a few minutes sat in +thought. The man of whom they spoke was doubtless an emissary of Prince +Charles, and his arrest might have serious consequences, perhaps bring +ruin on all with whom he had been in communication. Who he was or what he +was like Ronald knew not; but he determined at any rate to endeavour to +defeat the intentions of the magistrate to lay hands on him. Accordingly +a few minutes later, while the magistrate was still talking with Andrew, +he again went out. + +Ronald waited about outside the door till he left, and then followed him +at a short distance. The magistrate spoke to several acquaintances on the +way, and then went to the council chamber. Waiting outside, Ronald saw +two or three of the magistrates enter. An hour later the magistrate he +was watching came out; but he had gone but a few paces when a man +hurrying up approached him. They talked earnestly for a minute or two. +The magistrate then re-entered the building, remained there a few +minutes, and then joined the man who was waiting outside. Ronald had +stolen up and taken his stand close by. + +"It is all arranged," the magistrate said; "as soon as night has fallen a +party will go down, surround the house, and arrest him. It is better not +to do it in daylight. I shall lead the party, which will come round to my +house, so if the men you have left on watch bring you news that he has +changed his hiding place, let me know at once. + +The magistrate walked on. Ronald stood irresolute. He had obtained no +clue as to the residence of the person of whom they were in search, and +after a moment's thought he determined to keep an eye upon the constable, +who would most likely join his comrade on the watch. This, however, he +did not do immediately. He had probably been for some time at work, and +now took the opportunity of going home for a meal, for he at once made +his way to a quiet part of the city, and entered a small house. + +It was half an hour before he came out again, and Ronald fidgeted with +impatience, for it was already growing dusk. When he issued out Ronald +saw that he was armed with a heavy cudgel. He walked quickly now, and +Ronald, following at a distance, passed nearly across the town, and down +a quiet street which terminated against the old wall running from the +Castle Port to a small tower. When he got near the bottom of the street a +man came out from an archway, and the two spoke together. From their +gestures Ronald felt sure that it was the last house on the left hand +side of the street that was being watched. He had not ventured to follow +far down the street, for as there was no thoroughfare he would at once be +regarded with suspicion. The question now was how to warn the man of his +danger. He knew several men were on the watch, and as only one was in the +street, doubtless the others were behind the house. If anything was to be +done there was no time to be lost, for the darkness was fast closing in. + +After a minute's thought he went quickly up the street, and then started +at a run, and then came down upon a place where he could ascend the wall, +which was at many points in bad repair. With some difficulty he climbed +up, and found that he was exactly opposite the house he wished to reach. +It was dark now. Even in the principal streets the town was only lit by +oil lamps here and there, and there was no attempt at illumination in the +quiet quarters, persons who went abroad after nightfall always carrying a +lantern with them. There was still sufficient light to show Ronald that +the house stood at a distance of some fourteen feet from the wall. The +roof sloped too steeply for him to maintain his holding upon it; but +halfway along the house was a dormer window about three feet above the +gutter. It was unglazed, and doubtless gave light to a granary or store +room. + +Ronald saw that his only chance was to alight on the roof close enough to +this window to be able to grasp the woodwork. At any other moment he +would have hesitated before attempting such a leap. The wall was only a +few feet wide, and he could therefore get but little run for a spring. +His blood was, however, up, and having taken his resolution he did not +hesitate. Drawing back as far as he could he took three steps, and then +sprang for the window. Its sill was some three feet higher than the edge +of the wall from which he sprang. + +The leap was successful; his feet struck just upon the gutter, and the +impetus threw forward his body, and his hands grasped the woodwork of the +window. In a moment he had dragged himself inside. It was quite dark +within the room. He moved carefully, for the floor was piled with disused +furniture, boxes, sacking, and rubbish. He was some time finding the +door, but although he moved as carefully as he could he knocked over a +heavy chest which was placed on a rickety chair, the two falling with a +crash on the floor. At last he found the door and opened it. As he did so +a light met his eyes, and he saw ascending the staircase a man with a +drawn sword, and a woman holding a light above her head following +closely. The man uttered an exclamation on seeing Ronald appear. + +"A thief!" he said. "Surrender, or I will run you through at once." + +"I am no thief," Ronald replied. "My name is Ronald Leslie, and I am a +student at the university. I have come here to warn someone, whom I know +not, in this house that it is watched, and that in a few minutes at the +outside a band of the city watch will be here to capture him." + +The man dropped the point of his sword, and taking the light from the +woman held it closer to Ronald's face. + +"How came you here?" he asked. "How did you learn this news?" + +"The house is watched both sides below," Ronald said, "and I leapt from +the wall through the dormer window. I heard a magistrate arranging with +one of the constables for a capture, and gathered that he of whom they +were in search was a Jacobite, and as I come of a stock which has always +been faithful to the Stuarts, I hastened to warn him." + +The woman uttered a cry of alarm. + +"I thank you with all my heart, young sir. I am he for whom they are in +search, and if I get free you will render a service indeed to our cause; +but there is no time to talk now, if what you tell me be true. You say +the house is watched from both sides?" + +"Yes; there are two men in the lane below, one or more, I know not how +many, behind." + +"There is no escape behind," the man said; "the walls are high, and other +houses abut upon them. I will sally out and fight through the men in +front." + +"I can handle the sword," Ronald put in; "and if you will provide me with +a weapon I will do my best by your side." + +"You are a brave lad," the man said, "and I accept your aid." + +He led the way down stairs and entered a room, took down a sword from +over the fireplace, and gave it to Ronald. + +As he took it in his hand there was a loud knocking at the door. + +"Too late!" the man exclaimed. "Quick, the light, Mary! At any rate I +must burn my papers." + +He drew some letters from his pocket, lit them at the lamp, and threw +them on the hearth; then opening a cabinet he drew forth a number of +other papers and crumpling them up added them to the blaze. + +"Thank God that is safe!" he said; "the worst evil is averted." + +"Can you not escape by the way by which I came hither?" Ronald said. "The +distance is too great to leap; but if you have got a plank, or can pull +up a board from the floor, you could put it across to the wall and make +your escape that way. I will try to hold the stairs till you are away." + +"I will try at least," the man said. "Mary, bring the light, and aid me +while our brave friend does his best to give us time." + +So saying he sprang upstairs, while Ronald made his way down to the door. + +"Who is making such a noise at the door of a quiet house at this time of +night?" he shouted. + +"Open in the king's name," was the reply; "we have a warrant to arrest +one who is concealed here." + +"There is no one concealed here," Ronald replied, "and I doubt that you +are, as you say, officers of the peace; but if so, pass your warrant +through the grill, and if it be signed and in due form I will open to +you." + +"I will show my warrant when need be," the voice answered. "Once more, +open the door or we will break it in." + +"Do it at your peril," Ronald replied. "How can I tell you are not +thieves who seek to ransack the house, and that your warrant is a +pretence? I warn you that the first who enters I will run him through the +body." + +The reply was a shower of blows on the door, and a similar attack was +begun by a party behind the house. The door was strong, and after a +minute or two the hammering ceased, and then there was a creaking, +straining noise, and Ronald knew they were applying a crowbar to force it +open. He retreated to a landing halfway up the stairs, placed a lamp +behind him so that it would show its light full on the faces of those +ascending the stairs, and waited. A minute later there was a crash; the +lock had yielded, but the bar still held the door in its place. Then the +blows redoubled, mingled with the crashing of wood; then there was the +sound of a heavy fall, and a body of men burst in. + +There was a rush at the stairs, but the foremost halted at the sight of +Ronald with his drawn sword. + +"Keep back," he shouted, "or beware! The watch will be here in a few +minutes, and then you will all be laid by the heels." + +"Fools! We are the watch," one of the men exclaimed, and, dashing up the +stairs, aimed a blow at Ronald. He guarded it and ran the man through the +shoulder. He dropped his sword and fell back with a curse. + +At this moment the woman ran down stairs from above and nodded to Ronald +to signify that the fugitive had escaped. + +"You see I hold to my word," Ronald said in a loud voice. "If ye be the +watch, which I doubt, show me the warrant, or if ye have one in authority +with you let him proclaim himself." + +"Here is the warrant, and here am I, James M'Whirtle, a magistrate of +this city." + +"Why did you not say so before?" Ronald exclaimed, lowering his sword. +"If it be truly the worshipful Mr. M'Whirtle let him show himself, for +surely I know him well, having seen him often in the house of my +guardian, Bailie Anderson." + +Mr. M'Whirtle, who had been keeping well in the rear, now came forward. + +"It is himself." Ronald said. "Why did you not say you were here at once, +Mr. M'Whirtle, instead of setting your men to break down the door, as if +they were Highland caterans on a foray?" + +"We bade you open in the king's name," the magistrate said, "and you +withstood us, and it will be hanging matter for you, for you have aided +the king's enemies." + +"The king's enemies!" Ronald said in a tone of surprise. "How can there +be any enemies of the king here, seeing there are only myself and the +good woman up stairs? You will find no others." + +"Search the house," the magistrate said furiously, "and take this +malapert lad into custody on the charge of assisting the king's enemies, +of impeding the course of justice, of withstanding by force of arms the +issue of a lawful writ, and with grievously wounding one of the city +watch." + +Ronald laughed. + +"It is a grievous list, worshipful sir; but mark you, as soon as you +showed your warrant and declared yourself I gave way to you. I only +resisted so long as it seemed to me you were evildoers breaking into a +peaceful house." + +Two of the watch remained as guard over Ronald; one of the others +searched the house from top to bottom. No signs of the fugitive were +discovered. + +"He must be here somewhere," the magistrate said, "since he was seen to +enter, and the house has been closely watched ever since. See, there are +a pile of ashes on the hearth as if papers had been recently burned. +Sound the floors and the walls." + +The investigation was particularly sharp in the attic, for a board was +here found to be loose, and there were signs of its being recently +wrenched out of its place, but as the room below was unceiled this +discovery led to nothing. At last the magistrate was convinced that the +fugitive was not concealed in the house, and, after placing his seals on +the doors of all the rooms and leaving four men in charge, he left the +place, Ronald, under the charge of four men, accompanying him. + +On the arrival at the city Tolbooth Ronald was thrust into a cell and +there left until morning. He was then brought before Mr. M'Whirtle and +two other of the city magistrates. Andrew Anderson was in attendance, +having been notified the night before of what had befallen Ronald. The +bailie and his wife had at first been unable to credit the news, and were +convinced that some mistake had been made. Andrew had tried to obtain his +release on his promise to bring him up in the morning, but Mr. M'Whirtle +and his colleagues, who had been hastily summoned together, would not +hear of it. + +"It's a case of treason, man. Treason against his gracious majesty; +aiding and abetting one of the king's enemies, to say nought of brawling +and assaulting the city watch." + +The woman found in the house had also been brought up, but no precise +charge was made against her. The court was crowded, for Andrew, in his +wrath at being unable to obtain Ronald's release, had not been backward +in publishing his grievance, and many of his neighbours were present to +hear this strange charge against Ronald Leslie. + +The wounded constable and another first gave their evidence. + +"I myself can confirm what has been said," Mr. M'Whirtle remarked, +"seeing that I was present with the watch to see the arrest of a person +against whom a warrant had been issued." + +"Who is that person?" Ronald asked. "Seeing that I am charged with aiding +and abetting his escape it seems to me that I have a right to know who he +is." + +The magistrates looked astounded at the effrontery of the question, but +after a moment's consultation together Mr. M'Whirtle said that in the +interest of justice it was unadvisable at the present moment to state the +name of the person concerned. + +"What have you to say, prisoner, to the charge made against you? In +consideration of our good friend Bailie Anderson, known to be a worthy +citizen and loyal subject of his majesty, we would be glad to hear what +you have to say anent this charge." + +"I have nothing to say," Ronald replied quietly. "Being in the house when +it was attacked, with as much noise as if a band of Border ruffians were +at the gate, I stood on the defence. I demanded to see what warrant they +had for forcing an entry, and as they would show me none, I did my best +to protect the house; but the moment Mr. M'Whirtle proclaimed who he was +I lowered my sword and gave them passage." + +There was a smile in the court at the boy's coolness. + +"But how came ye there, young sir? How came ye to be in the house at all, +if ye were there for a good motive?" + +"That I decline to say," Ronald answered. "It seems to me that any one +may be in a house by the consent of its owners, without having to give +his reasons therefor." + +"It will be the worse for you if you defy the court. I ask you again how +came you there?" + +"I have no objection to tell you how I came there," Ronald said. "I was +walking on the old wall, which, as you know, runs close by the house, +when I saw an ill looking loon hiding himself as if watching the house, +looking behind I saw another ruffianly looking man there." Two gasps of +indignation were heard from the porch at the back of the court. "Thinking +that there was mischief on hand I leapt from the wall to the dormer +window to warn the people of the house that there were ill doers who had +designs upon the place, and then remained to see what came of it. That is +the simple fact." + +There was an exclamation of incredulity from the magistrates. + +"If you doubt me," Ronald said, "you can send a man to the wall. I felt +my feet loosen a tile and it slid down into the gutter." + +One of the magistrates gave an order, and two of the watch left the +court. + +"And who did you find in the house?" + +"I found this good woman, and sorely frightened she was when I told her +what kind of folk were lurking outside." + +"And was there anyone else there?" + +"There was a man there," Ronald said quietly, "and he seemed alarmed +too." + +"What became of him?" + +"I cannot say for certain," Ronald replied; "but if you ask my opinion I +should say, that having no stomach for meeting people outside, he just +went out the way I came in, especially as I heard the worshipful +magistrate say that a board in the attic had been lifted." + +The magistrates looked at each other in astonishment; the mode of escape +had not occurred to any, and the disappearance of the fugitive was now +explained. + +"I never heard such a tale," one of the magistrates said after a pause. +"It passes belief that a lad, belonging to the family of a worthy and +respectable citizen, a bailie of the city and one who stands well with +his fellow townsmen, should take a desperate leap from the wall through a +window of a house where a traitor was in hiding, warn him that the house +was watched, and give him time to escape while he defended the stairs. +Such a tale, sure, was never told in a court. What say you, bailie?" + +"I can say nought," Andrew said. "The boy is a good boy and a quiet one; +given to mischief like other boys of his age, doubtless, but always +amenable. What can have possessed him to behave in such a wild manner I +cannot conceive, but it seems to me that it was but a boy's freak." + +"It was no freak when he ran his sword through Peter Muir's shoulder," +Mr. M'Whirtle said. "Ye will allow that, neighbour Anderson." + +"The man must have run against the sword," the bailie said, "seeing the +boy scarce knows one end of a weapon from another." + +"You are wrong there, bailie," one of the constables said; "for I have +seen him many a time going into the school of James Macklewain, and I +have heard a comrade say, who knows James, that the lad can handle a +sword with the best of them." + +"I will admit at once," Ronald said, "that I have gone to Macklewain's +school and learned fencing of him. My father, Colonel Leslie of Glenlyon, +was a gentleman, and it was right that I should wield a sword, and James +Macklewain, who had fought in the French wars and knew my father, was +good enough to teach me. I may say that my guardian knew nothing of +this." + +"No, indeed," Andrew said. "I never so much as dreamt of it. If I had +done so he and I would have talked together to a purpose." + +"Leslie of Glenlyon was concerned in the '15, was he not?" Mr. M'Whirtle +said; "and had to fly the country; and his son seems to be treading in +his steps, bailie. I doubt ye have been nourishing a viper in your +bosom." + +At this moment the two constables returned, and reported that certainly a +tile was loose as the prisoner had described, and there were scratches as +if of the feet of someone entering the window, but the leap was one that +very few men would undertake. + +"Your story is so far confirmed, prisoner; but it does not seem to us +that even had you seen two men watching a house it would be reasonable +that you would risk your neck in this way without cause. Clearly you have +aided and abetted a traitor to escape justice, and you will be remanded. +I hope, before you are brought before us again, you will make up your +mind to make a clean breast of it, and throw yourself on the king's +mercy." + +Ronald was accordingly led back to the cell, the bailie being too much +overwhelmed with surprise at what he had heard to utter any remonstrance. + + + +CHAPTER III: Free. + + +After Ronald had been removed from the court the woman was questioned. +She asserted that her master was away, and was, she believed, in France, +and that in his absence she often let lodgings to strangers. That two +days before, a man whom she knew not came and hired a room for a few +days. That on the evening before, hearing a noise in the attic, she went +up with him, and met Ronald coming down stairs. That when Ronald said +there were strange men outside the house, and when immediately afterwards +there was a great knocking at the door, the man drew his sword and +ordered her to come up stairs with him. That he then made her assist him +to pull up a plank, and thrust it from the attic to the wall, and ordered +her to replace it when he had gone. She supposed he was a thief flying +from justice, but was afraid to refuse to do his bidding. + +"And why did you not tell us all this, woman, when we came in?" Mr. +M'Whirtle asked sternly. "Had ye told us we might have overtaken him." + +"I was too much frightened," the woman answered. "There were swords out +and blood running, and men using words contrary both to the law and +Scripture. I was frighted enough before, and I just put my apron over my +head and sat down till the hubbub was over. And then as no one asked me +any questions, and I feared I might have done wrong in aiding a thief to +escape, I just held my tongue." + +No cross questioning could elicit anything further from the woman, who +indeed seemed frightened almost out of her senses, and the magistrate at +last ordered her to return to the house and remain there under the +supervision of the constable until again sent for. + +Andrew Anderson returned home sorely disturbed in his mind. Hitherto he +had told none, even of his intimates, that the boy living in his house +was the son of Colonel Leslie, but had spoken of him as the child of an +old acquaintance who had left him to his care. The open announcement of +Ronald that he was the son of one of the leaders in the last rebellion, +coming just as it did when the air was thick with rumours of another +rising, troubled him greatly; and there was the fact that the boy had, +unknown to him, been learning fencing; and lastly this interference, +which had enabled a notorious emissary of the Pretender to escape arrest. + +"The boy's story may be true as far as it goes," he said to his wife when +relating to her the circumstances, "for I have never known him to tell a +lie; but I cannot think it was all the truth. A boy does not take such a +dreadful leap as that, and risk breaking his neck, simply because he sees +two men near the house. He must somehow have known that man was there, +and went to give him warning. Now I think of it, he passed through the +shop when Peter M'Whirtle was talking to me about it, though, indeed, he +did not know then where the loon was in hiding. The boy went out soon +afterwards, and must somehow have learned, if indeed he did not know +before. Janet, I fear that you and I have been like two blind owls with +regard to the boy, and I dread sorely that my brother Malcolm is at the +bottom of all this mischief." + +This Mrs. Anderson was ready enough to credit, but she was too much +bewildered and horrified to do more than to shake her head and weep. + +"Will they cut off his head, Andrew?" she asked at last. + +"No, there's no fear of that; but they may imprison him for a bit, and +perhaps give him a good flogging -- the young rascal. But there, don't +fret over it, Janet. I will do all I can for him. And in truth I think +Malcolm is more to blame than he is; and we have been to blame too for +letting the lad be so much with him, seeing that we might be sure he +would put all sorts of notions in the boy's head." + +"But what is to be done, Andrew? We cannot let the poor lad remain in +prison." + +"We have no choice in the matter, Janet. In prison he is, and in prison +he has to remain until he is let out, and I see no chance of that. If it +had only been a brawl with the watch it could have been got over easily +enough; but this is an affair of high treason -- aiding and abetting the +king's enemies, and the rest of it. If it were in the old times they +would put the thumb screws on him to find out all he knew about it, for +they will never believe he risked his life in the plot; and the fact that +his father before him was in arms for the Chevalier tells that way. I +should not be surprised if an order comes for him to be sent to London to +be examined by the king's councillors; but I will go round now and ask +the justices what they think of the matter." + +His tidings when he returned were not encouraging; the general opinion of +the magistrates being that Ronald was certainly mixed up in the Jacobite +plot, that the matter was altogether too serious to be disposed of by +them, being of the nature of high treason, and that nothing could be done +until instructions were received from London. No clue had been obtained +as to the whereabouts of the man who had escaped, and it was thought +probable that he had at once dropped beyond the walls and made for the +west. + +Malcolm arrived ten days later from a journey in Lancashire, and there +was a serious quarrel between him and Andrew on his presenting himself at +the house. + +"It is not only that you led the lad into mischief, Malcolm, but that you +taught him to do it behind my back." + +"You may look at it in that way if you will, Andrew, and it's natural +enough from your point of view; but I take no blame to myself You treated +the boy as if he had been your son, and I thank you with all my heart for +your kindness to him; but I could not forget Leslie of Glenlyon, and I do +not blame myself that I have kept the same alive in his mind also. It was +my duty to see that the young eagle was not turned into a barn door fowl; +but I never thought he was going to use his beak and his claws so soon." + +"A nice thing you will have to tell his father, that owing to your +teachings his son is a prisoner in the Tower, maybe for life. But there +-- there's no fear of that. You will never have to render that account, +for there's no more chance of your ever hearing more of him than there is +of my becoming king of Scotland. It's bad enough that you have always +been a ne'er do well yourself without training that unfortunate boy to +his ruin." + +"Well, well, Andrew, I will not argue with you, and I don't blame you at +being sore and angry over the matter; nor do I deny what you have said +about myself; it's true enough, and you might say worse things against me +without my quarreling with ye over it. However, the less said the better. +I will take myself off and think over what's to be done." + +"You had better come up and have your supper with us," Andrew said, +mollified by his brother's humility. + +"Not for twenty golden guineas, Andrew, would I face Mistress Janet. She +has borne with me well, though I know in her heart she disapproves of me +altogether; but after this scrape into which I have got the boy I daren't +face her. She might not say much, but to eat with her eye upon me would +choke me." + +Malcolm proceeded at once to the establishment of his friend Macklewain. + +"This is a nice kettle of fish, Malcolm, about young Leslie. I have had +the justices down here, asking me all sorts of questions, and they have +got into their minds that I taught him not only swordplay but treason, +and they have been threatening to put me in the stocks as a vagabond; but +I snapped my fingers in their faces, saying I earned my money as honestly +as they did, and that I concern myself in no way in politics, but teach +English officers and the sons of Glasgow tradesmen as well as those of +Highland gentlemen. They were nicely put out, I can tell you; but I +didn't care for that, for I knew I was in the right of it. But what on +earth made the young cock meddle in this matter? How came he to be mixed +up in a Jacobite plot? Have you got your finger in it?" + +"Not I, James; and how it happens that he is concerned in it is more than +I can guess. I know, of course, his heart is with the king over the +water; but how he came to get his hand into the pie is altogether beyond +me." + +"The people here are well nigh mad about it. I know not who the gallant +who has escaped is; but it is certain that his capture was considered a +very important one, and that the justices here expected to have gained no +small credit by his arrest, whereas now they will be regarded as fools +for letting him slip through their fingers." + +"I cannot for the life of me make out how he came to be mixed up in such +a matter. No one but you and I could have known that he was a lad of +mettle, who might be trusted in such a business. It can hardly be that +they would have confided any secrets to him; still, the fact that he was +in the house with the man they are in search of, and that he drew and +risked his life and certain imprisonment to secure his escape, shows that +he must have been heart and soul in the plot." + +"And what do you think of doing, Malcolm?" + +"I shall get him out somehow. I can lay hands on a score or two or more +of our old comrades here in Glasgow, and I doubt not that they will all +strike a blow with me for Leslie's son, to say nothing of his being a +follower of the Stuarts." + +"You are not thinking, man, of attacking the jail! That would be a +serious matter. The doors are strong, and you would have the soldiers, to +say nought of the town guard and the citizens, upon you before you had +reached him." + +"No, no, James, I am thinking of no such foolishness. I guess that they +will not be trying him for withstanding the watch, that's but a small +matter; they will be sending him south for the king's ministers to get +out of him what he knows about the Jacobite plot and the names of all +concerned, and it's upon the road that we must get him out of their +hands. Like enough they will only send four troopers with him, and we can +easily master them somewhere in the dales." + +"It's more like, Malcolm, they will send him by ship. They will know well +enough that if the lad knows aught there will be plenty whose interest it +is to get him out of their hands. I think they will take the safer way of +putting him on board ship." + +"Like enough they will," Malcolm agreed, "and in that case it will be a +harder job than I deemed it. But at any rate I mean to try. Ronald's not +the lad to turn traitor; he will say nothing whatever they do to him, you +may be sure, and he may lie for years in an English prison if we do not +get him out of their hands before he gets there. At any rate what we have +got to do now is to mark every ship in the port sailing for London, and +to find out whether passages are taken for a prisoner and his guard in +any of them. I will make that my business, and between times get a score +of trusty fellows together in readiness to start if they should send him +by land; but I doubt not that you are right, and that he will be taken +off by ship." + +The days of waiting passed slowly to Ronald, and Andrew Anderson once or +twice obtained permission to see him. The bailie wisely abstained from +any reproaches, and sought only to persuade him to make a clean breast of +the business, and to tell all he knew about a plot which could but end in +failure and ruin to all concerned. Although his belief in Ronald's +truthfulness was great he could not credit that the story which he had +told contained all the facts of the matter. To the bailie it seemed +incredible that merely from an abstract feeling in favour of the Stuarts +Ronald would have risked his life and liberty in aiding the escape of a +Jacobite agent, unless he was in some way deeply involved in the plot; +and he regarded Ronald's assurances to the contrary as the outcome of +what he considered an entirely mistaken sense of loyalty to the Stuart +cause. + +"It's all very well, Ronald," he said, shaking his head sadly; "but when +they get you to London they will find means to make you open your mouth. +They have done away with the thumb screws and the rack, but there are +other ways of making a prisoner speak, and it would be far better for you +to make a clean breast of it at once. Janet is grieving for you as if you +were her own son, and I cannot myself attend to my business. Who would +have thought that so young a lad should have got himself mixed up in such +sair trouble!" + +"I have really told you all, bailie, though you will not believe me, and +I am sorry indeed for the trouble I have brought upon you and my aunt" -- +for Ronald had from the first been taught to address the bailie and his +wife as if Malcolm Anderson had been his real father; "anyhow I wish they +would settle it. I would rather know the worst than go on from day to day +expecting something that never happens." + +"You have to wait, Ronald, till word comes from London. If they write +from there that your case can be dealt with merely for the assault upon +the watch I can promise you that a few weeks in jail are all that you are +like to have; but I fear that there is little chance of that. They are +sure to send for you to London, and whether you will ever come back alive +the gude Lord only knows. We know what came of treason thirty years ago, +and like enough they will be even more severe now, seeing that they will +hold that folks have all the less right to try and disturb matters so +long settled." + +"Have you seen Malcolm?" Ronald asked, to change the conversation. + +"Ay, lad, I have seen him, and the meeting was not altogether a pleasant +one for either of us." + +"I hope you have not quarrelled with him on my account!" Ronald said +eagerly. + +"We have not exactly quarrelled, but we have had words. I could not but +tell him my opinion as to his learning you to take such courses, but we +parted friends; but I doubt it will be long before Janet can see him with +patience." + +The jailer, who was present at the interview, here notified that the +bailie's time was up. + +"I shall see you again, Ronald, before they take you south. I would that +I could do more to help you besides just coming to see you." + +"I know you cannot, uncle. I have got into the scrape and must take the +consequences; but if I were placed in the same position I should do it +again." + +A few days afterwards, as he was eating his ration of prison bread, +Ronald found in it a small pellet of paper, and on opening it read the +words: "Keep up your courage, friends are at work for you. You will hear +more yet of M. A." + +Ronald was glad to know that his old friend was thinking of him, but, +knowing how strong was the prison, he had little hopes that Malcolm would +be able to effect anything to help him. Still the note gave him comfort. + +Three days later Andrew called again to bid him goodbye, telling him that +orders had been received from London that he was to be sent thither by +ship. + +"I should like to have seen Malcolm before I went, if I could," Ronald +said. + +"I have not seen him for several days," the bailie said. "I have sent +down several times to the house where he lodges, but he is always away; +but, whether or no, there would be no chance of your seeing him. I myself +had difficulty in getting leave to see you, though a bailie and known to +be a loyal citizen. But Malcolm knows that there would be no chance of +one with such a character as his getting to see you, and that it would +draw attention to him even to ask such a thing, which, if he has a hand +in this mad brain plot, he would not wish." + +"Malcolm would not mind a straw whether they kept a watch on him or not," +Ronald said. "Will you tell him, when you see him next, that I got his +message?" + +"What message? I have given you no message that I know of." + +"He will know what I mean. Tell him, whether aught comes of it or not I +thank him, and for all his kindness to me, as I do you and Aunt Janet." + +At the same time with the order that Ronald should be sent to London the +authorities of Glasgow received an intimation that the ministers felt +great surprise at the lukewarmness which had been shown in allowing so +notorious and important an enemy of his majesty to escape, and that the +king himself had expressed marked displeasure at the conduct of the city +authorities in the matter. Greatly mortified at the upshot of an affair +from which they had hoped to obtain much credit from government, and +believing it certain that there were many greatly interested in getting +Ronald out of the hands of his captors, the authorities took every +precaution to prevent it. He was taken down to the river side under a +strong escort, and in addition to the four warders who were to be in +charge of the prisoner as far as London, they put on board twelve men of +the city guard. These were to remain with the ship until she was well out +at sea, and then to return in a boat which the vessel was to row behind +her. + +Ronald could not but smile when he saw all these formidable preparations +for his safety. At the same time he felt that any hope he had entertained +that Malcolm might, as the message hinted, make an attempt at rescue were +blighted. The vessel dropped down with the tide. The orders of the +justices had been so strict and urgent that the whole of the men placed +on board kept a vigilant watch. + +Just as they were abreast of Dumbarton the sound of oars was heard, and +presently a boat was seen approaching. As it got nearer two men were seen +to be rowing, and two others seated in the stern; but as the craft was a +large one there was room for others to be lying in the bottom. The +constable in charge shouted to the boat to keep them off. + +"Stop rowing," he cried, "and come no nearer. If you do we fire, and as I +don't want to shed your blood I warn you that I have sixteen armed men +here." + +As his words were emphasized by the row of men, who with levelled muskets +ranged themselves along at the side of the ship, the boat ceased rowing. + +"What are you afraid of?" one of the men in the stern shouted. "Cannot a +fisherman's boat row out without being threatened with shooting? What are +you and your sixteen armed men doing on board? Are you expecting a French +fleet off the coast? And do you think you will beat them off if they +board you? How long have the Glasgow traders taken to man their ships +with fighting men?" + +Ronald was in the cabin under the poop; it opened on to the waist, and +received its light from an opening in the door, at which two armed men +had stationed themselves when the boat was heard approaching. Had the +cabin possessed a porthole through which he could have squeezed himself +he would long before have jumped overboard and tried to make his escape +by swimming under cover of the darkness. He now strove to force the door +open, for he recognized Malcolm's voice, and doubted not that his friend +had spoken in order to let him know that he was there, that he might if +possible leap over and swim to the boat; but it was fastened strongly +without, and the guards outside shouted that they would fire unless he +remained quiet. + +No reply was made to the taunts of the man in the boat, and slowly, for +the wind was but just filling her sails, the vessel dropped down the +river, and the boat was presently lost sight of. + +In the morning the breeze freshened. It was not till the ship was eight +miles beyond the mouth of the river that the boat was pulled up +alongside, and the guard, taking their places on board, hoisted sail and +started on their return to Glasgow. + +Once fairly at sea Ronald was allowed to leave his cabin. Now that he was +enjoying the fresh air his spirits soon recovered the tone which they had +lost somewhat during his three weeks' confinement in prison, and he +thoroughly enjoyed his voyage. The man who was in charge of the guard had +at first wished to place some restriction on his going about on board as +he chose; but the crew sided with the young prisoner, and threw such +ridicule on the idea that four warders and a head constable were afraid, +even for a moment, to lose sight of a boy on board a ship at sea, that he +gave way, and allowed Ronald free liberty of action, although he warned +his subordinates that they must nor relax their caution for a moment. + +"The crew are all with him. They think it a shame that a lad like this +should be hauled to London as a prisoner charged with treasonable +practices; and sailors, when they once get an idea into their head, are +as obstinate as Highland cattle. I have told them that he drew a sword +and held the staircase against us all while a noted traitor made his +escape, and that he ran one of us through the shoulder, and they only +shouted with laughter, and said he was a brave young cock. Like as not, +if they had a chance, these men would aid him to escape, and then we +should have to answer for it, and heavily too; loss of place and +imprisonment would be the least of what we might expect; so though, while +at sea and in full daylight he can do as he pleases, we must be doubly +vigilant at night, or in port if the vessel should have to put in." + +Accordingly, to the great disgust of the sailors the watch by turns stood +sentry outside Ronald's door at night, thereby defeating a plan which the +sailors had formed of lowering a boat the first night they passed near +land, and letting Ronald make his escape to shore. + +The wind was favourable until the vessel rounded the Land's End. After +that it became baffling and fickle, and it was more than three weeks +after the date of her sailing from Glasgow that the vessel entered the +mouth of the Thames. By this time Ronald's boyish spirits had allayed all +suspicion on the part of his guards. He joked with the sailors, climbed +about the rigging like a cat, and was so little affected by his position +that the guards were convinced that he was free from the burden of any +state secret, and that no apprehension of any serious consequence to +himself was weighing upon him. + +"Poor lad!" the head warder said; "he will need all his spirits. He will +have hard work to make the king's council believe that he interfered in +such a matter as this from pure love of adventure. He will have many a +weary month to pass in prison before they free him, I reckon. It goes +against my heart to hand over such a mere laddie as a prisoner; still it +is no matter of mine. I have my duty to do, and it's not for me to +question the orders I have received, or to argue whether a prisoner is +innocent or guilty." + +As the vessel anchored off Gravesend to wait for the turn of the tide to +take her up, a boat rowed by a waterman, and with a man sitting in the +stern, passed close by the ship. The head warder had now redoubled his +vigilance, and one of the guards with loaded musket was standing on the +deck not far from Ronald, who was standing on the taffrail. As the boat +passed some twenty yards astern of the ship the man who was not rowing +turned round for a moment and looked up at Ronald. It was but a momentary +glance that the lad caught of his face, and he suppressed with difficulty +a cry of surprise, for he recognized Malcolm Anderson. The rower +continued steadily to ply his oars, and continued his course towards +another ship anchored lower down the river. Ronald stood watching the +boat, and saw that after making a wide sweep it was rowed back again to +Gravesend. + +Ronald had no doubt that Malcolm had come south in hopes of effecting his +escape, and guessed that he had taken up his post at Gravesend with the +intention of examining every ship as she passed up until the one in which +he knew he had sailed made its appearance. What his next step would be he +could not tell; but he determined to keep a vigilant lookout, and to +avail himself instantly of any opportunity which might offer. + +As the captain did nor care about proceeding up the river after dark it +was not until the tide turned, just as morning broke, that the anchor was +weighed. There was a light breeze which just sufficed to give the vessel +steerage way, and a mist hung on the water. Ronald took his favourite +seat on the taffrail, and kept a vigilant watch upon every craft which +seemed likely to come near the vessel. + +Greenwich was passed, and the vessel presently approached the crowded +part of the Pool. It was near high tide now, and the captain was +congratulating himself that he should just reach a berth opposite the +Tower before it turned. Presently a boat with two rowers shot out from +behind a tier of vessels and passed close under the stern of the Glasgow +Lass. A man was steering whom Ronald instantly recognized. + +"Jump!" he cried, and Ronald without a moment's hesitation leaped from +the taffrail. + +He came up close to the boat, and was instantly hauled on board by +Malcolm. Just at that moment the guard, who had stood stupefied by +Ronald's sudden action, gave a shout of alarm and discharged his piece. +The ball struck the boat close to Ronald. It was already in motion; the +men bent to their oars, and the boat glided towards the Surrey side of +the river. Loud shouts arose from on board the vessel, and four bullets +cut the water round the boar; but before the muskets could be reloaded +Malcolm had steered the boat through a tier of vessels, whose crews, +attracted by the firing, cheered the fugitives lustily. + +A minute later they had reached some landing steps. Malcolm tossed some +money to the rowers, and then sprang ashore with Ronald, and handed the +latter a long coat which would reach to his heels and conceal the +drenched state of his clothing from notice. + +"We have tricked them nicely, dear boy," he said; "we are safe now. Long +before they can lower a boat and get here we shall be safe in shelter, +and our five Glasgow bodies will have something to do to look for us +here." + +Moderating his pace so as to avoid attracting attention, Malcolm +proceeded along several streets and lanes, and presently stopped at the +door of a little shop. + +"I am lodging here," he said, "and have told the people of the house that +I am expecting a nephew back from a cruise in the Mediterranean." + +As he passed through the shop he said to the woman behind the counter: + +"Here he is safe and sound. He's been some days longer than I expected, +but I was nor so very far wrong in my calculations. The young scamp has +had enough of the sea, and has agreed to go back again with me to his own +people." + +"That's right," the woman said. "My own boy ran away two years ago, and I +hope he will have come to his senses by the time he gets back again." + +When they were together in their room up stairs Malcolm threw his arms +round Ronald's neck. + +"Thank God, my dear boy, I have got you our of the clutches of the law! +You do not know how I have been fretting since I heard you were caught, +and thought that if ill came to you it would be all my fault. And now +tell me how you got into this scrape, for it has been puzzling me ever +since I heard it. Surely when I saw you last you knew nothing about any +Jacobite goings on?" + +Ronald related the whole particulars of his adventure, and said that even +now he was absolutely ignorant who was the man whom he had aided to +escape. + +"I know no more than you do, Ronald, but they must have thought his +capture an important one by the fuss they made over his escape. And now, +to think that you have slipped out of their hands too!" and Malcolm broke +into a loud laugh. "I would give a month's earnings to see the faces of +the guard as they make their report that they have arrived empty handed. +I was right glad when I saw you. I was afraid you might have given them +the slip on the way, and then there would have been no saying when we +might have found each other again." + +"The sailors would have lowered a boat at night and let me make for the +land," Ronald said, "but there was a good guard kept over me. The door +was locked and a sentry always on watch, and I had quite given up all +hope until I saw you at Gravesend. And now, what do you intend to do? +Make our way back to Scotland?" + +"No, no, lad, that would never do. There will be a hue and cry after you, +and all the northern routes will be watched. No, I shall make a bargain +with some Dutch skipper to take us across the water, and then we will +make our way to Paris." + +"But have you got money, Malcolm?" + +"I have got your purse, lad. I went to Andrew and said that I wanted it +for you, but that he was to ask no questions, so that whatever came of it +he could say that he knew nothing. He gave it me at once, saying only: + +"'Remember, Malcolm, you have done the boy some harm already with your +teaching, see that you do him no further harm. I guess you are bent on +some hare brained plan, but whatever it be I wish you success.'" + + + +CHAPTER IV: In France. + + +The next day Malcolm went out alone, and on his return told Ronald that +there were placards on the walls offering a reward of a hundred pounds +for his apprehension. + +"You don't think the people below have any suspicion, Malcolm?" + +"Not they," Malcolm replied. "I was telling them last night after you had +gone to bed all about the places you have been voyaging to, and how +anxious your father, a snug farmer near Newcastle, was to have you back +again. I had spoken to them before so as to prepare them for your coming, +and the old woman takes quite an interest in you, because her son at sea +is a lad just about your age. I have brought you in a suit of sailor +clothes; we will go down and have a chat with them after the shop is +closed of a night. You will remember Newcastle and the farm, and can tell +them of your escape from Greek pirates, and how nearly you were taken by +a French frigate near the straits." + +The consternation of the watch at Ronald's escape was extreme. The shot +which the man on guard had fired was their first intimation of the event, +and seizing their muskets they had hastily discharged them in the +direction of the fugitive, and had then shouted for a boat to be lowered. +But never was a boat longer getting into the water than was that of the +Glasgow Lass upon this occasion. The captain gave his orders in a +leisurely way, and the crew were even slower in executing them. Then +somehow the fall stuck and the boat wouldn't lower. When at last she was +in the water it was found that the thole pins were missing; these being +found she was rowed across the river, the five constables undergoing a +running fire of jokes and hilarity from the sailors of the ships they +passed near. In answer to their inquiries where the fugitives landed, +some of the sailors shouted that she had pulled up the river behind the +tier of vessels, others insisted that she had sunk with all hands close +by. + +Completely bewildered, the chief of the party told the sailors to put +them ashore at the first landing. When the party gained the streets they +inquired eagerly of all they met whether they had seen aught of the +fugitives. Few of those they questioned understood the broad Scotch in +which the question was asked, others laughed in their faces and asked how +they were to know the man and boy they wanted from any others; and after +vainly looking about for some time they returned to the stairs, only to +find that the boat had returned to the ship. + +A waterman's boat was now hired, and the rower, who had heard what had +happened, demanded a sum for putting them on board which horrified them; +but at last, after much bargaining, they were conveyed back to the ship. +An hour later the chief of the party went ashore, and repairing to the +Tower, where he had been ordered to conduct the prisoner, reported his +escape. He was at once taken into custody on the charge of permitting the +escape of his prisoner, and it was not until three days later, upon the +evidence of his men and of the captain and officers of the ship, that he +was released. + +His four men were put on board a ship returning to Glasgow next day, +while he himself was kept to identify the fugitive should he be caught. + +A week later Malcolm told Ronald that he had made arrangements with the +captain of a Dutch vessel to take them over to Holland. + +"We are to go on board at Gravesend," he said, "for they are searching +all ships bound for foreign ports. It is not for you especially, but +there are supposed to be many Jacobites going to and fro, and they will +lay hands on anyone who cannot give a satisfactory account of himself. So +it is just as well for us to avoid questioning." + +Accordingly the next day they walked down to Gravesend, and taking boat +there boarded the Dutch vessel when she came along on the following day. +The Dutch captain received them civilly; he had been told by Malcolm that +they wished to leave the country privately, and guessed that they were in +some way fugitives from the law, but as he was to be well paid this gave +him no concern. There were no other passengers, and a roomy cabin was +placed at their disposal. They passed down the river without impediment, +and anchored that night off Sheerness. + +"These Dutch traders are but slow craft," Malcolm said as he walked +impatiently up and down the deck next morning, watching the slow progress +which they made past the shore. "I wish we could have got a passage +direct to France, but of course that is impossible now the two nations +are at war." + +"What is the war about, Malcolm? I heard at home that they were fighting, +but yet that somehow the two countries were not at war." + +"No, I don't know how that comes about," Malcolm said. "England has a +minister still at Paris; but for all that King George is at the head of a +number of British troops in Germany fighting against the French there." + +"But what is it about, Malcolm?" + +"Well, it is a matter which concerns Hanover more than England; in fact +England has no interest in the matter at all as far as I can see, except +that as France takes one side she takes the other, because she is afraid +of France getting too strong. However, it is a German business, and +England is mixed up in it only because her present king is a Hanoverian +and not an Englishman. This is the matter as far as I can make it out. +Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, died in October, 1740. It had been +arranged by a sort of general agreement called the Pragmatic Sanction --" + +"What an extraordinary name, Malcolm! What does it mean?" + +"I have not the least idea in the world, lad. However, that is what it is +called. It was signed by a lot of powers, of whom England was one, and by +it all parties agreed that Charles's daughter Maria Theresa was to become +Empress of Austria. However, when the emperor was dead the Elector of +Bavaria claimed to be emperor, and he was supported by France, by Spain, +and by Frederick of Prussia, and they marched to Vienna, enthroned the +elector as Duke of Austria, and drove Maria Theresa to take refuge in +Hungary, where she was warmly supported. + +"The English parliament voted a large sum to enable the empress to carry +on the war, and last year sixteen thousand men under the Earl of Stair +crossed the seas to cooperate with the Dutch, who were warm supporters of +the empress, and were joined by six thousand Hessians and sixteen +thousand Hanoverians in British pay; but after all nothing was done last +year, for as in the last war the Dutch were not ready to begin, and the +English army were in consequence kept idle." + +"Then it seems that everyone was against the empress except England and +these three little states." + +"That is pretty nearly so," Malcolm said; "but at present the empress has +bought off the Prussians, whose king joined in the affair solely for his +own advantage, by giving him the province of Silesia, so that in fact at +present it is England and Hanover, which is all the same thing, with the +Dutch and Hessians, against France and Bavaria, for I don't think that at +present Spain has sent any troops." + +"Well, it seems to me a downright shame," Ronald said indignantly; "and +though I have no great love for the English, and hate their Hanoverian +George and his people, I shouldn't like to fight with one of the Scotch +regiments in the French service in such a quarrel." + +Malcolm laughed. + +"My dear lad, if every soldier were to discuss the merits of the quarrel +in which he is ordered to fight there would be an end of all discipline." + +"Yes, I see that," Ronald agreed; "if one is once a soldier he has only +to obey orders. But one need not become a soldier just at the time when +he would be called upon to fight for a cause which he considers unjust." + +"That is so, Ronald, and it's fortunate, if your feelings are in favour +of Maria Theresa, that we are not thinking of enlisting just at present, +for you would be puzzled which side to take. If you fought for her you +would have to fight under the Hanoverian; if you fight against the +Hanoverian you are fighting against Maria Theresa." + +"Well, we don't want to fight at all," Ronald said. "What we want to do +is to find out something about my father. I wish the voyage was at an +end, and that we had our faces towards Paris." + +"It will not be so easy to cross from Holland into France," Malcolm said. +"I wish our voyage was at an end for another reason, for unless I mistake +there is a storm brewing up." + +Malcolm's prediction as to the weather was speedily verified. The wind +rose rapidly, ragged clouds hurried across the sky, and the waves got up +fast, and by nightfall the sea had become really heavy, dashing in sheets +high in the air every time the bluff bowed craft plunged into it. Long +before this Ronald had gone below prostrate with seasickness. + +"It's just like the obstinacy of these Dutchmen," Malcolm muttered to +himself as he held on by a shroud and watched the labouring ship. "It +must have been clear to anyone before we were well out of the river that +we were going to have a gale, and as the wind then was nearly due south, +we could have run back again and anchored in shelter till it was over. +Now it has backed round nearly into our teeth, with every sign of its +getting into the north, and then we shall have the French coast on our +lee. It's not very serious yet, but if the wind goes on rising as it has +done for the last four or five hours we shall have a gale to remember +before the morning." + +Before the daylight, indeed, a tremendous sea was running, and the wind +was blowing with terrible force from the north. Although under but a rag +of canvas the brig was pressed down gunwale deep, and each wave as it +struck her broadside seemed to heave her bodily to leeward. Malcolm on +coming on deck made his way aft and glanced at the compass, and then took +a long look over the foaming water towards where he knew the French coast +must lie. The wind was two or three points east of north, and as the +clumsy craft would not sail within several points of the wind she was +heading nearly east. + +"She is making a foot to leeward for every one she forges ahead," he said +to himself. "If she has been at this work all night we cannot be far from +the coast." + +So the Dutch skipper appeared to think, for a few minutes afterwards he +gave orders to bring her about on the other tack. Three times they tried +and failed; each time the vessel slowly came up into the wind, but the +heavy waves forced her head off again before the headsails filled. Then +the skipper gave orders to wear her. Her head payed off to the wind until +she was nearly before it. Two or three great seas struck her stern and +buried her head deeply, but at last the boom swung over and her head came +up on the other tack. During the course of these manoeuvres she had made +fully two miles leeway, and when she was fairly under sail with her head +to the west Malcolm took another long look towards the south. + +"Just as I thought," he said. "There is white water there and a dark line +behind it. That is the French coast, sure enough." + +It would have been useless to speak, but he touched the arm of the +skipper and pointed to leeward. The skipper looked in this direction for +a minute and then gave the order for more sail to be put on the ship, to +endeavour to beat out in the teeth of the gale. But even when pressed to +the utmost it was evident to Malcolm that the force of the waves was +driving her faster towards the coast than she could make off it, and he +went below and told Ronald to come on deck. + +"I would rather lie here," Ronald said. + +"Nonsense, lad! The wind and spray will soon knock the sickness out of +you; and you will want all your wits about you, for it won't be many +hours before we are bumping on the sands, and stoutly built as the craft +is she won't hold together long in such a sea as this." + +"Do you really mean it, Malcolm, or are you only trying to get me on +deck?" + +"I mean it, lad. We are drifting fast upon the French coast, and there is +no hope of her clawing off in the teeth of such a gale as this." + +The news aroused Ronald effectually. He had not suffered at all on the +voyage down from Glasgow, and he was already beginning to feel better +when Malcolm went down to call him. He was soon on deck holding on by the +bulwark. + +"There it is, that long low black line; it looks a long way off because +the air is full of spray and the coast is low, but it's not more than +three or four miles; look at that broad belt of foam." + +For some hours the Dutch skipper did his best to beat to windward, but in +vain, the vessel drove nearer and nearer towards the shore; the anchors +were got in readiness, and when within a quarter of a mile of the line of +breakers the vessel's head was brought up into the wind, and the lashings +of the two anchors cut simultaneously. + +"Will they hold her, do you think?" Ronald asked. + +"Not a chance of it, Ronald. Of course the captain is right to try; but +no cables were ever made would hold such a bluff bowed craft as this in +the teeth of such a wind and sea." + +The cables ran out to the bitts. Just as they tightened a great sea +rolled in on the bow. Two dull reports were heard, and then her head +payed off. The jib was run up instantly to help her round, and under this +sail the brig was headed directly towards the shore. The sea was breaking +round them now; but the brig was almost flat bottomed and drew but little +water. All on board hung on to the shrouds and bulwarks, momentarily +expecting a crash, but she drove on through the surf until within a +hundred yards of the shore. Then as she went down in the trough of a wave +there was a mighty crash. The next wave swept her forward her own length. + +Then there was another crash even more tremendous than the first, and her +masts simultaneously went over the side. The next wave moved her but a +few feet; the one which followed, finding her immovable, piled itself +higher over her, and swept in a cataract down her sloping deck. Her stern +had swung round after the first shot, and she now lay broadside to the +waves. The Dutch skipper and his crew behaved with the greatest calmness; +the ship lay over at such an angle that it was impossible to stand on the +deck; but the captain managed to get on the upper rail, and although +frequently almost washed off by the seas, contrived to cut the shrouds +and ropes that still attached the masts to the ship there. Then he joined +the crew, who were standing breast high in the water on the lee side, the +floating masts were pulled in until within a few yards of the vessel, and +such of the crew as could swim made towards them. + +The skipper cut the last rope that bound them, and then plunged in and +joined his men. The distance was little over fifty yards to the shore, +and the wreck formed a partial shelter. A crowd of people were assembled +at the edge of the beach with ropes in readiness to give any assistance +in their power. Malcolm and Ronald were among those who had swum to the +masts, but when within a short distance of the shore the former shouted +in the latter's ear: + +"Swim off, lad, the masts might crush us." + +As soon as they neared the shore a number of ropes were thrown. Most of +the sailors, seeing the danger of being crushed, followed the example of +Malcolm, and left the masts. Malcolm and Ronald swam just outside the +point where the waves broke until a line fell in the water close to them. +They grasped it at once. + +"Give it a twist round your arm," Malcolm shouted, "or the backwash will +tear you from it." + +The sailors on shore watched their opportunity, and the instant a wave +passed beneath the two swimmers ran up the beach at full speed with the +rope. There was a crash. Ronald felt himself shot forward with great +rapidity, then as he touched the ground with his feet they were swept +from under him, and so great was the strain that he felt as if his arm +was being pulled from the socket. A few seconds later he was lying at +full length upon the sands, and before the next wave reached him a dozen +men had rushed down and seized him and Malcolm, and carried them beyond +its influence. For a minute or two Ronald felt too bruised and out of +breath to move. Then he heard Malcolm's voice: + +"Are you hurt, Ronald?" + +"No; I think not, Malcolm," he replied, making an effort to sit up. "Are +you?" + +"No, lad; bruised a bit, but no worse." + +One by one the sailors were brought ashore, one with both legs broken +from the force with which he was dashed down by the surf, and one man who +stuck to the mast was crushed to death as it was rolled over and over on +to the beach. The captain and three sailors were, like Malcolm and +Ronald, unhurt. There still remained four men on the wreck. Fortunately +she had struck just at high tide, and so stoutly was she built that she +held together in spite of the tremendous seas, and in an hour the four +sailors were able to wade breast high to the shore. + +They found that the spot where the vessel had struck was half a mile west +of Gravelines. They were taken to the town, and were hospitably +entertained. A small body of soldiers were quartered there, and the +officer in command told the Dutch skipper, that as the two nations were +at war he and his crew must be detained until he received orders +respecting them. On learning from Malcolm that he and Ronald were +passengers, and were Scotsmen making their way from England to escape +imprisonment as friends of the Stuarts, and that he had for twelve years +served in one of the Scotch regiments of Louis, and was now bound for +Paris, the officer said that they were free to continue their journey at +once. + +It was two or three days before they started, for they found the next +morning that they were both too severely bruised to set out at once on +the journey. As Malcolm had taken care to keep the purse containing +Ronald's money securely fastened to a belt under his clothes they had no +lack of funds; but as time was no object they started for Paris on foot. +Ronald greatly enjoyed the journey. Bright weather had set in after the +storm. It was now the middle of May, all nature was bright and cheerful, +the dresses of the peasantry, the style of architecture so different to +that to which he was accustomed in Scotland, and everything else were new +and strange to him. Malcolm spoke French as fluently as his own language, +and they had therefore no difficulty or trouble on the way. + +They arrived at Paris without any adventure. Malcolm went to a cabaret +which had at the time when he was in the French service been much +frequented by Scotch soldiers, being kept by a countryman of their own, +an ex-sergeant in one of the Scottish regiments. + +"Ah! Sandy Macgregor," Malcolm exclaimed as the proprietor of the place +approached to take their order. "So you are still in the flesh, man! +Right glad am I to see you again. + +"I know your face," Sandy replied; "but I canna just say what your name +might be." + +"Malcolm Anderson, of Leslie's Scotch regiment. It's fourteen years since +I left them now; but I was here again four years later, if you can +remember, when I came over to try and find out if aught had been heard of +the colonel." + +"Ay, ay," Sandy said, grasping Malcolm's outstretched hand warmly. "It +all comes back to me now. Right glad am I to see you. And who is the lad +ye have brought with you? A Scot by his face and bearing, I will be +bound, but young yet for the service if that be what he is thinking of." + +"He is the colonel's son, Sandy. You will remember I told you I had +carried him back to Scotland with me; but I need not tell ye that this is +betwixt ourselves, for those who have so badly treated his father might +well have a grudge against the son, and all the more that he is the +rightful heir to many a broad acre here in France." + +"I give you a hearty welcome, young sir," Sandy said. "Many a time I have +seen your brave father riding at the head of his regiment, and have +spoken to him too, for he and his officers would drop in here and crack a +cup together in a room I keep upstairs for the quality. Well, well, and +to think that you are his son! But what Malcolm said is true, and it were +best that none knew who ye are, for they have an unco quick way here of +putting inconvenient people out of the way." + +"Have you ever heard aught of my father since?" Ronald asked eagerly. + +"Not a word," Sandy replied. "I have heard it talked over scores of times +by men who were in the regiment that was once his, and none doubted that +if he were still alive he was lying in the Bastille, or Vincennes, or one +of the other cages where they keep those whose presence the king or his +favourites find inconvenient. It's just a stroke of the pen, without +question or trial, and they are gone, and even their best friends darena +ask a question concerning them. In most cases none know why they have +been put away; but there is no doubt why Leslie was seized. Three or four +of his fellow officers were in the secret of his marriage, and when he +had disappeared these talked loudly about it, and there was sair grief +and anger among the Scottish regiment at Leslie's seizure. But what was +to be done? It was just the king's pleasure, and that is enough in +France. Leslie had committed the grave offence of thwarting the wishes of +two of the king's favourites, great nobles, too, with broad lands and +grand connections. What were the likings of a Scottish soldier of fortune +and a headstrong girl in comparison! In Scotland in the old times a +gallant who had carried off a daughter of a Douglas or one of our +powerful nobles would have made his wife a widow ere many weeks were +over, and it is the same thing here now. It wouldna have been an easy +thing for his enemies to kill Leslie with his regiment at his back, and +so they got an order from the king, and as surely got rid of him as if +they had taken his life." + +"You have never heard whether my mother has married again?" Ronald asked. + +"I have never heard her name mentioned. Her father is still at court, but +his daughter has never been seen since, or I should have heard of it; but +more than that I cannot say." + +"That gives me hopes that my father is still alive," Ronald said. "Had he +been dead they might have forced her into some other marriage." + +"They might so; but she was plainly a lassie who had a will of her own +and may have held out." + +"But why did they not kill him instead of putting him in prison if he was +in their way?" + +"They might, as I said, have done it at once; but once in prison he was +beyond their reach. The king may grant a lettre de cachet, as these +orders are called, to a favourite; but even in France men are not put to +death without some sort of trial, and even Chateaurouge and De Recambours +could not ask Louis to have a man murdered in prison to gratify their +private spite, especially when that man was a brave Scottish officer +whose fate had already excited much discontent among his compatriots in +the king's service. Then again much would depend upon who was the +governor of the prison. These men differ like others. Some of them are +honourable gentlemen, to whom even Louis himself would not venture to +hint that he wanted a prisoner put out of the way; but there are others +who, to gratify a powerful nobleman, would think nothing of telling a +jailer to forget a fortnight to give food to a prisoner. So you see we +cannot judge from this. And now what are you thinking of doing, Malcolm, +and why are you over here?" + +"In the first place we are over here because young Leslie took after his +father and aided a Jacobite, whom George's men were in search of, to +escape, and drew his sword on a worshipful justice of Glasgow and the +city watch." + +"He has begun early," Sandy said, laughing; "and how did he get away?" + +"They brought him down a prisoner to London, to interrogate him as to the +plot. I had a boat in the Thames and he jumped over and swam for it; so +here we are. There are rumours in Scotland that King Louis is helping +Prince Charlie, and that an army is soon going to sail for Scotland." + +"It is talked of here, but so far nothing is settled; but as King George +is interfering in Louis's affairs, and is fighting him in Germany, I +think it more than likely that King Louis is going to stir up a coil in +Scotland to give George something to do at home." + +"Then if there's nothing to be done here I shall find out the old +regiment. There will be many officers in it still who have fought under +Leslie, and some of them may know more about him than you do, and will +surely be able to tell me what has become of the lad's mither." + +"That may well be so; but keep a quiet tongue, Malcolm, as to Leslie's +son, save to those on whose discretion you can rely. I tell you, if it +were known that he is alive and in France his life would not be worth a +week's purchase. They would not take the trouble to get a lettre de +cachet for him as they did for his father; it would be just a pistol +bullet or a stab on a dark night or in a lonely place. There would be no +question asked about the fate of an unknown Scotch laddie." + +"I will be careful, Sandy, and silent. The first thing is to find out +where the old regiment is lying." + +"That I can tell you at once. It is on the frontier with the Duc de +Noailles, and they say that there is like to be a great battle with +English George and his army." + +"Well, as we have nothing else to do we will set out and find them," +Malcolm said; "but as time is not pressing we will stop a few days here +in Paris and I will show the lad the sights. I suppose you can put us +up." + +"That can I. Times are dull at present. After '15 Paris swarmed with +Scotsmen who had fled to save their heads; but of late years but few have +come over, and the Scotch regiments have difficulty in keeping up their +numbers. Since the last of them marched for the frontier I have been +looking after empty benches, and it will be good news for me when I hear +that the war is over and they are on their way back." + +For some days Malcolm and Ronald wandered about the narrow streets of +Paris. Ronald was somewhat disappointed in the city of which he had heard +so much. The streets were ill paved and worse lighted, and were narrow +and winding. In the neighbourhood of the Louvre there were signs of +wealth and opulence. The rich dresses of the nobles contrasted strongly +indeed with the sombre attire of the Glasgow citizens, and the appearance +and uniform of the royal guards filled him with admiration; but beyond +the fashionable quarter it did not appear to him that Paris possessed +many advantages over Glasgow, and the poorer class were squalid and +poverty stricken to a far greater degree than anything he had seen in +Scotland. But the chief points of attraction to him were the prisons. The +Bastille, the Chatelet, and the Temple were points to which he was +continually turning; the two former especially, since, if he were in +Paris, it was in one of these that his father was most probably lying. + +The various plans he had so often thought over, by which, in some way or +other, he might communicate with his father and aid his escape, were +roughly shattered at the sight of these buildings. He had reckoned on +their resembling in some respect the prison in Glasgow, and at the sight +of these formidable fortresses with their lofty walls and flanking +towers, their moats and vigilant sentries, his hopes fell to zero. It +would, he saw at once, be absolutely impossible to open communication +with a prisoner of whose whereabouts he was wholly ignorant and of whose +very existence he was doubtful. The narrow slits which lighted the cell +in which he was confined might look into an inner court, or the cell +itself might be below the surface of the soil. The legend of the +troubadour who discovered King Richard of England's place of captivity by +singing without the walls had always been present in his mind, but no +such plan would be practicable here. He knew no song which his father, +and his father only, would recognize; and even did he know such a song, +the appearance of anyone loitering in the open space outside the moat +round the Bastille singing at intervals at different points would have +instantly attracted the attention of the sentries on the walls. Nor, even +did he discover that his father was lying a prisoner in one of the cells +facing outwards in the fortress, did he see any possibility of compassing +his escape. The slits were wide enough only for the passage of a ray of +light or the flight of an arrow. No human being could squeeze himself +through them, and even if he could do so he would need a long rope to +descend into the moat. + +One day Ronald talked over his ideas with Malcolm, who declared at once +that they were impossible of execution. + +"There is scarcely a case on record," he said, "of an escape from either +the Bastille or the Chatelet, and yet there have been scores of prisoners +confined in them with friends of great influence and abundant means. If +these have been unable, by bribing jailers or by other strategy, to free +their friends, how could a stranger, without either connection, +influence, or wealth, hope to effect the escape of a captive were he +certain that he was within the walls. Do not waste your thought on such +fancies, Ronald. If your father is still in prison it is by influence +only, and influence exerted upon the king and exceeding that of your +father's enemies, that his release can be obtained. + +"Such influence there is no possibility of our exerting. Your father's +comrades and countrymen, his position and services, availed nothing when +he was first imprisoned; and in the time which has elapsed the number of +those who know him and would venture to risk the king's displeasure by +pleading his cause must have lessened considerably. The only possibility, +mind I say possibility, of success lies in your mother. + +"So far it is clear that she has been powerless; but we know not under +what circumstances she has been placed. She may all this time have been +shut up a prisoner in a convent; she may be dead; but it is possible +that, if she is free, she may have powerful connections on her mother's +side, who might be induced to take up her cause and to plead with the +king for your father's liberty. She may have been told that your father +is dead. She is, no doubt, in ignorance of what has become of you, or +whether you are still alive. If she believes you are both dead she would +have had no motive for exerting any family influence she may have, and +may be living a broken hearted woman, firm only in the resolution to +accept no other husband." + +"Yes, that is possible," Ronald agreed. "At any rate, Malcolm, let us +lose no further time, but set out tomorrow for the frontier and try to +find out from my father's old comrades what has become of my mother." + + + +CHAPTER V: Dettingen. + + +After walking two or three miles Malcolm and Ronald came upon the rear of +a train of waggons which had set out from Paris an hour earlier. Entering +into conversation with one of the drivers they found that the convoy was +bound for the frontier with ammunition and supplies for the army. + +"This is fortunate," Malcolm said; "for to tell you the truth, Ronald, I +have looked forward to our meeting with a good many difficulties by the +way. We have no passes or permits to travel, and should be suspected of +being either deserters or thieves. We came down from the north easy +enough; but there they are more accustomed to the passage of travellers +to or from the coast. Going east our appearance if alone would be sure to +incite comment and suspicion. It is hard if among the soldiers with the +convoy I do not know someone who has friends in the old regiment. At any +rate we can offer to make ourselves useful in case of any of the drivers +falling ill or deserting by the way." + +As they walked along towards the head of the long line of waggons Malcolm +closely scrutinized the troopers who formed the escort, but most of them +were young soldiers, and he therefore went on without accosting them +until he reached the head of the column. Here two officers were riding +together, a captain and a young lieutenant. Malcolm saluted the former. + +"I am an old soldier of the 2d Regiment of Scottish Calvary, and am going +with my young friend here, who has relations in the regiment, to join +them. Will you permit us, sir, to journey with your convoy? We are ready, +if needs be, to make ourselves useful in case any of your drivers are +missing, no uncommon thing, as I know, on a long journey." + +The officer asked a few questions about his services, and said: "What +have you been doing since you left, as you say, fourteen years ago?" + +"I have been in Scotland, sir. I took this lad, who was then an infant, +home to my people, having had enough of soldiering, while my brother, his +father, remained with the regiment. We do not know whether he is alive or +dead, but if the former the lad wants to join as a trumpeter, and when +old enough to fight in the ranks." + +"Very well," the officer said. "You can march along with us, and if any +of these fellows desert you shall take their places, and of course draw +their pay." + +It was a short time indeed before Malcolm's services were called into +requisition, for the very first night several of the drivers, who had +been pressed into the service, managed to elude the vigilance of the +guard and slipped away. + +The next morning Malcolm, with Ronald as his assistant, took charge of +one of the heavy waggons, loaded with ammunition, and drawn by twelve +horses. + +"This is better than walking after all, Ronald. In the first place it +saves the legs, and in the second one is partly out of the dust." + +"But I think we should get on faster walking, Malcolm." + +"Yes, if we had no stoppages. But then, you see, as we have no papers we +might be detained for weeks by some pig headed official in a little +country town; besides, we are sure to push on as fast as we can, for they +will want the ammunition before a battle is fought. And after all a few +days won't make much difference to us; the weather is fine, and the +journey will not be unpleasant." + +In fact Ronald enjoyed the next three weeks greatly as the train of +waggons made its way across the plains of Champagne, and then on through +the valleys of Lorraine and Alsace until it reached Strasbourg. Malcolm +had speedily made friends with some of the soldiers of the escort, and of +an evening when the day's work was over he and Ronald sat with them by +the fires they made by the roadside, and Malcolm told tales of the +campaigns in which he had been engaged, and the soldiers sang songs and +chatted over the probabilities of the events of the war. None of them had +served before, having been but a few months taken from their homes in +various parts of France. But although, doubtless, many had at first +regretted bitterly being dragged away to the wars, they were now all +reconciled to their lot, and looked forward eagerly to joining their +regiment, which was at the front, when the duty of looking after the +convoy would be at an end. + +Little was known in Paris as to the position of the contending armies +beyond the fact that Lord Stair, who commanded the English army, sixteen +thousand strong, which had for the last year been lying inactive in +Flanders, had marched down with his Hanoverian allies towards the Maine, +and that the Duc de Noailles with sixty thousand men was lying beyond the +Rhine. But at Strasbourg they learned that the French army had marched +north to give battle to Lord Stair, who had at present with him but +twenty-eight thousand men, and was waiting to be joined by twelve +thousand Hanoverians and Hessians who were on their way. + +The convoy continued its journey, pushing forward with all speed, and on +the 26th of July joined the army of De Noailles. The French were on the +south side of the river, but having arrived on its banks before the +English they had possession of the bridges. As soon as the waggons had +joined the army, Malcolm obtained from the officer commanding the escort +a discharge, saying that he and Ronald had fulfilled their engagement as +drivers with the waggons to the front, and were now at liberty to return +to France. + +"Now we are our own masters again, Ronald," Malcolm said. "I have taken +part in a good many battles, but have never yet had the opportunity of +looking on at one comfortably. De Noailles should lose no time in +attacking, so as to destroy the English before they receive their +reinforcements. As he holds the bridges he can bring on the battle when +he likes, and I think that tomorrow or next day the fight will take +place." + +It was known in the camp that evening that the English had established +their chief magazines at Hanau, and were marching up the river towards +Aschaffenburg. In the early morning a portion of the French troops +crossed the river at that town, and took up a strong position there. +Ronald and Malcolm climbed a hill looking down upon the river from the +south side, and thence commanded the view of the ground across which the +English were marching. On the eastern side of the river spurs of the +Spessart Mountains came down close to its bank, inclosing a narrow flat +between Aschaffenburg and Dettingen. At the latter place the heights +approached so closely to the river as to render it difficult for an army +to pass between them. While posting a strong force at Aschaffenburg to +hold the passage across a stream running into the Maine there, De +Noailles marched his main force down the river; these movements were +hidden by the nature of the ground from the English, who were advancing +unconscious of their danger towards Dettingen. + +"De Noailles will have them in a trap," Malcolm said, for from their +position on the hill they could see the whole ground on the further bank, +Hanau lying some seven miles beyond Dettingen, which was itself less than +seven miles from Aschaffenburg. + +"I am afraid so," Ronald said. + +"Afraid!" Malcolm repeated. "Why, you should rejoice, Ronald." + +"I can't do that," Ronald replied. "I should like to see the Stuarts +instead of the Hanoverians reigning over us; but after all, Malcolm, +England and Scotland are one nation." + +"But there are Scotch regiments with the French army, and a brigade of +Irish." + +"That may be," Ronald said. "Scotchmen who have got into political +trouble at home may enter the service of France, and may fight heartily +against the Germans or the Flemings, or other enemies of France; but I +know that I should feel very reluctant to fight against the English army, +except, of course, at home for the Stuarts." + +"It will benefit the Stuarts' cause if the English are defeated here," +Malcolm said. + +"That may be or it may not.," Ronald replied. "You yourself told me that +Louis cared nothing for the Stuarts, and would only aid them in order to +cripple the English strength at home. Therefore, if he destroys the +English army here he will have less cause to fear England and so less +motive for helping the Chevalier." + +"That is true enough," Malcolm agreed. "You are fast becoming a +politician, Ronald. Well, I will look on as a neutral then, because, +although the English are certainly more nearly my countrymen than are the +French, you must remember that for twelve years I fought under the French +flag. However, there can be no doubt what is going to take place. See, +the dark mass of the English army are passing through the defile of +Dettingen, and the French have begun to cross at Seligenstadt in their +rear. See, they are throwing three or four bridges across the river +there." + +In utter ignorance of their danger the English marched on along the +narrow plain by the river bank towards Aschaffenburg. + +"Look at their cavalry scouting ahead of them," Malcolm said. "There, the +French are opening fire!" And as he spoke puffs of musketry rose up from +the line of the stream held by the French. + +The English cavalry galloped back, but the columns of infantry still +advanced until within half a mile of the French position, and were there +halted, while some guns from the French lines opened fire. The bridges at +Seligenstadt were now completed, and masses of troops could be seen +pouring over. King George and the Duke of Cumberland had joined the Earl +of Stair just as the army passed through Dettingen, and were riding at +the head of the column when the French fire opened. A short time was +spent in reconnoitring the position of the enemy in front. The English +believed that the entire French army was there opposed to them, and that +the advance of the army into Franconia, which was its main objective was +therefore barred. After a short consultation it was resolved to fall back +at once upon the magazines at Hanau, which, from their ignorance of the +near proximity of the French, had been left but weakly guarded. Believing +that as they fell back they would be hotly pursued by the French army, +the king took the command of the rear as the post of danger, and the +columns, facing about, marched towards Dettingen. + +But the French had been beforehand with them. De Noailles had sent 23,000 +men under his nephew the Duke de Grammont across the river to occupy +Dettingen. He himself with his main army remained on the south side, with +his artillery placed so as to fire across the river upon the flank of the +English as they approached Dettingen; while he could march up and cross +at Aschaffenburg should the English, after being beaten back at +Dettingen, try to retreat up the river. + +De Grammont's position was a very strong one behind a swamp and a deep +ravine hollowed out by a stream from the hill. There seemed no +possibility of escape for the English army, who were as yet absolutely in +ignorance of the position of the French. As the head of the column +approached Dettingen, Grammont's artillery opened upon them in front, +while that of De Noailles smote them in flank. As soon as the king found +that his retreat was cut off he galloped from the rear of the column to +its head. His horse, alarmed by the fire of the artillery and whistling +of balls, ran away with him, and was with difficulty stopped just as he +reached the head of the column. He at once dismounted and announced his +intention of leading his troops on foot. + +There was a hasty council held between him, Lord Stair, and the Duke of +Cumberland, and it was agreed that the only escape from entire +destruction was by fighting their way through the force now in front of +them. This would indeed have been impossible had De Grammont held his +position; but when that officer saw the English troops halt he believed +he had only the advanced guard in front of him, and resolving to +overwhelm these before their main body arrived, he abandoned his strong +position, led the troops across the swamp, and charged the English in +front. + +De Noailles, from the opposite bank, seeing the error his nephew had +made, hurried his troops towards the bridges in order to cross the river +and render him assistance; but it was too late. + +The English infantry, headed by the king in person, hurled themselves +upon the troops of De Grammont. + +Every man felt that the only hope of escape from this trap into which +they had fallen lay in cutting their way through the enemy, and so +furiously did they fight that De Grammont's troops were utterly +overthrown, and were soon in full flight towards the bridges in the rear, +hotly pursued by the English. Before they could reach the bridges they +left behind them on the field six thousand killed and wounded. King +George, satisfied with his success, and knowing that the French army was +still greatly superior to his own, wisely determined to get out of his +dangerous position as soon as possible, and pushed on that night to +Hanau. + +Although Malcolm and Ronald were too far off to witness the incidents of +the battle, they made out the tide of war rolling away from them, and saw +the black masses of troops pressing on through Dettingen in spite of the +French artillery which thundered from the opposite bank of the river. + +"They have won!" Ronald said, throwing up his cap. "Hurrah, Malcolm! +Where is the utter destruction of the English now? See, the plain beyond +Dettingen is covered by a confused mass of flying men. The English have +broken out of the trap, and instead of being crushed have won a great +victory." + +"It looks like it certainly," Malcolm said. "I would not have believed it +if I had not seen it; their destruction seemed certain. And now let us go +round to the camp again." + +On their way down Malcolm said: + +"I think, on the whole, Ronald, that you are perhaps right, and the +French defeat will do good rather than harm to the Stuart cause. Had they +conquered, Louis would have been too intent on pushing forward his own +schemes to care much for the Stuarts. He has no real interest in them, +and only uses them as cat's paws to injure England. If he had beaten the +English and Hanoverians he would not have needed their aid. As it is, it +seems likely enough that he will try to create a diversion, and keep the +English busy at home by aiding the Stuarts with men and money to make a +landing in Scotland." + +"In that case, Malcolm, we need not grieve over the defeat today. You +know my sympathies are with the brave Empress of Austria rather than with +her enemies, and this defeat should go far towards seating her securely +on the throne. Now, what will you do, Malcolm? Shall we try and find my +father's friends at once?" + +"Nor for another few days," Malcolm said. "Just after a defeat men are +not in the best mood to discuss bygone matters. Let us wait and see what +is done next." + +The next morning a portion of the French army which had not been engaged +crossed the river and collected the French and English wounded, for the +latter had also been left behind. They were treated by the French with +the same care and kindness that was bestowed upon their own wounded. De +Noailles was about to advance against the English at Hanau, when he +received the news that the French army in Bavaria had been beaten back by +Prince Charles, and had crossed the Rhine into Alsace. As he would now be +exposed to the whole brunt of the attack of the allies he decided to +retreat at once. + +The next day the retreat recommenced. Many of the drivers had fled at the +first news of the defeat, and Malcolm without question assumed the post +of driver of one of the abandoned teams. For another week the army +retired, and then crossing the Rhine near Worms were safe from pursuit. + +"Now, Ronald, I will look up the old regiment, and we will see what is to +be done." + +The 2d Scotch Dragoons were posted in a little village a mile distant +from the main camp which had now been formed. Malcolm did nor make any +formal transfer of the waggon to the authorities, thinking it by no means +improbable that they would insist upon his continuing his self adopted +avocation as driver; but after seeing to the horses, which were picketed +with a long line of transport animals, he and Ronald walked quietly away +without any ceremony of adieu. + +"We must not come back again here," he said, "for some of the teamsters +would recognize me as having been driving lately, and I should have hard +work to prove that I was not a deserter; we must take to the old regiment +now as long as we are here." + +On reaching the village they found the street full of troopers, who were +busy engaged in cleaning their arms, grooming their horses, and removing +all signs of weather and battle. Ronald felt a thrill of pleasure at +hearing his native language spoken. He had now so far improved the +knowledge of French as to be able to converse without difficulty, for +Malcolm had from his childhood tried to keep up his French, and had +lately always spoken in that language to him, unless it was necessary to +speak in English in order to make him understand. + +These occasions had become more and more rare, and two months of constant +conversation with Malcolm and others had enabled Ronald by this time to +speak with some fluency in the French tongue. None of the soldiers paid +any attention to the newcomers, whose dress differed in no way from that +of Frenchmen, as after the shipwreck they had, of course, been obliged to +rig themselves out afresh. Malcolm stopped before an old sergeant who was +diligently polishing his sword hilt. + +"And how fares it with you all these years, Angus Graeme?" + +The sergeant almost dropped his sword in his surprise at being so +addressed in his own tongue by one whose appearance betokened him a +Frenchman. + +"You don't know me, Angus," Malcolm went on with a smile; "and yet you +ought to, for if it hadn't been for me the sword of the German hussar who +carved that ugly scar across your cheek would have followed it up by +putting an end to your soldiering altogether." + +"Heart alive, but it's Malcolm Anderson! Eh, man, but I am glad to see +you! I thought you were dead years ago, for I have heard nae mair of you +since the day when you disappeared from among us like a spook, the same +day that puir Colonel Leslie was hauled off to the Bastille. A sair day +was that for us a'! And where ha' ye been all the time?" + +"Back at home, Angus, at least in body, for my heart's been with the old +regiment. And who, think you, is this? But you must keep a close mouth, +man, for it must nor be talked of. This is Leslie's son. By his father's +last order I took him off to Scotland with me to be out of reach of his +foes, and now I have brought him back again to try if between us we can +gain any news of his father." + +"You don't say so, Malcolm! I never as much heard that the colonel had a +son, though there was some talk in the regiment that he had married a +great lady, and that it was for that that he had been hid away in prison. +And this is Leslie's boy! Only to think, now! Well, young sir, there +isn't a man in the regiment but wad do his best for your father's son, +for those who have joined us since, and in truth that's the great part of +us, have heard many a tale of Colonel Leslie, though they may not have +served under him, and not a tale but was to his honour, for a braver +officer nor a kinder one never stepped the earth. But come inside, +Malcolm. I have got a room to myself and a stoup of good wine; let's talk +over things fair and gentle, and when I know what it is that you want you +may be sure that I will do all I can, for the sake baith of the colonel +and of you, auld comrade." + +The trio were soon seated in the cottage, and Malcolm then gave a short +sketch of all that had taken place since he had left the regiment. + +"Well, well!" the sergeant said when he had ended; "and so the lad, young +as he is, has already drawn his sword for the Stuarts, and takes after +his father in loyalty as well as in looks, for now that I know who he is +I can see his father's face in his plain enough; and now for your plans, +Malcolm." + +"Our plans must be left to chance, Angus. We came hither to see whether +any of the colonel's friends are still in the regiment, and to learn from +them whether they have any news whatever of him; and secondly, whether +they can tell us aught of his mother." + +"Ay, there are six or eight officers still in the regiment who served +with him. Hume is our colonel now; you will remember him, Malcolm, well, +for he was captain of our troop; and Major Macpherson was a captain too. +Then there are Oliphant, and Munroe, and Campbell, and Graham, all of +whom were young lieutenants in your time, and are now old captains of +troops." + +"I will see the colonel and Macpherson," Malcolm said; "if they do not +know, the younger men are not likely to. Will you go along with us, +Angus, and introduce me, though Hume is like enough to remember me, +seeing that I was so much with Leslie?" + +"They will be dining in half an hour," the sergeant said; "we'll go after +they have done the meal. It's always a good time to talk with men when +they are full, and the colonel will have no business to disturb him then. +Our own dinner will be ready directly; I can smell a goose that I picked +up, as it might be by accident, at the place where we halted last night. +There are four or five of us old soldiers who always mess together when +we are not on duty with our troops, and if I mistake not, you will know +every one of them, and right glad they will be to see you; but of course +I shall say no word as to who the lad is, save that he is a friend of +yours." + +A few minutes later four other sergeants dropped in, and there was a +joyful greeting between them and Malcolm as soon as they recognized his +identity. The meal was a jovial one, as old jokes and old reminiscences +were recalled. After an hour's sitting Angus said: + +"Pass round the wine, lads, till we come back again. I am taking Anderson +to the colonel, who was captain of his troop. We are not likely to be +long, and when we come back we will make a night of it in honour of old +times, or I am mistaken." + +On leaving the cottage they waited for a while until they saw the colonel +and major rise from beside the fire round which, with the other officers, +they had been taking their meal, and walk to the cottage which they +shared between them. Angus went up and saluted. + +"What is it, Graeme?" the colonel asked. + +"There's one here who would fain have a talk with you. It is Malcolm +Anderson, whom you may remember as puir Colonel Leslie's servant, and as +being in your own troop, and he has brought one with him concerning whom +he will speak to you himself." + +"Of course I remember Anderson," the colonel said. "He was devoted to +Leslie. Bring him in at once. What can have brought him out here again +after so many years? Been getting into some trouble at home, I suppose? +He was always in some scrape or other when he was in the regiment, for, +though he was a good soldier, he was as wild and reckless a blade as any +in the regiment. You remember him, Macpherson?" + +"Yes, I remember him well," the major said. "The colonel was very fond of +him, and regarded him almost as a brother." + +A minute later Angus ushered Malcolm and Ronald into the presence of the +two officers, who had now taken seats in the room which served as kitchen +and sitting room to the cottage, which was much the largest in the +village. + +"Well, Anderson, I am glad to see you again," Colonel Hume said, rising +and holding out his hand. "We have often spoken of you since the day you +disappeared, saying that you were going on a mission for the colonel, and +have wondered what the mission was, and how it was that we never heard of +you again." + +"I came over to Paris four years later, colonel, but the regiment was +away in Flanders, and as I found out from others what I had come to +learn, there was no use in my following you. As to the colonel's mission, +it was this;" and he put his hand on Ronald's shoulder. + +"What do you mean, Anderson?" the colonel asked in surprise. + +"This is Colonel Leslie's son, sir. He bade me fetch him straight away +from the folk with whom he was living and take him off to Scotland so as +to be out of reach of his foes, who would doubtless have made even +shorter work with him than they did with the colonel." + +"Good heavens!" the colonel exclaimed; "this is news indeed. So poor +Leslie left a child and this is he! My lad," he said, taking Ronald's +hand, "believe me that anything that I can do for you, whatever it be, +shall be done, for the sake of your dear father, whom I loved as an elder +brother." + +"And I too," the major said. "There was not one of us but would have +fought to the death for Leslie. And now sit down, my lad, while Anderson +tells us your story." + +Malcolm began at the account of the charge which Colonel Leslie had +committed to him, and the manner in which he had fulfilled it. He told +them how he had placed the child in the care of his brother, he himself +having no fixed home of his own, and how the lad had received a solid +education, while he had seen to his learning the use of his sword, so +that he might be able to follow his father's career. He then told them +the episode of the Jacobite agent, and the escape which had been effected +in the Thames. + +"You have done well, Anderson," the colonel said when he had concluded; +"and if ever Leslie should come to see his son he will have cause to +thank you, indeed, for the way in which you have carried out the charge +he committed to you, and he may well be pleased at seeing him grown up +such a manly young fellow. As to Leslie himself, we know not whether he +be alive or dead. Every interest was made at the time to assuage his +majesty's hostility, but the influence of the Marquis of Recambours was +too strong, and the king at last peremptorily forbade Leslie's name being +mentioned before him. You see, although the girl's father was, of course, +at liberty to bestow her hand on whomsoever he pleased, he had, with the +toadyism of a courtier, asked the king's approval of the match with +Chateaurouge, which, as a matter of course, he received. His majesty, +therefore, chose to consider it as a personal offence against himself +that this Scottish soldier of fortune should carry off one of the richest +heiresses of France, whose hand he had himself granted to one of his +peers. At the same rime I cannot but think that Leslie still lives, for +had he been dead we should assuredly have heard of the marriage of his +widow with some one else. The duke has, of course, long since married, +and report says that the pair are ill-matched; but another husband would +speedily have been found for the widow." + +"Since the duke has married," Ronald said, "he should no longer be so +bitter against my father, and perhaps after so long an imprisonment the +king might be moved to grant his release." + +"As the duke's marriage is an unhappy one, I fear that you cannot count +upon his hostility to your father being in any way lessened, as he would +all the more regret the interference with his former plans." + +"Have you any idea where my mother is, sir?" + +"None," the colonel said. "But that I might find out for you. I will give +you a letter to the Count de Noyes, who is on intimate terms with the +Archbishop of Paris, who would, no doubt, be able to tell him in which +convent the lady is residing. You must not be too sanguine, my poor boy, +of seeing her, for it is possible that she has already taken the veil. +Indeed, if your father has died, and she has still refused to accept any +suitor whom the marquis may have found for her, you may be sure that she +has been compelled to take the veil, as her estates would then revert to +the nearest kinsman. This may, for aught we know, have happened years +ago, without a word of it being bruited abroad, and the affair only known +to those most concerned. However, we must look at the best side. We shall +be able, doubtless, to learn through the archbishop whether she is still +merely detained in the convent or has taken the veil, and you can then +judge accordingly whether your father is likely to be alive or dead. But +as to your obtaining an interview with your mother, I regard it as +impossible in the one case as the other. + +"At any rate it is of the highest importance that it should not be known +that you are in France. If it is proved that your father is dead and your +mother is secluded for life, we must then introduce you to her family, +and try and get them to bring all their influence to bear to have you +acknowledged openly as the legitimate heir of the marquis, and to obtain +for you the succession to at least a portion of his estates -- say to +that of those which she brought him as her dowry. In this you may be sure +that I and every Scottish gentleman in the army will give you all the aid +and influence we can bring to bear." + +Ronald warmly thanked Colonel Hume for his kindness, and the next day, +having received the letter to the Count de Noyes, set out for Paris with +Malcolm. On his arrival there he lost no time in calling upon the count, +and presenting his letter of introduction. + +The count read it through twice without speaking. + +"My friend Colonel Hume," he said at last, "tells me that you are the +son, born in lawful wedlock, of Colonel Leslie and Amelie de Recambours. +I am aware of the circumstances of the case, being distantly related to +the lady's family, and will do that which Colonel Hume asks me, namely, +discover the convent in which she is living. But I warn you, young man, +that your position here is a dangerous one, and that were it known that +Colonel Leslie's son is alive and in France, I consider your life would +not be worth a day's purchase. When powerful people are interested in the +removal of anyone not favoured with powerful protection the matter is +easily arranged. There are hundreds of knives in Paris whose use can be +purchased for a few crowns, of if seclusion be deemed better than +removal, a king's favourite can always obtain a lettre-de-cachet, and a +man may linger a lifetime in prison without a soul outside the walls +knowing of his existence there. + +"You are an obstacle to the plans of a great noble, and that is in France +a fatal offence. Your wisest course, young man, would be to efface +yourself, to get your friend Colonel Hume to obtain for you a commission +in his regiment, and to forget for ever that you are the son of Colonel +Leslie and Amelie de Recambours. However, in that you will doubtless +choose for yourself; but believe me my advice is good. At any rate I will +do what my friend Colonel Hume asks me, and will obtain for you the name +of the convent where your mother is living. I do not see that you will be +any the better off when you have it, for assuredly you will nor be able +to obtain permission to see her. However, that again is your affair. If +you will give me the address where you are staying in Paris I will write +to you as soon as I obtain the information. Do not be impatient, the +archbishop himself may be in ignorance on the point; but I doubt not, +that to oblige me, he will obtain the information from the right quarter. + +A week later, Ronald, on returning one day to Le Soldat Ecossais, found a +note awaiting him. It contained only the words: + +"She has not taken the veil; she is at the convent of Our Lady at Tours." + +The next morning Ronald and Malcolm set out on their journey to Tours. + + + +CHAPTER VI: The Convent of Our Lady. + + +Arrived at Tours, Malcolm took a quiet lodging in a retired street. +Colonel Hume had furnished him with a regular discharge, testifying that +the bearer, Malcolm Anderson, had served his time in the 2d Scotch +Dragoons, and was now discharged as being past service, and that he +recommended him as a steady man for any employment for which he might be +suited. Malcolm showed this document to his landlord in order that the +latter might, as required by law, duly give notice to the police of the +name and occupation of his lodger, and at the same time mentioned that +the relations of his wife lived near Tours, and that he hoped through +them to be able to obtain some sort of employment. + +As soon as they were settled in their lodgings they went out, and after a +few inquiries found themselves in front of the convent of Our Lady. It +was a massive building, in a narrow street near the river, to which its +grounds, surrounded by a high wall, extended. None of the windows of the +building looked towards the street, upon which the massive gate, with a +small wicket entrance, opened. + +"What building is this?" Malcolm, in a careless tone, asked a woman who +was sitting knitting at her door nearly opposite the entrance. "I am a +stranger in Tours." + +"That needs no telling," the woman replied, "or you would have known that +that is the convent of Our Lady, one of the richest in Touraine, and they +say in all France. Though what they do with their riches is more than I +can tell, seeing that the rules are of the strictest, and that no one +ever comes beyond the gates. They have their own grounds down to the +river, and there is a walk along the wall there where they take the air +of an evening when the weather is fine. Poor things, I pity them from my +soul." + +"But I suppose they all came willingly," Malcolm said; "so there is no +need for pity." + +"I don't know about willingly," the woman said. "I expect most of them +took the veil rather than marry the men their fathers provided for them, +or because they were in the way of someone who wanted their lands, or +because their lovers had been killed in the war, just as if grief for a +lover was going to last one's life. Besides, they are not all sisters. +They say there's many a lady of good family shut up there till she will +do her father's will. 'Well, well,' I often says to myself, 'they may +have all the riches of France inside those walls, but I would rather sit +knitting at my door here than have a share of them.'" + +"You are a wise woman," Malcolm said. "There is nothing like freedom. +Give me a crust, and a sod for my pillow, rather than gold plates inside +a prison. I have been a soldier all my life, and have had my share of +hard knocks; but I never grumbled so long as I was on a campaign, though +I often found it dull work enough when in garrison." + +"Oh, you have been a soldier! I have a brother in the regiment of +Touraine. Perhaps you know him?" + +"I know the regiment of Touraine," Malcolm said; "and there are no braver +set of men in the king's service. What is his name?" + +"Pierre Pitou. I have not heard of him for the last two years. He is a +tall man, and broad, with a scar over the left eye." + +"To be sure, to be sure!" Malcolm said. "Of course, Pierre Pitou is one +of my best friends; and now I think of it, madam, I ought to know without +asking, so great is his resemblance to you. Why, his last words to me +were, 'If you go to Tours, seek out my sister, who lives in a house +nearly opposite the entrance to the convent of Our Lady;' and to think I +should have forgotten all about it till I saw you!" + +Malcolm remained for a quarter of an hour chatting with the woman about +her brother, and then, promising to call again the next day in the +evening to be introduced to her husband, he rejoined Ronald, who had been +waiting at the corner of the lane, and had been fidgeting with impatience +at the long interview between Malcolm and the woman. + +"What have you been talking about all this time, Malcolm, and what could +you have to say to a stranger?" + +"I have been telling her all about her brother, Pierre Pitou of the +Touraine regiment, and how he distinguished himself at Dettingen, and +will surely be made a sergeant, with a hope some day of getting to be a +captain. I have quite won her heart." + +"But who is Pierre Pitou, and when did you know him?" Ronald asked +surprised. + +"He is a tall man with broad shoulders and a scar over his left eye," +Malcolm said laughing, and he then related the whole conversation. + +"But why did you pretend to this poor woman that you knew her brother?" + +"Because she may be very useful to us, Ronald; and if you can't find a +friend in court, it's just as well to have one near court. She is a +gossiping woman, and like enough she may know some of the lay sisters, +who are, in fact, the servants of the convent, and come out to buy +supplies of food and other things, and who distribute the alms among the +poor. I don't know what advantage will come of it yet, Ronald; but I can +see I have done a great stroke of business, and feel quite an affection +for my friend Pierre Pitou." + +Malcolm followed up the acquaintance he had made, and soon established +himself as a friend of the family. Ronald did not accompany him on any of +his visits, for as the plan of proceeding was still undecided, he and +Malcolm agreed that it was better that he should not show himself until +some favourable opportunity offered. + +Sometimes towards evening he and Malcolm would take a boat and float down +the stream past the convent walls, and Ronald would wonder which of the +figures whose heads he could perceive as they walked upon the terrace, +was that of his mother. It was not until Malcolm had become quite at home +with Madame Vipon that he again turned the conversation towards the +convent. He learned that she had often been inside the walls, for before +her marriage she had worked at a farm whence the convent drew a portion +of its supplies; milk, butter, and eggs, and she had often carried +baskets to the convent. + +"Of course I never went beyond the outer court," she said; "but Farmer +Miron's daughter -- it was he owned the farm -- is a lay sister there. +She was crossed in love, poor girl. She liked Andre, the son of a +neighbouring farmer, but it was but a small place by the side of that of +Miron, and her father would not hear of it, but wanted her to marry +Jacques Dubois, the rich miller, who was old enough to be her father. +Andre went to the wars and was killed; and instead of changing when the +news came, as her father expected, and taking up with the miller, she +hated him worse than ever, and said that he was the cause of Andre's +death; so the long and short of it was, she came as a lay sister to the +convent here. Of course she never thought of taking the vows, for to do +that here one must be noble and be able to pay a heavy dowry to the +convent. + +"So she is just a lay sister, a sort of servant, you know, but she is a +favourite and often goes to market for them, and when she does she +generally drops in here for a few minutes for a talk; for though she was +only a child when I was at the farm we were great friends, and she hears +from me how all the people she used to know are getting on." + +"I suppose she knows all the ladies who reside in the convent as well as +the sisters?" + +"Oh, yes, and much better than the sisters! It is on them she waits. She +does not see much of the sisters, who keep to their own side of the +house, and have very little to do with the visitors, or as one might call +them the prisoners, for that is what most of them really are." + +"Now I think of it," Malcolm said, "one of the officers I served under +had a relation, a lady, whom I have heard him say, when he was talking to +another officer, is shut up here, either because she wouldn't marry some +one her father didn't want her to, I forget exactly what it was now. Let +me see, what was her name. Elise -- no, that wasn't it. Amelie -- Amelie +de Recambours -- yes, that was it." + +"Oh, yes, I know the name! I have heard Jeanne speak of her. Jeanne said +it was whispered among them that she had really married somebody against +her father's will. At any rate she has been there ever so many years, and +they have not made her take the veil, as they do most of them if they are +obstinate and won't give way. Poor thing! Jeanne says she is very pretty +still, though she must be nearly forty now." + +"That is very interesting," Malcolm said; "and if you will not mind, +Madam Vipon, I will write to the officer of whom I spoke and tell him his +cousin is alive and well. I was his servant in the regiment, and I know, +from what I have heard him say, he was very much attached to her. There +can be no harm in that, you know," he said, as Madam Vipon looked +doubtful; "but if you would prefer it, of course I will not say how I +have heard." + +"Yes, that will be better," she agreed. "There is never any saying how +things come round; and though there's no harm in what I have told you, +still it's ill gossiping about what takes place inside convent walls." + +"I quite agree with you, my dear Madam Vipon, and admire your discretion. +It is singular how you take after your brother. Pierre Pitou had the +reputation of being the most discreet man in the regiment of Touraine." + +Ronald was very excited when he heard from Malcolm that he had actually +obtained news at second hand as to his mother, and it was with difficulty +that his friend persuaded him to allow matters to go on as he proposed. + +"It will never do to hurry things now, Ronald; everything is turning out +beyond our expectations. A fortnight ago it seemed absolutely hopeless +that you should communicate with your mother; now things are in a good +train for it." + +Accordingly Malcolm made no further allusion to the subject to Madame +Vipon until a fortnight had passed; then he said, on calling on her one +day: + +"Do you know, my dear Madam Vipon, I have had a letter from the gentleman +of whom I was speaking to you. He is full of gratitude at the news I sent +him. I did not tell him from whom I had heard the news, save that it was +from one of the kindest of women, the sister of an old comrade of mine. +He has sent me this" -- and he took out a small box which he opened, and +showed a pretty gold broach, with earrings to match -- "and bid me to +give it in his name to the person who had sent him this good news." + +"That is beautiful," Madam Vipon said, clapping her hands; "and I have so +often wished for a real gold broach! Won't my husband open his eyes when +he sees them!" + +"I think, if I might advise, my dear madam," Malcolm said, "I should not +give him the exact history of them. He might take it into his head that +you had been gossiping, although there is no woman in the world less +given to gossiping than you are. Still, you know what husbands are. +Therefore, if I were you I would tell him that your brother Pierre had +sent them to you through me, knowing, you see, that you could not have +read a letter even if he could have written one." + +"Yes, perhaps that would be the best," Madam Vipon said; "but you had +better write to Pierre and tell him. Otherwise when he comes home, and my +husband thanks him for them, he might say he had never sent them, and +there would be a nice affair." + +"I will do so," Malcolm said; "but in any case I am sure your wit would +have come to the rescue, and you would have said that you had in fact +bought them from your savings; but that thinking your husband might +grumble at your little economies you had thought it best to say that they +came from your brother." + +"Oh, fie, monsieur; I am afraid you are teaching me to tell stories." + +"That is a very hard word, my dear madam. You know as well as I do that +without a little management on both sides husbands and wives would never +get on well together; but now I want to tell you more. Not only does my +old master write to say how glad he is to hear of his cousin's welfare, +but he has told me a great deal more about the poor lady, and knowing +your kindness of heart I do not hesitate to communicate the contents of +his letter to you. The Countess Amelie de Recambours was secretly married +to a young officer, a great friend of my late master, and her father did +not discover it until after the birth of a child -- a boy. Then she was +shut up here. The father got the boy safely away to Scotland, but he has +now come back to France. I do not suppose the poor lady has ever heard of +her little son since, and it would be an act of kindness and mercy to let +her know that he is alive and well." + +"Yes, indeed, poor creature," Madame Vipon said sympathetically. "Only to +think of being separated from your husband, and never hearing of your +child for all these years!" + +"I knew your tender heart would sympathize with her," Malcolm said; "she +is indeed to be pitied." + +"And what became of her husband?" + +"I fancy he died years ago; but my master says nothing about him. He only +writes of the boy, who it seems is so delighted with the news about his +mother that he is coming here to see if it is possible to have an +interview with her." + +"But it is not possible," Madam Vipon exclaimed. "How can he see her, +shut up as she is in that convent?" + +"Yes, it is difficult," Malcolm agreed; "but nothing is impossible, my +dear madam, when a woman of heart like yourself takes a matter in hand; +and I rely, I can tell you, greatly on your counsel; as to your goodwill, +I am assured of that beforehand." + +"But it is quite, quite, quite impossible, I assure you, my good Monsieur +Anderson." + +"Well, let us see. Now I know that you would suggest that the first +measure to be taken is to open communication between mother and son, and +there I heartily agree with you." + +"That would be the first thing of course, monsieur; but how is that to be +done?" + +"Now that is where I look to you, madam. Your friend Jeanne waits upon +her, you see, and I know your quick wit will already have perceived that +Jeanne might deliver a message. I am sure that she would never be your +friend had she not a warm heart like your own, and it will need very +little persuasion on your part, when you have told her this sad story, to +induce her to bring gladness to this unfortunate lady." + +"Yes; but think of the consequences, Monsieur Anderson: think what would +happen if it were found out." + +"Yes, if there were any talk of the countess running away from the +convent I would not on any condition ask you to assist in such a matter; +but what is this -- merely to give a message, a few harmless words." + +"But you said an interview, Monsieur Anderson." + +"An interview only if it is possible, my dear madam, that is quite +another matter, and you know you said that it was quite impossible. All +that we want now is just a little message, a message by word of mouth +which not even the keenest eye can discover or prevent; there can be no +harm in that." + +"No, I don't think there can be much harm in that," Madam Vipon agreed; +"at any rate I will talk to Jeanne. It will be her day for going to +market tomorrow; I will tell her the story of the poor lady, and I think +I can answer beforehand that she will do everything she can." + +The following afternoon Malcolm again saw Madam Vipon, who told him that +although she had not actually promised she had no doubt Jeanne would +deliver the message. + +"She will be out again on Saturday, monsieur, at nine in the morning, and +if you will be here with the boy, if he has arrived by that time, you +shall speak to her." + +At the time appointed Malcolm, with Ronald, attired now as a young French +gentleman, arrived at the house of Madam Vipon, who was warmly thanked by +Ronald for the interest she had taken in him. + +"My friend here has spoken to me in the highest terms of you, Madam +Vipon, and I am sure that all that he has said is no more than the +truth." + +"I am sure I will do all I can," replied Madam Vipon, who was greatly +taken by Ronald's appearance and manner; "it's a cruel thing separating a +mother from a son so many years, and after all what I am doing is no +hanging matter anyway." + +A few minutes later Jeanne entered; she was a pleasant looking woman of +five or six and twenty, and even her sombre attire as a lay sister failed +to give a formal look to her merry face. + +"So these are the gentlemen who want me to become a conspirator," she +said, "and to run the risk of all sorts of punishment and penalties for +meddling in their business?" + +"Not so much my business as the business of my mother," Ronald said. "You +who have such true heart of your own, for madam has told us something of +your story, will, I am sure, feel for that poor lady shut up for fifteen +years, and knowing not whether her child is dead or alive. If we could +but see each other for five minutes, think what joy it would be to her, +what courage her poor heart would take." + +"See each other!" Jeanne repeated surprised. "You said nothing about +that, Francoise; you only said take a message. How can they possibly see +each other? That's a different thing altogether." + +"I want you to take a message first," Ronald said. "If nothing more can +be done that will be very much; but I cannot think but that you and my +mother between you will be able to hit upon some plan by which we might +meet." + +"But how," Jeanne asked in perplexity, "how could it possibly be?" + +"For example," Ronald suggested; "could I not come in as a lay sister? I +am not much taller than you, and could pass very well as a girl." + +Jeanne burst our laughing. + +"You do not know what you are saying, monsieur; it would be altogether +impossible. People do not get taken on as lay sisters in the convent of +Our Lady unless they are known; besides, in other ways it would be +altogether impossible, and even if it were not it might be years before +you could get to speak to the countess, for there are only two or three +of us who ever enter the visitors' rooms; and lastly, if you were found +out I don't know what would be done to both of us. No, that would never +do at all." + +"Well, in the next place, I could climb on to the river terrace at night, +and perhaps she could come and speak to me there." + +"That is more possible," Jeanne said thoughtfully; "but all the doors are +locked up at night." + +"But she might get out of a window," Ronald urged; "with a rope ladder +she could get down, and then return again, and none be the wiser." + +Jeanne sat silent for a minute, and then she asked suddenly: + +"Are you telling me all, monsieur, or are you intending that the countess +shall escape with you?" + +"No, indeed, on my honour!" Ronald exclaimed. "I have nowhere where I +could take my mother. She would be pursued and brought back, and her +position would be far worse than it is now. No; I swear to you that I +only want to see her and to speak to her, and I have nothing else +whatever in my mind." + +"I believe you, monsieur," Jeanne said gravely. "Had it been otherwise I +dare not have helped, for my punishment if I was discovered to have aided +in an escape from the convent would be terrible -- terrible!" she +repeated with a shudder. "As to the other, I will risk it; for a gentler +and kinder lady I have never met. And yet I am sure she must be very, +very brave to have remained firm for so many years. At any rate I will +give her your message." + +Ronald took from a small leather bag, which he wore round his neck, a +tiny gold chain with a little cross. + +"I had this round my neck when I was taken away as a child to Scotland. +No doubt she put it there, and will recognize it. Say to her only: 'He +whom you have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, longing above +all things to speak to you;' that is all my message. Afterwards, if you +will, you can tell her what we have said, and how I long to see her. How +high is her room from the ground? Because if it is high it will be better +that I should climb to her window, than that she should descend and +ascend again." + +Jeanne shook her head. + +"That could not be," she said. "The visitors have all separate cells, but +the partitions do not go up to the ceiling; and even if you entered, not +a word could be spoken without being overheard. But fortunately she is on +the first floor, and I am sure she is not one to shrink from so little a +matter as the descent of a ladder in order to have an interview with her +son." + +That same afternoon as Amelie de Recambours was proceeding from the +refectory to her cell, following several of her fellow captives, her +attendant Jeanne came out from one of the cells. Glancing behind to see +that no one was following, she put her finger on her lips and then +whispered: "Make some excuse not to go into the garden with the others +this evening. It is most important." Then she glided back into the room +from which she had come. + +The countess followed the others in a state of almost bewilderment. For +sixteen years nothing had occurred to break the monotony of her +existence. At first occasional angry messages reached her from her +father, with orders to join an application to the pope for a divorce; but +when it had been found impossible to overcome her steady refusals the +messages had at last ceased, and for years no word from the outer world +had reached her, although she had learned from those who from time to +time came to share her captivity what was passing outside. Whether her +husband was alive or dead she knew not. They had told her over and over +again that he was dead; but the fact that she had never had the option +given her of accepting another husband or taking the final vows kept hope +alive. For she was convinced that if he was really dead, efforts would be +made to compel her to marry again. + +What, then, she wondered to herself, could this communication so secretly +given mean? She regarded the lay sister who attended upon her as a happy +looking young woman whose face was in strong contrast to most of those +within the walls of the convent; but she had exchanged but few words with +her, knowing that she would be but a short time about her. For the policy +of the abbess was to change the attendants upon the ladies in their +charge frequently, in order to prevent them from being tampered with, or +persuaded into conveying communications without the walls. + +"You look pale, Amelie," one of the other ladies said as they gathered in +a group for a moment before proceeding to their respective apartments, +where they were supposed to pass the afternoon in working, reading, and +meditation. + +"It is the heat," the countess said. "I have a headache." + +"You look it," the latter said. "It is not often that you have anything +the matter with you. You know we all say that you must have a +constitution of iron and the courage of a Roland to be sixteen years here +and yet to have no wrinkle on your forehead, no marks of weeping round +your eyes." + +The countess smiled sadly. + +"I wept the first six months almost without ceasing, and then I told +myself that if I would be strong and resist I must weep no more. If a +bird in a cage once takes to pining he is sure not to live long. There +are few of us here the news of whose death would not give pleasure to +those who shut us up, and I for one resolved that I would live in spite +of all." + +"Well, you must not get ill now, Amelie. We should miss you terribly in +the one hour of the day when we really live, the hour when we walk and +talk, and laugh if we can, on the river terrace. + +"I don't think I shall be able to come this evening," the countess said. +"I shall lie down and keep myself quiet. Tomorrow I hope to be myself +again. It is a mere passing indisposition." + +The hours passed slowly as Amelie lay on her couch and wondered over the +coming interview. There were so many things which she might hear -- that +her father was dead; that her family had hopes at last of obtaining her +restoration to the world. That it could be a message from her husband she +had no hope, for so long as her father lived she was sure that his +release would never be granted. As to the child, she scarce gave it a +thought. That it had somehow been removed and had escaped the search that +had been made for it she was aware; for attempts had been made to obtain +from her some clue as to where it would most likely have been taken. She +was convinced that it had never been found, for if it had she would have +heard of it. It would have been used as a lever to work upon her. + +At last the hour when she was accustomed to go into the garden arrived, +and as the convent bell struck seven she heard the doors of the other +cells open, the sound of feet in the corridor, and then all became still. +In a few minutes a step approached, and one of the sisters entered to +inquire why she was not in the garden with the others. + +She repeated that her head ached. + +"You look pale," the sister said, "and your hand is hot and feverish. I +will send you up some tisane. It is the heat, no doubt. I think that we +are going to have thunder." + +In a few minutes a step was again heard approaching, and Jeanne entered +with the medicament. As she closed the door the countess started into a +sitting position. + +"What is it, Jeanne? What is it that you have to say to me?" + +"Calm yourself, I pray you, countess," Jeanne said. "For both our sakes I +pray you to hear what I have to say calmly. I expect Sister Felicia will +be here directly. When she heard you were unwell she said she would come +up and see what you needed. And now, I will begin my message. In the +first place I was to hand you this." And she placed in Amelie's hand the +little necklet and cross. + +For a moment the countess looked at them wonderingly, and then there +flashed across her memory a sturdy child in its nurse's arms, and a tall +man looking on with a loving smile as she fastened a tiny gold chain +round the child's neck. A low cry burst from her lips as she started to +her feet. + +"Hush, lady, hush!" Jeanne exclaimed. "This is my message: 'He whom you +have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, longing above all +things to speak to you.'" + +"My child! my child!" the countess cried. "Alive and here! My God, I +thank thee that thou hast remembered a friendless mother at last. Have +you seen him, Jeanne? What is he like? Oh, tell me everything!" + +"He is a right proper young gentleman, madam. Straight and comely and +tall, with brown waving hair and a bright pleasant face. A son such as +any mother might be proud of." + +The countess suddenly threw her arms around Jeanne's neck and burst into +tears. + +"You have made me so happy, Jeanne; happy as I never thought to be again. +How can I thank you?" + +"The best way at present, madam," Jeanne said with a smile, "will be by +drinking up that tisane, and lying down quietly. Sister Felicia moves +about as noiselessly as a cat, and she may pop in at any moment. Do you +lie down again, and I will stand a little way off talking. Then if she +comes upon us suddenly she will suspect nothing." + +The countess seized the bowl of tisane and drank it off, and then threw +herself on the couch. + +"Go on, Jeanne, go on. Have pity on my impatience. Think how I am longing +to hear of him. Did the message say he was longing to see me? But that is +not possible." + +"It is not quite impossible, madam; though it would be dangerous, very +dangerous. Still it is not quite impossible." + +"How then could it be done, Jeanne? You know what our life is here. How +can I possibly see my boy?" + +"What he proposes, madam, is this: that he should some night scale the +river wall, and await you on the terrace, and that you should descend +from your window by a rope ladder, and so return after seeing him." + +"Oh, yes, that is possible!" the countess exclaimed; "I could knot my bed +clothes and slide down. It matters not about getting back again, since we +have no ladder." + +"I can manage to bring in two light ropes," Jeanne said. "It would not do +for you to be found in the garden, for it would excite suspicion, and you +would never have a chance of doing it again. But it is not an easy thing +to climb up a rope ladder with no one to help you, and you know I shall +be at the other end of the house." + +"That is nothing," the countess said. "Had I to climb ten times the +height, do you think I should hesitate for a moment when it was to see my +son? Oh, Jeanne, how good you are! And when will it be?" + +"I will bring in the ropes next time I go out. Mind and place them in +your bed. You will know that that night at eleven o'clock your son will +be on the terrace awaiting you. + +As Jeanne finished speaking she placed her finger on her lips, for she +thought she heard a slight noise without. The countess closed her eyes +and then lay down on her pillow, while Jeanne stood as if watching her. +The next instant the door opened noiselessly and Sister Felicia entered. +She moved with a noiseless step up to Jeanne. + +"Is she asleep?" she whispered. + +"Oh no!" Jeanne answered in a louder voice, guessing that the sister +would have heard the murmur of voices. "She has only just closed her +eyes." + +The countess looked up. + +"Ah! is it you, sister? I have taken the tisane Sister Angela sent up, +but my hands are burning and my head aches. The heat in chapel was so +great I thought I should have fainted." + +"Your hands are indeed burning," the sister said, convinced, as soon as +she touched them, that the countess was really indisposed. "Yes; and your +pulse is beating quicker than I can count. Yes, you have a touch of +fever. I will mix you a draught and bring it up to you at once. Hark! +that is the first peal of thunder; we are going to have a storm. It will +clear the air, and do you even more good than my medicine. I will leave +you here for tonight; if you are not better tomorrow we will move you +into the infirmary." + +The next morning Sister Felicia found her patient much better, though she +still seemed languid and weak, and was ordered to remain quietly in her +apartment for a day or so, which was just what she desired, for she was +so filled with her new born happiness that she feared that if she went +about her daily tasks as usual she should not be able to conceal from the +sharp eyes of the sisters the joyousness which was brimming over in her, +while had she laughed she would have astonished the inmates of the gloomy +convent. + + + +CHAPTER VII: Mother! + + +When Jeanne, after accomplishing her errands the next time she went out, +entered Madam Vipon's, she found Ronald and Malcolm awaiting her. + +"You have told my mother?" the former asked eagerly as she entered. + +"Yes, I have told her, and if I had been an angel from heaven, with a +special message to her, the poor lady could not have looked more happy." + +"And you have been like an angel to us!" Ronald exclaimed, taking her +hand. "How can I thank you for your goodness?" + +"For shame, sir!" Jeanne said, smiling and colouring as Ronald, in his +delight, threw his arms round her and kissed her. "Remember I am a lay +sister." + +"I could not have helped it," Ronald said, "if you had been the lady +superior. And now," he went on eagerly, "is all arranged? See, I have +brought a ladder of silk rope, light and thin, but quite strong enough to +bear her." + +"You take all for granted then, sir. You know I said I would take your +message, but that I would not engage to meddle further in it." + +"I know you said so; but I was sure that having gone so far you would do +the rest. You will, won't you, Jeanne?" + +"I suppose I must," Jeanne said; "for what with the countess on one side +and you on the other, I should get no peace if I said no. Well, then, it +is all arranged. At eleven o'clock tonight you are to be on the terrace, +and you can expect her there. If she does not come you will know that +something has occurred to prevent her, and she will come the following +night at the same hour." + +Jeanne took the silken cords and wound them round her, under her lay +sister's robe, and then, with a kindly nod at Ronald, and an injunction +to be as noiseless as a mouse in climbing up the terrace, and above all +not to raise his voice in speaking to his mother, she tripped away across +the street to the convent. + +Malcolm and Ronald sallied out from Tours before the city gates were +closed at sunset, and sat down on the slope which rises from the other +side of the river and waited till it was time to carry the plan into +operation. Gradually the lights disappeared from the various windows and +the sounds which came across the water ceased, and by ten o'clock +everything was profoundly still. They had, in the course of the +afternoon, hired a boat, saying they were going out for a night's +fishing. This they had moored a short distance below the town, on the +side of the river where they now were. They now made their way to it and +rowed quietly across the stream; then they left it and waded through the +water, which flowed knee deep at the foot of the walls. + +Although Tours was still a walled town the habit of keeping sentry in +time of peace had long since died out, and they had no fear, at that +hour, of discovery. There was no moon, but the night was bright and +clear, and they had no difficulty in finding that part of the wall which +now formed the terrace of the convent. + +They were provided with a rope knotted at every foot, and with a grapnel +attached to one end. At the second attempt this caught on the parapet of +the wall, and Ronald at once climbed it and stood on the terrace, where, +a minute later, he was joined by Malcolm. The convent itself could not be +seen, for a screen of trees at the foot of the wall shut it off from the +view of people on the opposite bank of the river. They waited quietly +until a sudden peal of the bells of the numerous churches announced that +it was the hour. Then they moved towards the steps leading down into the +garden. A minute later a figure was seen approaching. Malcolm fell back, +and Ronald advanced towards it. As the countess approached she held our +her arms, exclaiming: + +"My boy, my boy!" and with a cry of "Mother!" Ronald sprang forward into +her embrace. + +For a short time not a word was spoken, and then the countess murmured: + +"My God, I thank thee for this great happiness. And now, my son," she +said, recovering herself, "tell me everything. First, have you news of +your father?" + +"Alas, no!" Ronald said. "Nothing has been heard of him since the fatal +day when he was seized; but I am convinced that he is still alive, and +since I have found you, surely I shall be able to find him." + +"Who is that with you, Ronald?" + +"That is Malcolm Anderson; it is to him I owe everything. He carried me +off and took me away with him to Scotland the day my father was arrested. +He has been my best friend ever since, and it is he who brought me here +to you." + +The countess advanced to Malcolm. + +"My son has told me that we owe everything to you, my brave Malcolm!" she +said, holding out her hand. "I guessed that it was to you that my husband +had confided the care of the child when I learned that it had +disappeared. I remember what confidence he had in your devotion, and how +he confided everything to you." + +"He was like a brother to me, madam," Malcolm replied; "and glad indeed +am I that I have been able to befriend his son and to bring him back to +you a gentleman who will be an honour even to his father's name and +yours." + +"And now let us sit down here," the countess said, taking a seat upon a +bench. "It gets light very early, and you must not stay after two +o'clock, and there is so much for me to hear." + +For the next two hours Ronald sat holding his mother's hand, while he +told her the story of his life. "And now, mother," he said, when he had +concluded, "we have but an hour left, for it has just struck one, and we +have not said a word yet about the principal thing of all. How are we to +obtain your freedom? Cannot you arrange to escape with us? I do not, of +course, mean tonight, for we have nothing prepared, and, moreover, I +promised Jeanne that there should be no attempt at escape; but we can +come again when everything is ready. We shall, of course, need a disguise +for you, for there will be a hot pursuit when your escape is known. But +we might manage to reach the coast and cross over to England, and so make +our way north." + +"No, my son," the countess said. "I have thought it over in every way +since I knew you were here, and I am resolved to remain here. Were I to +fly, the last hope that your father might be freed would be lost. My +father would be more than ever incensed against him and me; and, +moreover, although that is but a minor consideration, there would be no +hope whatever of your ever recovering the rank and estate to which you +are entitled. No, I am resolved to wait here, at any rate so long as my +father lives. At his death doubtless there will be some change, for as +heiress to his estates my existence must be in some way recognized, and +my family may be enabled to obtain my release when his powerful +opposition is removed; if not, it will be time to take the idea of flight +into consideration; till then I remain here. Now that I have seen you, +now that I know you as you are, for I can just make out your face by the +light of the stars, I shall be as near contentment and happiness as I can +be till I meet your father again. In the meantime your good friend here +can advise you far better than I can as to what your course had better +be. If you can obtain any high influence, use it for obtaining your +father's release. If it be accompanied by a sentence of exile from France +it matters not, so that he is freed. You can then return here, and I will +gladly fly with you to join him in Scotland." + +Malcolm now rose from his seat and left mother and son half an hour +together. When two o'clock struck he returned to them. + +"There is the signal," the countess said, rising, "and now we must part." +She had already refused to accede to Ronald's entreaty that she would +meet him there again. + +"No, my son, we have been permitted to meet this once, but we must not +tempt fortune again. Sooner or later something would be sure to occur +which would lead to discovery, and bring ruin upon all our plans. It is +hard to say no, and to refuse the chance of seeing you again now that we +have come together, but I am fully resolved that I will not risk it." + +"We will see you safe up the ladder, mother," Ronald said. "It is no easy +matter to climb up a rope ladder swinging loosely." + +"No, I discovered that in descending," the countess said; "but if you +come with me you must take off your boots -- the print of a man's +footstep in the garden would ruin us all; and mind, not a word must be +spoken when we have once left the terrace." + +Taking off their boots they accompanied her through the garden. There was +a last passionate embrace at the foot of the ladder, then the countess +mounted it while they held it steady. Directly she entered the window she +undid the fastening of the rope inside and let the ladder drop down to +them. Five minutes later Ronald descended the rope into the river. +Malcolm shifted the grapnel so that it caught only on the edge of the +parapet and could be shaken off from below when the strain on the rope +was removed, then he slid down to Ronald's side. A sharp jerk brought +down the grapnel, and they returned along the edge of the river as they +had come, crossed in the boat, and waited for morning. + +They waited two days longer in Tours in order that they might receive, +through Jeanne from the countess, a list of the noble families to which +she was related, with notes as to those persons of whom she had seen most +before her marriage, and who she believed would be most disposed to exert +their influence on her behalf. + +"Jeanne," Ronald said, "I am troubled that I do not know what I can do to +show you how grateful I am. I should so like to give you some souvenir, +but what can I do -- you could not wear brooches, or earrings, or +trinkets." + +"That I could not, monsieur," Jeanne broke in with a smile; "and if I +could I would not accept them from you. I have done what I have done +because I pitied your mother and you, and I am content that if I have +broken the rules I have done it with a good purpose." + +"Well, Jeanne," Ronald said, "you may not be a lay sister all your life; +you have taken no vows that will bind you for ever, and I have no doubt +that the lady superior can absolve you from your engagements should you +at any time wish to go back to the world; if so, and if I am still in +France, I will come to dance at your wedding, and will promise you as +pretty a necklace and earrings as are to be found in Touraine." + +"Very well, that is a bargain," Jeanne said laughing; "and it is not +impossible, young sir, that some day I may hold you to your promise, for +only last market day I met my father, and he spoke more kindly to me than +he used to, and even said that he missed me; and I hear that the miller +has found someone who will put up with him for the sake of his money. I +shouldn't be surprised if, when that comes off, father wants me home +again; but I sha'n't go directly he asks me, you may be sure, but shall +bargain that if there be again any question of a husband it will be for +me to decide and not him." + +The next day Ronald and his companion started for Paris. They were highly +gratified with the success which had attended them, and Ronald felt his +whole life brightened now that he had found the mother who had been so +long lost to him. On arriving at Paris they found that Colonel Hume's +regiment had returned to the capital. It was not expected that there +would at present be any further fighting on the frontier, and two or +three of the Scotch regiments had been brought back. Ronald at once +called on Colonel Hume and related to him the success which had attended +the first portion of his undertaking. + +"I congratulate you indeed," Colonel Hume said. "I own that I thought +your enterprise was a hopeless one, for it seemed to me impossible that +you should be able to obtain an interview with a lady closely imprisoned +in a convent. Why, Anderson, it is plain now that your talents have been +lost, and that you ought to have been a diplomatist instead of wasting +your time as a soldier. The way you carried out your plan was indeed +admirable, and I shall really begin to think that Ronald will yet +succeed; and now, my young friend, what do you mean to do next?" + +"Would it be possible, sir, to ascertain where my father is confined?" + +"I think not, my lad," the colonel said gravely. "In addition to the four +or five prisons in Paris there are a score of others in different parts +of France. The names of the prisoners in each are known only to the +governors; to all others within the walls they exist as numbers only. The +governors themselves are sworn to secrecy, and even if we could get at +one or two of them, which would be difficult enough, we could hope for no +more. Nor would it be much satisfaction to you merely to know in which +prison your father is lying, for it is a very different matter to +communicate with a prisoner in one of the royal fortresses to passing a +message to a lady detained in a convent. I can see nothing for you but to +follow the example of your mother and to practise patience, so conducting +yourself as to gain friends and make a name and influence, so that at +your grandfather's death we may bring as strong a pressure as possible to +bear upon the king." + +"How old is my grandfather?" Ronald asked. + +"He is a man about sixty." + +"Why, he may live twenty years yet!" Ronald exclaimed bitterly. + +"Do not look at the worst side of the question," Colonel Hume replied +with a smile. "But he may live some years," he went on more gravely, "and +in the meantime you must think what you had better do. I will tell you as +a great secret, that it has been finally resolved that an expedition +shall sail this winter for Scotland, and fifteen thousand troops will +assemble at Dunkirk under Marshal Saxe. Nothing could be more opportune. +We are to form part of the expedition, with several other Scottish +regiments. You are too young as yet for me to ask for a commission for +you, but if you like I will enroll you as a gentleman volunteer; in this +way you may have an opportunity of distinguishing yourself. I will +introduce you to the Chevalier, and it may be that if he succeeds in +gaining the crown of Scotland, if not of England, he will himself ask +King Louis as a personal favour to release and restore to him Colonel +Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought bravely with him in '15. If the expedition +fails, and we get back alive to France, I will then obtain for you a +commission in the regiment, and we can carry out our plan as we arranged. +What do you say to that?" + +"I thank you greatly, sir, and accept your offer most gratefully. I see +that I am powerless to do anything for my father now, and your plan gives +at least a prospect of success. In any case nothing will give me so much +delight as to serve with the regiment he formerly commanded, and under so +kind a friend as yourself." + +"That is settled then," Colonel Hume said; "and now about outfit. A +gentleman volunteer wears the uniform of the officers of the regiment, +and indeed is one in all respects except that he draws no pay. My purse +will be at your disposal. Do not show any false modesty, my lad, about +accepting help from me. Your father would have shared his last penny with +me had I needed it." + +"I thank you heartily, colonel, for your offer, and should it be +necessary I will avail myself of it, but at present I have ample funds. +Malcolm carried off with me a bag with a hundred louis, and up to the day +when I landed in France these had never been touched. I have eighty of +them still remaining, which will provide my outfit and my maintenance for +a long time to come." + +"There is another advantage in your being a volunteer, rather than on the +list of officers, Ronald; in that if it is necessary at any time, you +can, after a word with me, lay aside your uniform and go about your +affairs as long as you choose without question, which would be hard to do +if you belonged regularly to the regiment." + +At the end of a week Ronald had procured his uniform, and was presented +by the colonel to the officers of the regiment as Ronald Leslie, the son +of an old friend of his, who was joining the regiment as a gentleman +volunteer. Malcolm joined only in the capacity of Ronald's servant. It +was painful to the lad that his old friend and protector should assume +such a relation towards him, but Malcolm laughed at his scruples. + +"My dear Ronald," he said, "I was your father's servant, and yet his +friend. Why should I not act in the same capacity to you? As to the +duties, they are so light that, now I do not belong to the regiment, my +only difficulty will be to kill time. There is nothing to do save to +polish up your arms and your equipment. Your horse will be looked after +by a trooper so long as you are with the regiment. I shall call you in +the morning, get your cup of chocolate, and prepare your dinner when you +do not dine abroad, carry your messages when you have any messages to +send, and escort you when you go about any business in which it is +possible that a second sword would be of use to you. As I have said, the +only trouble will be to know what to do with myself when you do not want +me." + +It was now the end of August, and for the next four months Ronald worked +hard at drill. He soon became a general favourite with the officers. The +fact that his name was Leslie, and that he was accompanied by Malcolm, +who was known to many of the old soldiers as being devoted to their +former colonel and as having in some strange way disappeared from the +regiment at the same time, gave ground to a general surmise that Leslie +was the colonel's son. + +Malcolm himself, when questioned, neither denied nor acknowledged the +fact, but turned it off with a joke and a laugh. He was soon as much at +home in his old regiment as if he formed a part in it, and when not +required by Ronald passed the greater part of his time with his former +comrades. As was natural, the opinion entertained by the men as to +Leslie's identity was shared by the officers. The avoidance by Ronald of +any allusion to his family, his declining when he first came among them +to say to which branch of the Leslies he belonged, and the decided manner +in which Colonel Hume, the first time the question was broached in his +hearing in Ronald's absence, said that he begged no inquiries would be +made on that score; all he could assure them was that Leslie's father was +a gentleman of good family, and a personal friend of his own -- put a +stop to all further questioning, but strengthened the idea that had got +abroad that the young volunteer was the son of Colonel Leslie. + +Early in January the 2d Scottish Dragoons marched for Dunkirk, where +twenty thousand men assembled, while a large number of men of war and +transports were gathered in the port. One day, when Ronald was walking in +the street with Malcolm at his heels, the latter stepped up to him and +touched him. + +"Do you see that officer in the uniform of a colonel of the Black +Musketeers, in that group at the opposite corner; look at him well, for +he is your father's greatest enemy, and would be yours if he knew who you +are; that is the Duke de Chateaurouge." + +Ronald gazed at the man who had exercised so evil an influence upon the +fate of his parents. He was a tall dark man with a pointed moustache, and +of from forty to forty-five years of age. His features were regular and +handsome; but in his thin straight eyebrows, the curl of his lips, and a +certain supercilious drooping of the eyelids, Ronald read the evil +passions which rendered him so dangerous and implacable an enemy. + +"So that is the duke!" Ronald said when he had passed on. "I did not know +he was a soldier." + +"He is an honorary colonel of the regiment, and only does duty when it is +called on active service; but he served in it for some years as a young +man, and had the reputation of being a good soldier, though I know that +he was considered a harsh and unfeeling officer by the men who served +under him. That is the man, Ronald, and if you could get six inches of +your sword between his ribs it would go a good long way towards obtaining +your father's release; but I warn you he is said to be one of the best +swordsmen in France." + +"I care not how good a swordsmen he is," Ronald said hotly, "if I do but +get a fair chance." + +"Don't do anything rash, Ronald; I have no fear about your swordsmanship, +for I know in the last four months you have practised hard, and that +Francois says that young as you are you could give a point to any officer +in the regiment. But at present it were madness to quarrel with the duke; +you have everything to lose and nothing to gain. If he killed you there +would be an end of you and your plans; if you killed him you would have +to fly the country, for a court favourite is not to be slain with as much +impunity as a bourgeois, and equally would there be an end of all hope of +obtaining your father's release. + +"No, for the present you must be content to bide your time. Still it is +as well for you to know your foe when you see him, and in the meantime go +on frequenting the various schools of arms and learn every trick of the +sword that is to be taught. Look!" he went on, as a group of mounted +officers rode down the street; "that is Marshal Saxe, one of the best +soldiers in France, if not the best, and just as wild and reckless in +private life as he is calm and prudent as a general." + +Ronald looked with some surprise at the great general. He had expected to +see a dashing soldier. He saw a man who looked worn and bent with +disease, and as if scarce strong enough to sit on his horse; but there +was still a fire in his eye, and as he uttered a joke to an officer +riding next to him and joined merrily in the laugh, it was evident that +his spirit was untouched by the disease which had made a wreck of his +body. + +A few days later a messenger arrived with the news that the French fleet +from Brest had sailed, and had met the English fleet which had gone off +in pursuit of it, and the coast of Kent was in consequence unguarded. +Orders were instantly given that the troops should embark on board the +transports, and as fast as these were filled they set sail. The +embarkation of the cavalry naturally took longer time than that of the +infantry, and before the Scottish Dragoons had got their horses on board +a portion of the fleet was already out of sight. + +"Was there ever such luck!" Malcolm exclaimed, after assisting in getting +the horses on board, a by no means easy task, as the vessel was rolling +heavily at her mooring. "The wind is rising every moment, and blowing +straight into the harbour; unless I mistake not, there will be no sailing +tonight." + +This was soon evident to all. Signals were made from ship to ship, fresh +anchors were let down, and the topmast housed. By midnight it was blowing +a tremendous gale, which continued for three days. Several of the +transports dragged their anchors and were washed ashore, and messages +arrived from different parts of the coast telling of the wreck of many of +those which had sailed before the storm set in. + +The portion of the fleet which had sailed had indeed been utterly +dispersed by the gale. Many ships were lost, and the rest, shattered and +dismantled, arrived at intervals at the various French ports. The blow +was too heavy to be repaired. The English fleet had again returned to the +coast, and were on the lookout to intercept the expedition, and as this +was now reduced to a little more than half of its original strength no +surprise was felt when the plan was abandoned altogether. + +Marshal Saxe with a portion of the troops marched to join the army in +Flanders, and the Scotch Dragoons were ordered to return to Paris for the +present. + +For a year Ronald remained with the regiment in Paris. He had during that +time been introduced by Colonel Hume to several members of his mother's +family. By some of these who had known her before her marriage he was +kindly received; but all told him that it would be hopeless to make any +efforts for the release of his father as long as the Marquis de +Recambours remained alive and high in favour at court, and that any +movement in that direction would be likely to do harm rather than good. +Some of the others clearly intimated to him that they considered that the +countess had, by making a secret marriage and defying her father's +authority, forfeited all right to the assistance or sympathy of her +mother's family. + +Twice Ronald travelled to Tours and sent messages to his mother through +Jeanne, and received answers from the countess. She had, however, refused +to meet him again on the terrace, saying that in spite of the love she +had for him, and her desire to see him again, she was firmly resolved not +to run the risk of danger to him and the failure of all their hopes, by +any rash step. + +At the end of the summer campaign in Flanders Marshal Saxe returned to +Paris, and Colonel Hume one day took Ronald and introduced him to him, +having previously interested the marshal by relating his history to him. +The marshal asked Ronald many questions, and was much pleased with his +frank manner and bearing. + +"You shall have any protection I can give you," the marshal said. "No man +has loved adventures more than I, nor had a fairer share of them, and my +sympathies are altogether with you; besides, I remember your father well, +and many a carouse have we had together in Flanders. But I am a soldier, +you know, and though the king is glad enough to employ our swords in +fighting his enemies, we have but little influence at court. I promise +you, however, that after the first great victory I win I will ask the +release of your father as a personal favour from the king, on the ground +that he was an old comrade of mine. I can only hope, for your sake, that +the marquis, your grandfather, may have departed this world before that +takes place, for he is one of the king's prime favourites, and even the +request of a victorious general would go for little as opposed to his +influence the other way. And now, if you like, I will give you a +commission in Colonel Hume's regiment. You have served for a year as a +volunteer now, and younger men than you have received commissions." + +Ronald thanked the marshal most heartily for his kind promise, but said +that at present he would rather remain as a volunteer, because it gave +him greater freedom of action. + +"Perhaps you are right," the marshal said. "But at any rate you had +better abstain from attempting any steps such as Colonel Hume tells me +you once thought of for obtaining the release of your father. Success +will be all but impossible, and a failure would destroy altogether any +hopes you may have of obtaining his release from the king." + +It seemed that some of his mother's family with whom he had communicated +must have desired to gain the favour of the favourite of the king by +relating the circumstances to him, for a short time after Ronald's +interview with the marshal the marquis came up to Colonel Hume when he +was on duty in the king's antechamber, and, in the presence of a number +of courtiers, said to him: + +"So, Colonel Hume, I find that I have to thank you for harbouring in your +regiment an imposter, who claims to be my grandson. I shall know, sir, +how to repay the obligation." + +"The gentleman in question is no imposter, marquis, as I have taken the +pains to inform myself. And I am not aware of any reason why I should not +admit the son of a Scottish gentleman into my regiment, even though he +happen to be a grandson of yours. As to your threat, sir, as long as I do +my duty to his majesty I fear the displeasure of no man." + +Two nights later, as Ronald was returning from dining with Colonel Hume +and some of his officers, he was suddenly attacked in a narrow street by +six men. Malcolm was with him, for Colonel Hume had at once related to +him the conversation he had had with the marquis, and had warned him to +take the greatest precautions. + +"He is perfectly capable of having you suddenly put out of his way by a +stab in the back, Ronald. And if there were anywhere for you to go I +should advise you to leave Paris at once; but nowhere in France would you +be safe from him, and it would upset all your plans to return to Scotland +at present. However, you cannot be too careful." + +Ronald had related what had passed to Malcolm, who determined to watch +more carefully than ever over his safety, and never left his side when he +was outside the barracks. + +The instant the six men rushed out from a lane, at whose entrance a +lantern was dimly burning, Malcolm's sword was out, and before the +assailants had time to strike a blow he had run the foremost through the +body. + +Ronald instantly recovered from his surprise and also drew. He was now +nearly eighteen, and although he had not yet gained his full height he +was a match for most men in strength, while his constant exercise in the +school of arms had strengthened the muscle of his sword arm, until in +strength as well as in skill he could hold his own against the best +swordsman in the regiment. The men were for a moment checked by the fall +of their leader; but then seeing that they had opposed to them only one +man, and another whom they regarded as a lad, scarcely to be taken into +consideration, they rushed upon them. They were quickly undeceived. +Ronald parried the first blow aimed at him, and with his riposte +stretched his opponent on the pavement, and then springing forward, after +a few rapid thrusts and parries ran the next through the shoulder almost +at the same moment that Malcolm stretched another opponent on the ground. + +Terrified at the downfall of three of their number, while a fourth leaned +against a door post disabled, the two remaining ruffians took to their +heels and fled at the top of their speed, the whole affair having lasted +scarce a minute. + +"Tell your employer," Ronald said to the wounded man, "that I am not to +be disposed of so easily as he imagined. I should be only giving you what +you deserve if I were to pass my sword through your body; but I disdain +to kill such pitiful assassins except in self defence." + +The next morning Ronald communicated to Colonel Hume what had happened. + +"It's just as well, my young friend, that you are going to leave Paris. I +received orders half an hour ago for the regiment to march to the +frontier at once. That is the marquis's doing, no doubt. He thought to +get rid of you last night and to punish me this morning; but he has +failed both ways. You have defeated his cutthroats; I shall be heartily +glad to be at the front again, for I am sick of this idle life in Paris." + + + +CHAPTER VIII: Hidden Foes. + + +"I am heartily glad to be out of Paris," Ronald said to Malcolm on their +first halt after leaving the capital. "It is not pleasant to regard every +man one meets after dark as a possible enemy, and although I escaped scot +free from the gang who attacked us the other night, one cannot always +expect such good fortune as that. It was a constant weight on one's mind, +and I feel like a new man now that we are beyond the city walls." + +"Nevertheless, Ronald, we must not omit any precautions. Your enemy has a +long purse, and can reach right across France. That last affair is proof +of his bitterness against you, and it would be rash indeed were we to act +as if, having made one attempt and failed, he would abandon his plans +altogether. He is clearly a man who nourishes a grudge for years, and his +first failure is only likely to add to his vindictive feeling. I do not +say that your danger is as great as it was in Paris, but that is simply +because the opportunities of attacking you are fewer. I should advise you +to be as careful as before, and to be on your guard against ambushes and +surprises." + +"Well, it may be so, Malcolm, and of course I will be careful; but till I +have proof to the contrary I shall prefer to think that the marquis will +trust to my being knocked on the head during the war, and will make no +further move against me until the regiment returns to Paris." + +"Think what you like, lad," Malcolm said, "so that you are cautious and +guarded. I shall sleep with one eye open, I can tell you, till we are +fairly beyond the frontier." + +Two days later the regiment encamped outside the town of St. Quentin. +They were usually quartered on the inhabitants; but the town was already +filled with troops, and as the weather was fine Colonel Hume ordered his +men to bivouac a short distance outside the walls. Ronald was seeing that +his troop got their breakfast next morning, when a sergeant came up with +two men with a horse. + +"This is Monsieur Leslie," he said to them. "These men were asking for +you, sir." + +"What do you want with me?" Ronald said surprised. + +"We heard, sir," one of the peasants said, "that you wanted to buy a +horse. We have a fine animal here, and cheap." + +"But I do not want to buy one," Ronald replied. "I am very well supplied +with horses. What made you think I wanted one?" + +"We asked one of the officers, sir, if anyone in the regiment would be +likely to buy, and he said that Monsieur Leslie wanted one, he believed." + +"No," Ronald said decidedly. "Whoever told you was mistaken. I have my +full complement, and though your horse looks a nice animal I could not +take him if you offered him to me for nothing. I don't think you will get +anyone to buy him in the regiment. I believe that every officer has his +full complement of chargers." + +In the evening Ronald happened to mention to Malcolm the offer he had had +in the morning. + +"It was a nice looking beast," he said, "and I had half a mind to ask +them what they would take to exchange him with my roan, but I did not +want to dip further into my purse." + +"I wish I had been beside you at the time," Malcolm said earnestly; +"those two fellows wouldn't have gone out of the camp so easily." + +"Why, what do you mean, Malcolm?" + +"Mean!" Malcolm repeated in a vexed tone. "This is what comes of your +being watchful and cautious, Ronald. Why, the matter is clear enough. The +marquis has set men on your track, but of course they could do nothing +until some of them knew you by sight, so two of them are sent into camp +with this cock and bull story about a horse, and they come and have a +good look at you and go quietly off. It is too provoking. Had I been +there I would have given them in charge of a file of men at once. Then we +would have asked every officer in the regiment if he had sent them to +you, and when we found, as we certainly should have found, that none of +them had done so, we should have marched the men off to Colonel Hume, and +I am sure, when he heard the circumstances of the case, they would have +been lashed up and flogged till he had got the truth of the matter out of +them. My great hope has been that they could not very well attempt your +life, because none of the men who might be engaged on the job would be +likely to know your face, and they would therefore have no means of +singling you out for attack; and now two of the ruffians will be able to +follow you and watch their opportunity." + +"Oh, nonsense, Malcolm, you are too suspicious altogether! I have no +doubt the affair was just as they stated it to be. What was more +natural?" + +"Well, Ronald, you will meet all the other officers at supper in half an +hour. Just ask if any of them sent two men wanting to sell a horse to you +this morning; if any of them say that they did so, I will acknowledge I +am wrong. + +Accordingly Ronald, at supper, put the question, but none of the officers +admitted they knew anything about the matter. + +"You have two very good horses, Leslie; why should anyone suppose that +you wanted another?" the colonel asked. + +"I don't know," Ronald said. "I only know that two men did come up with a +horse to me this morning, and said that one of the officers had told them +that I wanted to buy one." + +"It must have been one of the men," the colonel said carelessly, "though +I don't know why anyone should suppose that you wanted another charger. +Still, someone, knowing that you are the last joined officer, might think +you had need for a second horse." + +The subject dropped, and Malcolm shook his head ominously when Ronald +acknowledged to him that his suspicions were so far right that none of +the officers had sent the men to him. The next day, as the regiment was +passing through a thick wood, and Ronald was riding with Captain Campbell +behind his troop, which happened to be in the rear in the regiment, two +shots were fired from among the trees. The first struck Ronald's horse in +the neck, causing him to swerve sharply round, a movement which saved his +rider's life, for the second shot, which was fired almost instantly after +the first, grazed his body and passed between him and Captain Campbell. + +"Are you hit, Leslie?" the latter exclaimed, for the sudden movement of +his horse had almost unseated Ronald. + +"Nothing serious, I think. The bullet has cut my coat and grazed my skin, +I think, but nothing more." + +The captain shouted orders to his men, and with a score of troopers +dashed into the wood. The trees grew thickly and there was a dense +undergrowth, and they had difficulty in making their way through them. +For half an hour they continued their search without success, and then +rejoined the regiment on its march. + +"This is a curious affair," Colonel Hume said when Captain Campbell +reported, at the next halt, that an attempt at assassination had taken +place. + +"It looks like a premeditated attempt upon one or other of you. You +haven't been getting into any scrape, have you?" he asked with a smile; +"kissing some peasant's wife or offering to run away with his daughter? +But seriously this is a strange affair. Why should two men lie in wait +for the regiment and fire at two of its officers? The men have been +behaving well, as far as I have heard, on the line of march, and nothing +has occurred which could explain such an outrage as this." + +"It may be fancy on my part, colonel," Ronald said, "but I cannot help +thinking that it is a sequence of that affair I told you about in Paris, +just before we started. The first shot struck my horse and the second +would certainly have killed me had it not been for the horse's sudden +swerve, therefore it looks as if the shots were aimed at me. I have some +reason, too, for supposing that I have been followed. If you remember my +question last night at supper about the men who wanted to sell me a +horse. Malcolm Anderson is convinced that the whole thing was only a ruse +to enable them to become acquainted with my face. They wanted to be able +to recognize me, and so got up this story in order to have me pointed out +to them, and to have a talk with me. None of the officers did send them +to me, as they said, and they could hardly have hit upon a better excuse +for speaking to me." + +"It certainly looks like it," Colonel Hume said gravely. "I would give a +good deal if we had caught those two men in the wood. If we had I would +have given them the choice of being hung at once or telling me what was +their motive in firing at you and who paid them to do it. This is +monstrous. If we could get but a shadow of proof against your enemies I +would lay a formal complaint before the king. Marquis or no marquis, I am +not going to have my officers assassinated with impunity. However, till +we have something definite to go upon, we can do nothing, and until then, +Leslie, you had best keep your suspicion to yourself. It were best to say +nothing of what you think; in this country it is dangerous even to +whisper against a king's favourite. Let it be supposed that this attack +in the woods was only the work of some malicious scoundrels who must have +fired out of pure hatred of the king's troops." + +Captain Campbell and Ronald quite agreed with the view taken by the +colonel, and answered all questions as to the affair, that they had not +the least idea who were the men who fired on them, and that no one +obtained as much as a glimpse of them. + +With most of the officers of the regiment, indeed with all except one, +Ronald was on excellent terms. The exception was a lieutenant named +Crawford; he was first on the list of his company, and had, indeed, been +twice passed over in consequence of his quarrelsome and domineering +disposition. He was a man of seven or eight and twenty; he stood about +the same height as Ronald and was of much the same figure, indeed the +general resemblance between them had often been remarked. + +His dislike to Ronald had arisen from the fact that previous to the +latter joining the regiment Crawford had been considered the best +swordsman among the officers, and Ronald's superiority, which had been +proved over and over again in the fencing room, had annoyed him greatly. +Knowing that he would have no chance whatever with Ronald in a duel, he +had carefully abstained from open war, showing his dislike only by +sneering remarks and sarcastic comments which frequently tried Ronald's +patience to the utmost, and more than once called down a sharp rebuke +from Colonel Hume or one or other of the majors. He did not lose the +opportunity afforded by the shots fired in the wood, and was continually +suggesting all sorts of motives which might have inspired the would be +assassins. + +Ronald, who was the reverse of quarrelsome by disposition, laughed good +temperedly at the various suggestions; but one or two of the senior +officers remonstrated sharply with Crawford as to the extent to which he +carried his gibes. + +"You are presuming too much on Leslie's good nature, Crawford," Captain +Campbell said one day. "If he were not one of the best tempered young +fellows going he would resent your constant attacks upon him; and you +know well that, good swordsman as you are, you would have no chances +whatever if he did so." + +"I am quite capable of managing my own affairs," Crawford said sullenly, +"and I do not want any advice from you or any other man." + +"I am speaking to you as the captain of Leslie's troop," Captain Campbell +said sharply, "and I do not mean to quarrel with you. You have had more +quarrels than enough in the regiment already, and you know Colonel Hume +said on the last occasion that your next quarrel should be your last in +the regiment. I tell you frankly, that if you continue your course of +annoyance to young Leslie I shall report the matter to the colonel. I +have noticed that you have the good sense to abstain from your remarks +when he is present." + +Three days later the regiment joined the army before Namur. + +That evening, having drunk more deeply than usual, Lieutenant Crawford, +after the colonel had retired from the circle round the fire and to his +tent, recommenced his provocation to Ronald, and pushed matters so far +that the latter felt that he could no longer treat it as a jest. + +"Mr. Crawford," he said, "I warn you that you are pushing your remarks +too far. On many previous occasions you have chosen to make observations +which I could, if I had chosen, have resented as insulting. I did not +choose, for I hate brawling, and consider that for me, who have but +lately joined the regiment, to be engaged in a quarrel with an officer +senior to myself would be in the highest degree unbecoming; but I am sure +that my fellow officers will bear me out in saying that I have shown +fully as much patience as is becoming. I, therefore, have to tell you +that I will no longer be your butt, and that I shall treat any further +remark of the nature of those you have just made as a deliberate insult, +and shall take measures accordingly." + +A murmur of approval rose among the officers sitting round, and those +sitting near Crawford endeavoured to quiet him. The wine which he had +taken had, however, excited his quarrelsome instinct too far for either +counsel or prudence to prevail. + +"I shall say what I choose," he said, rising to his feet. "I am not going +to be dictated to by anyone, much less a boy who has just joined the +regiment, and who calls himself Leslie, though no one knows whether he +has any right to the name." + +"Very well, sir," Leslie said in a quiet tone, which was, however, heard +distinctly throughout the circle, for at this last outburst on the part +of Crawford a dead silence had fallen on the circle, for only one +termination could follow such an insult. "Captain Campbell will, I hope, +act for me?" + +"Certainly," Captain Campbell said in a loud voice; "and will call upon +any friend Lieutenant Crawford may name and make arrangements to settle +this matter in the morning." + +"Macleod, will you act for me?" Crawford said to a lieutenant sitting +next to him. + +"I will act," the young officer said coldly, "as your second in the +matter; but all here will understand that I do solely because it is +necessary that some one should do so, and that I disapprove absolutely +and wholly of your conduct." + +"Well, make what arrangements you like," Crawford said with an oath, and +rising he left the circle and walked away. + +When he had left there was an immediate discussion. Several of the +officers were of opinion that the duel should not be allowed to proceed, +but that Crawford's conduct should be reported to the colonel. + +"I am entirely in your hands, gentlemen," Ronald said. "I have no desire +whatever to fight. This affair has been forced upon me, and I have no +alternative but to take it up. I am not boasting when I say that I am a +far better swordsman than he, and I have no need to shrink from meeting +him; but I have certainly no desire whatever to take his life. He has +drunk more than he ought to do, and if this matter can be arranged, and +he can be persuaded in the morning to express his regret for what he has +said, I shall be very glad to accept his apology. If it can be settled in +this way without either fighting or reporting his conduct to the colonel, +which would probably result in his having to leave the regiment, I should +be truly glad -- What is that?" he broke off, as a loud cry rang through +the air. + +The whole party sprang to their feet, and snatching up their swords ran +in the direction from which the cry had come. The tents were at some +little distance, and just as they reached them they saw a man lying on +the ground. + +"Good heavens, it is Crawford!" Captain Campbell said, stooping over him. +"See, he has been stabbed in the back. It is all over with him. Who can +have done it?" + +He questioned several of the soldiers, who had now gathered round, +attracted like the officers by the cry. None of them had seen the act or +had noticed anyone running away; but in so large a camp there were so +many people about that an assassin could well have walked quietly away +without attracting any attention. + +The colonel was speedily on the spot, and instituted a rigid inquiry, but +entirely without success. The attack had evidently been sudden and +entirely unsuspected, for Crawford had not drawn his sword. + +"It is singular," he said, as with the officers he walked slowly back to +the fire. "Crawford was not a popular man, but I cannot guess at any +reason for this murder. Strange that this should be the second attack +made on my officers since we left Paris." + +Captain Campbell now related what had taken place after he had left the +circle. + +"The matter should have been reported to me at once," he said; "although, +as it has turned out, it would have made no difference. Perhaps, after +all, it is best as it is, for a duel between two officers of the regiment +would have done us no good, and the man was no credit to the regiment. +But it is a very serious matter that we should be dogged by assassins. +Leslie, come up with me to my tent. I am not going to blame you, lad," he +said when they were together, "for you could not have acted otherwise +than you have done. Indeed, I have myself noticed several times that +Crawford's bearing towards you was the reverse of courteous. Have you any +idea as to how he came by his death?" + +"I, sir!" Ronald said in surprise. "No, I know no more than the others." + +"It strikes me, Leslie, that this is only the sequel of that attack in +the wood, and that your enemies have unwittingly done you a service. +Crawford was very much your height and build, and might easily have been +mistaken for you in the dark. I fancy that blow was meant for you." + +"It is possible, sir," Ronald said after a pause. "I had not thought of +it; but the likeness between him and myself has been frequently noticed. +It is quite possible that that blow was meant for me." + +"I have very little doubt of it, my lad. If any of these men were hanging +about and saw you as they believed coming away from the circle alone, +they may well have taken the opportunity. Let it be a lesson to you to be +careful henceforth. It is unlikely that the attempt will be repeated at +present. The men who did it will think that they have earned their money, +and by this time are probably on the way to Paris to carry the news and +claim their reward. So that, for a time at least, it is not probable that +there will be any repetition of the attempt. After that you will have to +be on your guard night and day. + +"I wish to heaven we could obtain some clue that would enable me to take +steps in the matter; but at present we have nothing but our suspicions, +and I cannot go to the king and say three attempts have been made on the +life of one of my officers, and that I suspect his grandfather, the +Marquis de Recambours, has been the author of them." + +When Malcolm heard the events of the evening his opinion was exactly the +same as that of the colonel, and he expressed himself as convinced that +Crawford had fallen by a blow intended for Ronald. He agreed that for a +while there was no fear of a renewal of the attempt. + +"The fellows will take the news straight to Paris that you have been put +out of the way, and some time will elapse before the employers know that +a mistake has been made. Then, as likely as not, they will decide to wait +until the campaign is over." + +The camp before Namur was a large and brilliant one. The king and dauphin +had already arrived with the army. All the household troops were there, +and a large contingent of the nobles of the court. The English army was +known to be approaching, and was expected to fight a battle to relieve +Namur, which the French were besieging vigorously. The French confidently +hoped that in the approaching battle they would wipe our the reverse +which had befallen them at Dettingen. + + + +CHAPTER IX: Fontenoy. + + +A fortnight after the Scottish Dragoons joined the army the king was +present at an inspection of their regiment. As the brilliant cortege +passed along the line Ronald saw among the gaily dressed throng of +officers riding behind the king and Marshal Saxe the Marquis de +Recambours and the Duke de Chateaurouge side by side. Ronald with two +other gentlemen volunteers were in their places in the rear of the +regiment. It was drawn up in double line, and as the royal party rode +along for the second time, Ronald saw that the two noblemen were looking +scrutinizingly through the line of troopers at himself and his two +companions. + +That evening Colonel Hume on his return from a visit to Marshal Saxe told +Ronald that the general had inquired after him, and had sent him word +that if he won the battle he would not forget the promise he had made +him. He had requested Colonel Hume to place Ronald at his disposal on the +day of the battle. + +"'I shall want active officers to carry my messages,' he said, 'and your +young friend may have a greater opportunity of distinguishing himself +than he would with the regiment. I should in that case find it all the +easier to bring his business before the king.' + +"The marshal is terribly ill," Colonel Hume said as he reported the +conversation to Ronald, "so ill that he can only occasionally sit on his +horse. Nothing but his indomitable courage sustains him. He is drawn +about in a light carriage made of basketwork, and this serves him also +for his bed." + +On the 7th of May the enemy were known to be close at hand, and the +French selected the position on which they would fight. The village of +Fontenoy had already been occupied by a strong body of troops under +Marshal Noailles, and the rest of the army now moved forward to the posts +allotted to them. The English army were close at hand, and it was certain +that the battle would be fought on the morrow. In the evening the king +held a grand reception at which all the officers of rank were present. +When Colonel Hume returned to his camp his officers were still sitting +round the fire. + +"Have you any news for us, sir?" + +"No; I believe everything stands as was arranged. The king is in the +highest spirits, though I must say his majesty did not choose +reminiscences of a nature to encourage those who heard him. He remarked, +for instance, that since the days of St. Louis the French had never +gained a decisive success over the English, and a few minutes later he +observed that the last time a king of France with his son had fought at +the head of the French army was at the battle of Poictiers." + +There was a general laugh. + +"Certainly the king was not happy with his reminiscences," Major Munro +remarked; "but I think this time the tables are going to be turned. In +the first place we considerably outnumbered the enemy, even after leaving +15,000 men to continue the siege. In the second place, the position we +have chosen is almost impregnable. The Scheldt covers our right, with the +fortified bridge securing our communication, and the village of Antoin +resting on the river. Along our front from Antoin to Fontenoy is a narrow +and difficult valley. Our left is covered by the wood of Barre, where a +strong redoubt has been constructed; and the whole of the position is +fortified with breastworks and abattis as far as Fontenoy. Between that +village and Barre the natural difficulties are so great that field works +are unnecessary. I cannot believe myself that they will attack us in such +a position, especially as nearly half their army are Dutch, who will +count for little. The English are the only troops which we shall find +formidable." + +Before daybreak the camp was astir, and the troops took the positions +assigned to them. Even now it was hardly believed that an attack would be +made by the enemy so long as the French remained in their all but +impregnable position; but presently the columns of the enemy were seen +advancing. Ronald had ridden up to the litter on which Marshal Saxe was +placed, and after saluting, had taken up his position with a number of +other officers, in readiness to carry orders to different parts of the +field. + +At a short distance from the marshal the King of France with the dauphin +and the brilliant cortege of nobles had taken up his post. From the +position in which the marshal had caused himself to be placed a complete +view of the enemy's approaching ranks was obtained. It could soon be seen +that the Dutch troops, who on the English right were advancing to the +attack, were moving against the villages of Antoin and Fontenoy. A strong +force, headed, as was known afterwards, by General Ingoldsby, moved +towards the wood of Barre; while a solid column of English and +Hanoverians, 10,000 strong, marched forward to the attack across the +broken ground between Fontenoy and the wood of Barre. + +It was as yet but five o'clock in the morning when the cannon broke out +into a roar on both sides. The Dutch, who were commanded by the Prince of +Waldeck, soon hesitated, and in a short time fell back out of range of +fire. On the English right General Ingoldsby penetrated some distance +into the wood of Barre, and then fell back again as the Dutch had done. +In an hour after the fighting had commenced the right and left of the +allied army had ceased their attack. There remained only the centre, but +this was advancing. + +Under the command of the Duke of Cumberland the column crossed the ravine +in front of Fontenoy. The ground was so broken that the troops were +unable to deploy, but moved forward in a solid mass with a front of only +forty men. + +The French batteries from the right and left mowed them down in lines, +but as steadily as if on parade the places were filled up, and unshaken +and calm the great column moved forward. The cannon which they dragged +along by hand opened against Fontenoy and the redoubts, and as, in spite +of the hail of fire, they pressed steadily on, the French gunners were +obliged to abandon their cannon and fly. + +The regiment of French guards, officered almost entirely by the highest +nobles, met the English guards, who composed the front lines of the +column. A tremendous volley flashed along the English line, shattering +the ranks of the French guard. There was a moment's fierce fighting, and +then the English column swept from before it the remains of the French +guard, and cleared the ravine which defended Fontenoy. + +Ronald felt his heart beat with excitement and a feeling of pride and +admiration as he saw the English advancing unmoved through the storm of +fire. They advanced in the most perfect order. The sergeants calmly +raised or depressed the soldiers' muskets to direct the fire; each vacant +place was filled quietly and regularly without hesitation or hurry; and +exclamations of surprise and admiration broke even from the French +officers. + +Regiment after regiment was brought up and hurled against the head of the +column, but with no more effect than waves against a rock, each being +dashed aside shattered and broken by the steady volleys and regular lines +of bayonets. Ronald and other officers were sent off to bring up the +cavalry, but in vain did these strive to break the serried column. One +regiment after another charged down upon it, but the English, retaining +their fire until they were within a few yards of their muzzles, received +them with such tremendous volleys that they recoiled in disorder. + +The French regiment of Vaisseaux next advanced to the attack, and fought +with greater gallantry than any which had preceded it; but at last, when +almost annihilated, its survivors fell back. And now it seemed as if this +10,000 men were to be victorious over the whole French army. Marshal Saxe +begged the king to retire with the dauphin across the bridge of Calonne +while he did what he could to retrieve the battle, but the king refused +to leave the field. There was a hurried council held round Louis, and it +was agreed to make a great effort by calling up the whole of the troops +between Fontenoy and Antoin, as the positions they held were no longer +threatened by the Dutch. + +Had the latter now advanced nothing could have saved the French army from +utter defeat; but they remained immovable at a distance from the field of +battle. The English now won the crown of the position, had cut through +the French centre, and were moving forward towards the bridge of Calonne, +when the whole of the French artillery, which had, by the advice of the +Duke of Richelieu, been brought up, opened fire on the English column. At +the same moment the French regiments from Antoin fell upon it; while +Marshal Saxe, who had, when the danger became imminent, mounted his +horse, himself brought up the Irish Brigade, who, with a wild yell of +hatred, flung itself furiously upon the flank of the English. + +Attacked thus on all sides, mown down by a heavy fire of artillery, +unsupported amid an army of foes, the column could do no more. Ten +thousand men could not withstand fifty thousand. Their ranks were twice +broken by the Irish, but twice their officers rallied them; until at +last, when it became evident that no more could be done, the column fell +slowly back in an order as perfect and regular as that in which it had +advanced. + +French historians have done ample justice to the extraordinary valour +shown by the English troops on this occasion, a valour never surpassed in +the long annals of the British army. Had they received the slightest +assistance from their cowardly allies the victory must have been theirs. +As it was, although unsuccessful, the glory and honour of the day rested +with them, rather than with the victorious army of France. More than half +the column had fallen in the desperate engagement, but the loss of the +victors was even greater, and comprised many belonging to the noblest +families of France. + +Ronald had won the warm approval of Marshal Saxe for the manner in which +he carried his orders across ground swept by a heavy fire, and brought up +the regiments to within close quarters of the English; and after the +battle was over Marshal Saxe presented to the king several of his staff +who had most distinguished themselves, and calling up Ronald, who was +standing near, for his horse had been shot under him as he rode by the +side of the marshal with the Irish Brigade to the attack, the marshal +said: + +"Allow me to present to your majesty Ronald Leslie, a young Scottish +gentleman of good family, who is a volunteer in the Scottish Dragoons, +and has rendered great service today by the manner in which he has borne +my orders through the thickest of the fire." + +"I will bear you in mind, young gentleman," the king said graciously, +"and I charge the marshal to bring your name before me on a future day." + +His duty as aide de camp over, Ronald rejoined his regiment. They had +lost nearly a third of their number in their charges upon the English +column. Major Munro had been killed, the colonel severely wounded, and a +number of officers had fallen. Ronald went about among the men assisting +to bind up wounds, and supplying those who needed it with wine and other +refreshments. Presently he was joined by Malcolm. + +"Thank God you are safe, Ronald. I tell you, you have given me many a +fright today as I watched you galloping along through the line of the +English fire." + +"Where were you, Malcolm? I did not see you." + +"I had nothing to do," Malcolm said, "and I climbed a tree not fifty +yards from the marshal's litter, and keeping the trunk in front of me to +protect me from a stray bullet I had a good view of the whole +proceedings. At one time I was on the point of slipping down and making a +bolt for it, for I thought it was all over with us. How that column did +fight! I have been in many a battle, but I never saw anything like it, it +was grand; and if it hadn't been for the Irish Brigade, I think that they +would have beaten the whole French army. But if you go into a battle +again I sha'n't come to see you. I have done my share of fighting, and +can take hard knocks as well as another; but I would not go through the +anxiety I have suffered today about you on any condition. However, this +has been a great day for you." + +"You mean about the marshal presenting me to the king? Yes, that ought to +help us." + +"No, I didn't mean that, for I had not heard of it. I mean about that old +rascal your grandfather, the Marquis de Recambours." + +"What about him? I have not heard." + +"No!" Malcolm exclaimed; "then I have good news for you. A ball from one +of the English field pieces struck him full in the chest, and of course +slew him instantly. He was not thirty yards from the tree when I saw him +knocked over. He is quite dead, I can assure you, for when the others +moved off I took the trouble to clamber down to assure myself. So now the +greatest obstacle to the release of your father and mother is out of the +way." + +"Thank God for that!" Ronald said. "I have no reason for feeling one +spark of regret at what has befallen him. He was the cruel persecutor of +my parents, and did his best to get me removed. There is but one obstacle +now to obtaining my father's release, and as he is neither a relation nor +an old man I shall be able to deal with him myself" + +"Yes, but you must be careful, Ronald; remember the decree against +duelling. We must not make a false step now, when fortune is at last +favouring us. There will be no more fighting, I fancy. The English will +certainly not attack us again, and Tournay must fall, and I don't think +that on our part there will be any desire whatever to go out of our way +to seek another engagement with them. The king is sure to go back to +Paris at once, where he will be received with enthusiasm. Marshal Saxe +will probably follow as soon as Tournay has fallen. I should advise you, +therefore, to get leave from the colonel to be absent from the regiment +for a time, and we will make our way down to Tours and let your mother +know the marquis is dead, and get her to write a memorial to the king +requesting permission to leave the convent, and then when the marshall +arrives in Paris we will get him to present it." + +Ronald agreed to Malcolm's proposal, and the next morning, having +obtained leave of absence from the colonel, he and Malcolm mounted and +rode for Tours. + +The message was duly conveyed to the countess by Jeanne, together with +Ronald's earnest request that his mother would again meet him. She sent +back by Jeanne the memorial he had asked her to write to the king, +begging that she might be allowed to leave the convent; but she refused +to agree to his wishes to meet her, bidding Jeanne say that now it seemed +there was really a hope of her release shortly, she would less than ever +risk any step which if discovered might prejudice their plans. + +Although disappointed, Ronald could not deny that her decision was a wise +one, and therefore contented himself by sending word that he had obtained +one very powerful friend, and that he hoped that she would ere long +receive good tidings. After a short stay at Tours, Ronald and Malcolm +returned to Paris, where a series of brilliant fetes in honour of the +victory of Fontenoy were in preparation. Tournay had surrendered a few +days after the battle, the governor of that town having accepted a heavy +bribe to open the gates, for the place could have resisted for months, +and the allied army were ready to recommence hostilities in order to +relieve it. + +After its surrender they fell back and resumed a defensive attitude. The +king therefore returned at once to Paris, and Marshal Saxe, handing over +the command of the army to Marshal de Noailles, followed him by easy +stages. Delighted above all things at a success gained over the English, +who had for centuries been victorious in every battle in which England +and France had met as enemies, the citizens of Paris organized a +succession of brilliant fetes, which were responded to by entertainments +of all kinds at Versailles. The Scottish Dragoons were still at the +front; but Colonel Hume had been brought to Paris, as it would be some +time ere he would be able again to take the command of the regiment. +Ronald called at the house where the colonel lodged, upon the day after +his return from Tours, and found that he had arrived upon the previous +day. Ronald was at once shown up on sending in his name. The colonel was +lying on the couch when he entered. + +"How are you, colonel?" + +"I am going on as well as possible, Ronald; they found the ball and got +it out the day before I left the regiment, and I shall do well now. I +have been carried on a litter all the way by eight of our troopers, and +the good fellows were as gentle with me as if I had been a child, and I +scarce felt a jar the whole distance. What I have got to do now is to lie +quiet, and the doctor promises me that in six weeks' time I shall be fit +to mount a horse again. Marshal Saxe sent yesterday evening to inquire +after me, and I will send you to him to thank him for so sending, and to +inquire on my part how he himself is going on. My message will be a good +excuse for your presenting yourself." + +Ronald found the antechamber of the marshal crowded with nobles and +officers who had come to pay their respects to the victorious general, +who was, next to the king himself, at that moment the most popular man in +France. Hitherto, as a Protestant and a foreigner, Maurice of Saxony had +been regarded by many with jealousy and dislike; but the victory which he +had won for the French arms had for the first time obliterated every +feeling save admiration and gratitude. + +Presently the marshal came out from the inner room with the dauphin, who +had called on the part of the king to inquire after his health. He was +now able to walk, the excitement of the battle and the satisfaction of +the victory having enabled him partially to shake off the disease which +afflicted him. After the dauphin had left, the marshal made the tour of +the apartment, exchanging a few words with all present. + +"Ah! you are there, my young Leslie," he said familiarly when he came to +Ronald. "Where have you been? I have not seen you since the day when you +galloped about with my messages through the English fire as if you had a +charmed life." + +"Colonel Hume gave me leave, sir, to travel on private business. I am now +the bearer of a message from him, thanking you for the kind inquiries as +to his wound; he bids me say that he trusts that your own health is +rapidly recovering." + +"As you see, Leslie, Fontenoy has done wonders for me as well as for +France; but wait here, I will speak with you again." + +In half an hour most of the callers took their departure, then the +marshal called Ronald into an inner room. + +"Tomorrow," he said, "I am going to pay my respects to the king at +Versailles. I will take you with me. Have you your mother's memorial? +That is right. As her father was killed at Fontenoy there will, I hope, +be the less difficulty over the matter; but we must not be too sanguine, +for there will be a host of hungry competitors for the estates of the +marquis, and all these will unite against you. However, I do not think +the king will be able to refuse my first request, and when your mother is +out we must put our heads together and see about getting your father's +release." + +Ronald expressed his deep gratitude at the marshal's kindness. + +"Say nothing about it, my lad. Fortunately I want nothing for myself, and +it is no use being a victorious general if one cannot utilize it in some +way; so I am quite glad to have something to ask the king." + +The next day Ronald presented himself at the hotel of Marshal Saxe and +rode by the side of his carriage out to Versailles. The king, surrounded +by a brilliant train of courtiers, received the marshal with the greatest +warmth, and after talking to him for some time retired with him into his +private closet. A few minutes later one of the royal pages came out into +the audience chamber and said in a loud voice that the king desired the +presence of Monsieur Ronald Leslie. + +Greatly embarrassed at finding himself the centre of observation not +unmingled with envy at the summons, Ronald followed the page into the +presence of the king, who was alone with Marshal Saxe. Louis, who was in +high good humour, gave Ronald his hand to kiss, saying: + +"I told the marshal to recall your name to me, and he has done so now. He +says that you have a boon to ask of me." + +"Yes, sire," the marshal said; "and please consider graciously that it is +I who ask it as well as he. Your majesty has always been gracious to me, +and if you think me deserving of any mark of your favour after this +success which your majesty and I have gained together, I would now crave +that you grant it." + +"It is granted before you name it, marshal," the king said. "I give you +my royal word that whatever be your boon, provided that it be within the +bounds of possibility, it is yours." + +"Then, sire, I ask that an old comrade and fellow soldier of mine, who +fought bravely for your majesty, but who fell under your majesty's +displeasure many years ago on account of a marriage which he made +contrary to your pleasure, may be released. He has now been over sixteen +years in prison, and has therefore paid dearly for thwarting your will, +and his wife has all this time been confined in a convent. They are the +father and mother of this brave lad -- Colonel Leslie, who commanded your +majesty's regiment of Scotch Dragoons, and his wife, the Countess Amelie +of Recambours. I ask your majesty, as my boon, that you will order this +officer to be released and the lady to be allowed to leave the convent." + +"Peste, marshal!" the king said good temperedly; "your request is one of +which will get me into hot water with a score of people. From the day the +marquis was killed at Fontenoy I have heard nothing but questions about +his estates, and I believe that no small portion of them have been +already promised." + +"I say nothing about the estates," the marshal replied; "as to that, your +majesty's sense of justice is too well known for it to be necessary for +me to say a single word. The countess has estates of her own, which she +inherited from her mother, but even as to these I say nothing. It is her +liberty and that of her husband which I and this brave lad ask of your +majesty." + +"It is granted, marshal, and had your boon been a great one instead of a +small one I would have granted it as freely;" and the king again held out +his hand to Ronald, who bent on one knee to kiss it, tears of joy flowing +down his cheeks and preventing the utterance of any audible thanks for +the boon, which far surpassed his expectations; for the marshal had said +nothing as to his intention of asking his father's freedom, which indeed +he only decided to do upon seeing in how favourable a disposition he had +found the king. + +"You see, marshal," Louis went on, "marriages like this must be sternly +discouraged, or all order in our kingdom would be done away with. Wilful +girls and headstrong soldiers cannot be permitted to arrange their +affairs without reference to the plans of their parents, and in this +instance it happened that the father's plans had received our approval. +The great estates of France cannot be handed over to the first comer, who +may perhaps be utterly unworthy of them. I do not say that in the present +case Colonel Leslie was in any way personally unworthy; but the disposal +of the hands of the great heiresses of France is in the king's gift, and +those who cross him are against his authority." + +The king touched a bell and bade the page who entered to order his +secretary to attend at once. + +"Search the register of the state prisons," he said, "and tell me where +Colonel Leslie, who was arrested by our orders sixteen years ago, is +confined, and then make out an order to the governor of his prison for +his release; also draw up an order upon the lady superior of --," and he +paused. + +"The convent of Our Lady at Tours," Ronald ventured to put in. + +"Oh! you have discovered that, eh?" the king said with a smile; and then +turned again to the secretary -- "bidding her suffer the Countess Amelie +de Recambours to leave the convent and to proceed where she will." + +The secretary bowed and retired. Ronald, seeing that his own presence was +no longer required, said a few words of deep gratitude to the king and +retired to the audience room, where he remained until, ten minutes later, +the door of the king's closet opened, and the king and Marshal Saxe again +appeared. The audience lasted for another half hour, and then the +marshal, accompanied by many of the nobles, made his way down to his +carriage. Ronald again mounted, and as soon as the carriage had left the +great courtyard of the palace, rode up alongside and poured out his +gratitude to the marshal. + +"It has been another Fontenoy," the marshal said smiling. "Here are the +two orders, the one for Tours, the other for the governor of the royal +castle at Blois. The king made light of it; but I know his manner so well +that I could see he would rather that I had asked for a dukedom for you. +It is not often that kings are thwarted, and he regards your parents as +being rebels against his authority. However, he was bound by his promise, +and there are the papers. Now, only one word, Leslie. Do not indulge in +any hopes that you will see your father more than a shadow of the +stalwart soldier that he was sixteen years ago. There are few men, +indeed, whose constitution enable them to live through sixteen years' +confinement in a state prison. Therefore prepare yourself to find him a +mere wreck. I trust that freedom and your mother's care may do much for +him, but don't expect too much at first. If you take my advice you will +go first and fetch your mother, in order that she may be at hand to +receive your father when he leaves the fortress. By the way, I thought it +just as well not to produce your mother's memorial, as it seemed that we +should be able to do without it, for it might have struck the king to ask +how you obtained it, and he would probably have considered that your +communication with your mother was a fresh act of defiance against his +authority." + +Malcolm was wild with joy when Ronald returned with the account of his +interview with the king and its successful result, and had his not been a +seasoned head, the number of bumpers which he drank that night in honour +of Marshal Saxe would have rendered him unfit for travel in the morning. +Ronald had, after acquainting him with the news, gone to Colonel Hume, +whose pleasure at hearing that his former colonel and comrade was to +regain his freedom was unbounded. Every preparation was made for an early +start. + +"Be sure you look well to the priming of your pistols before you put them +in your holsters tomorrow," Malcolm said. + +"Do you think it will be necessary?" + +"I am sure of it, Ronald. News travels fast; and you may be sure that by +this time the fact that the king has granted an order for the release of +your father and mother is known to the Duke of Chateaurouge. If he did +not hear it from the king himself, which he would be most likely to do, +as Louis would probably lose no time in explaining to him that he had +only gone against his wishes because under the circumstances it was +impossible for him to refuse the marshal's request, the secretary who +drew out the document would, no doubt, let the duke know of it. There are +no secrets at court." + +"But now that the orders for release have been granted," Ronald said, +"the duke can have no motive in preventing them being delivered, for +fresh ones could, of course, be obtained." + +"In the first place, Ronald, the duke will be so furious at your success +that he will stick at nothing to have his revenge; in the second place, +he and the others, for there are many interested in preventing your +mother from coming into her father's possessions, will consider that the +gain of time goes for a good deal. You are the mover in the matter. Were +you out of the way, and the documents destroyed, the matter might rest as +it is for a long time. The marshal is busy from morning till night, and +would be long before he missed you, and would naturally suppose that you +had, after obtaining the release of your parents, retired with them to +some country retreat, or even left the kingdom. + +"This would give ample time for working upon Louis. Besides, the king +might never inquire whether the prisoners had been released. Then the +marshal might die or be sent away to the frontier. Therefore, as you see, +time is everything. I tell you, Ronald, I consider the journey you are +going to undertake tomorrow an affair of greater danger than going into a +pitched battle. You will have to doubt everyone you meet on the road, the +people at the inns you stop at -- you may be attacked anywhere and +everywhere. As to our travelling by the direct road, I look upon it as +impossible. Our only chance is to throw them off the scent, and as they +know our destination that will be no easy matter." + +They were astir by daylight, and Malcolm soon brought the horses round to +the door. + +"It's a comfort to know," he said, "that the horses have passed the night +in the barracks, and that therefore they have not been tampered with. +Look well to the buckles of your girths, Ronald. See that everything is +strong and in good order." + +"That is not your own horse, Malcolm, is it?" + +"No, it is one of the troopers'. It is one of the best in the regiment, +and I persuaded the man to change with me for a week. No one is likely to +notice the difference, as they are as nearly as possible the same colour. +Your horse is good enough for anything; but if I could not keep up with +you its speed would be useless. Now, I think, we can keep together if we +have to ride for it. + +"What have you got in that valise, Malcolm? One would think that you were +going upon a campaign." + +"I have got four bottles of good wine, and bread and meat enough to last +us for two days. I do not mean, if I can help it, to enter a shop or stop +at an inn till we arrive at Tours. We can make a shift to sleep for +tonight in a wood. It would be safer a thousand times than an inn, for I +will bet fifty to one that if we ventured to enter one we should find one +or both of our horses lame on starting again." + +"Oh come, Malcolm, that's too much! The Duke of Chateaurouge is not +ubiquitous. He has not an army to scatter over all France." + +"No, he has not," Malcolm agreed; "but from what I know of him I doubt +not that he can lay his hands on a number of men who will stick at +nothing to carry out his orders and earn his money. Paris swarms with +discharged soldiers and ruffians of all kinds, and with plenty of gold to +set the machine in motion there is no limit to the number of men who +might be hired for any desperate deed." + +As they were talking they were making their way towards one of the +southern gates. They arrived there before it opened, and had to wait a +few minutes. Several other passengers on horseback and foot were gathered +there. + +"I could bet a crown piece," Malcolm said, "that some one among this +crowd is on the watch for us, and that before another half hour the Duke +of Chateaurouge will know that we have started." + + + +CHAPTER X: A Perilous Journey. + + +A number of peasants with market carts were waiting outside the gates, +and for the first few miles of their ride the road was dotted with people +making their way to the city. As they rode, Malcolm discussed the +question of the best road to be taken. Ronald himself was still in favour +of pushing straight forward, for he was not so convinced as his follower +that a serious attempt would be made to interrupt their journey. He +pointed out that the road, as far as Orleans at least, was one of the +most frequented in France, and that in that city even the most reckless +would hardly venture to assault them. + +"I agree with you, Ronald, that the road offers less opportunities for +ambushes than most others, for the country is flat and well cultivated; +but after all a dozen men with muskets could lie in ambush in a cornfield +as well as a wood, and the fact that people are going along the road +counts for little one way or the other, for not one in fifty would +venture to interfere if they saw a fray going on. But granting that so +far as Orleans the country is open and cultivated, beyond that it is for +the most part forest; but above all -- although they may regard it as +possible that we may be on our guard, and may travel by other roads -- it +is upon this direct line that they are sure to make the most preparations +for us. Beyond that it can only be chance work. We may go by one road or +by another. There may be one trap set on each road; but once past that +and we are safe." + +After riding for upwards of an hour they came, at the turn of the road, +upon two carts. One had apparently broken down, and the other had stopped +that those with it might give assistance in repairing it. One cart was +turned across the road, and the other filled the rest of the space. + +"Stop!" Malcolm exclaimed, checking his horse suddenly. + +"What is it?" Ronald asked in surprise. + +"Turn back!" Malcolm said sharply as he wheeled his horse round. + +Ronald, without a word, did the same, and they galloped a hundred yards +down the road. + +"We were nearly caught there," Malcolm said. + +"Why, how do you mean?" + +"Never mind now, Ronald. Turn sharp to the right here, and make a detour +through the fields. You will soon see whether I was right." + +"It is a shame riding through this ripe corn," Ronald said, as without +any further comment he leaped his horse over the bank and dashed off +among the golden grain, which stretched far and wide on both sides of the +road. + +They had not gone fifty yards before they heard loud shouts, and as they +came abreast of where the carts were standing several shots were fired, +and ten or twelve men were seen running through the corn as if to cut +them off. But although they heard the whiz of the bullets they were too +far off to be in much danger, and the men on foot had no chance of +cutting them off, a fact which they speedily perceived, as one by one +they halted and fired. A few hundred yards farther the two horsemen came +round into the road again and pursued their journey. + +"Well, what do you think of that, Ronald?" + +"It was an ambush, no doubt, Malcolm; but what on earth made you suspect +it? I saw nothing suspicious. Merely two carts in the road, with three or +four men doing something to one of the wheels." + +"I am in a suspicious humour this morning, Ronald, and it is lucky I am. +The sight of the two carts completely blocking the road brought me to a +halt at once, and as I checked my horse I saw a movement among the bushes +on the right of the road, and felt sure that it was an ambush. It was a +well laid one, too, and had we ridden on we should have been riddled with +bullets. No doubt there were men lying in the carts. They would have +jumped up as we came up to them, and the fellows in the bushes would have +taken us in the rear; between their two fires our chances would have been +small indeed. No doubt they had a man on watch, and directly they saw us +coming they got their carts across the road, and took up their positions. +It was a well contrived scheme, and we have had a narrow escape." + +"Thanks to your quickness and watchfulness, Malcolm, which has saved our +lives. I admit that you are right and I was wrong, for I own that I did +not share your apprehensions as to the dangers of our journey. Henceforth +I will be as much on the lookout as you are, and will look with suspicion +at every beggar woman that may pass." + +"And you will be right to do so," Malcolm said seriously; "but for the +present I think that we are safe. This, no doubt, was their main ambush, +and they may reasonably have felt certain of success. However, we may be +sure that they did not rely solely upon it. This, no doubt, is the +unmounted portion of their gang. They were to try and put a stop to our +journey at its outset; but mounted men will have ridden on ahead, +especially as they couldn't have been sure that we should follow this +road. We might have gone out by one of the other gates at the south side +of the town, and they will have watched all the roads. Now I propose that +we take the next lane which branches off to the right, and travel by +byroads in future. Do not press your horse too fast. We have a long +journey before us, and must always have something in hand in case it is +necessary to press them to full speed." + +Two miles further a road branched to the right. As they approached it +Ronald was about to touch his horse's rein, when Malcolm said shortly, +"Ride straight on." + +Although surprised at this sudden change of plan, Ronald obeyed without +question. + +"What was that for?" he asked when he had passed the turning. + +"Did you not see that man lying down by the heap of stones at the +corner?" + +"Yes, I saw him; but what of that?" + +"I have no doubt he was on the lookout for us. Yes, I thought so," he +went on, as he stood up in his stirrups and looked back; "there, do you +see that horse's head in that little thicket, just this side of where the +road separates? I expected as much. If we had turned off, in another two +minutes that fellow would have been galloping along this road to take the +news to those ahead, and they would have ridden to cut us off further +along. I have no doubt we shall find someone on watch at every turning +between this and Orleans." + +"But this is a regular campaign, Malcolm." + +"It is a campaign, Ronald. The ruffians and thieves of Paris form a sort +of army. They have heads whom they implicitly obey, and those who have +money enough to set this machine in motion can command the services of +any number of men. Sharp fellows, too, many of them are, and when they +received orders to arrest our journey to Tours at any cost, they would +not omit a single precaution which could ensure success. Their former +attack upon you, and its result, will have showed them that we are not +children, and that the enterprise was one which demanded all their +efforts." + +"What is our next move now, Malcolm?" + +"We will turn off before we get to the next road. They can see a long way +across these level plains; so we will dismount and lead our horses. The +corn is well nigh shoulder deep, and if we choose a spot where the ground +lies rather low, neither that scoundrel behind nor the one at the next +road is likely to see us." + +Half a mile further there was a slight dip in the ground. + +"This is a good spot," Malcolm said. "This depression extends far away on +our right, and although it is very slight, and would not conceal us if +the ground were bare, it will do so now, so let us take advantage of it." + +So saying he dismounted, and leading his horse, turned into the +cornfield. Ronald followed him, and for two miles they kept straight on +through the corn; then they came upon a narrow road connecting two +villages. They mounted and turned their horses' heads to the south. + +"It is as well that none of the peasants saw us making through their +corn," Ronald said, "or we should have had them upon us with stone and +flail like a swarm of angry bees." + +"It could not be helped," Malcolm replied, "and we could easily have +ridden away from them. However, it is just as well that we have had no +bother with them. Now we will quicken our pace. We are fairly between two +of the main roads south, and if we can contrive to make our way by these +village tracks we shall at any rate for some time be free from all risk +of molestation." + +"I should think we should be free altogether," Ronald said. "When they +find we do not come along the road they will suppose we have been killed +at the first ambush." + +Malcolm shook his head. + +"Do not build upon that, Ronald. No doubt as soon as we had passed, some +of those fellows mounted the horses we saw in the carts, and rode off in +accordance with an agreed plan to give notice that we had passed them +safely, and were proceeding by that road. In the next place the fellow we +saw on watch would most likely after a time mount and follow us, and when +he got to the watcher at the next crossroad and found that we had not +come along there would know that we must have turned off either to the +right or left. One of them is doubtless before this on his way to the +next party with the news, while the other has set to work to find out +where we turned off, which will be easy enough to discover. Still, we +have gained something, and may fairly reckon that if we ride briskly +there is no fear of those who were posted along the road we have left +cutting us off." + +They rode all day at a steady pace, stopping occasionally for a short +time to allow the horses a rest and a feed. The people in the quiet +little villages looked in surprise at the young officer and his follower +as they rode through their street or stopped for a quarter of an hour +while the horses were fed, for even Malcolm agreed that such pauses were +unattended by danger. It was rarely, indeed, that a stranger passed along +these bypaths, and the peasants wondered among themselves what could +induce them to travel by country byways instead of following the main +roads. + +As they left the rich plains of the Beauce, the country was less +carefully cultivated. The fields of corn were no longer continuous, and +presently they came to tracts of uncultivated land with patches of wood. +They now left the little road they had been following, and rode straight +across country, avoiding all villages. They crossed several hills, and +late in the afternoon drew rein in a wide spreading forest. They were, +Malcolm thought, quite as far south as Orleans, and by starting at +daylight would arrive at Tours by midday. + +"Here at least we are perfectly safe," he said; "when we approach Tours +our perils will begin again. When once they find that we have given them +the slip they are not likely to try to intercept us anywhere along the +route till we near the town, for they will know that the chances are +enormous against their doing so, and the parties along the various roads +will push on so as to meet us somewhere near that city. The river can +only be crossed at certain points, and they will feel sure we shall go by +one or other of them." + +"And I suppose we shall," Ronald said. + +"No, Ronald; my idea is that we turn west and ride to Le Mans, then take +a wide detour and enter Tours from the south side. It will take us a day +longer, but that is of little consequence, and I think that we shall in +that way entirely outwit them. The only precaution we shall have to take +is to cross the main road on our right at some point remote from any town +or village." + +"I think that is a capital plan. I do not mind a share of fair fighting; +but to be shot down suddenly in an ambush like that of this morning, I +own I have little fancy for it." + +Hobbling their horses, they turned them loose to pick up what they could +in the forest, and then sat down to enjoy a good meal from the ample +supply Malcolm had brought with him. When night fell they unstrapped +their cloaks from their saddles and rolled themselves in them, and lay +down to sleep. An hour later they were roughly awakened, each being +seized by three men, who, before they could attempt to offer resistance, +bound their arms to their sides, and then hurried them along through the +forest. + +"I have been a fool, Ronald," Malcolm said bitterly; "I ought to have +kept watch." + +"It was not your fault, Malcolm. One could never have guessed that they +would have found us in this forest. Somebody must have followed us at a +distance and marked us down, and brought the rest upon us; but even had +you kept watch it would have been no good, for they would have shot us +down before we could make any resistance." + +"I wonder they didn't cut our throats at once," Malcolm said. "I don't +know what they are troubling to make us prisoners for." + +Presently they saw a light in the forest ahead of them, and soon arrived +at a spot where a number of men were sitting round a fire. + +"You had no trouble with them, Pierre, I suppose?" + +"No, captain, they slept as soundly as moles. They have been speaking +some strange language as we came along." + +"Thank God!" Malcolm exclaimed fervently. "I think, after all, Ronald, we +have only fallen in with a band of robbers, and not with our enemies." + +"Unbind their hands," the captain of the band said, "but first take away +their swords and pistols. Gentlemen, may I ask you to be seated; and +then, perhaps, you will inform us what you, an officer in the Scotch +dragoons, as I perceive by your uniform, are doing here in the forest?" + +Ronald, to whom the question was principally addressed, replied frankly: + +"We took to this forest, I fancy, for the same reason for which you use +it, namely, for safety. We are on our way to Tours, and there are some +people who have interest in preventing our arriving there. They made one +attempt to stop us near Paris; fortunately that failed, or we should not +be now enjoying your society; but as it was likely that another attempt +would be made upon the road, we thought it better to leave it altogether +and take to the forest for the night." + +"What interest could anyone have in preventing an officer of the king +from arriving at Tours?" the man asked doubtfully. + +"It is rather a long story," Ronald said, "but if it is of interest to +you I shall be happy to relate it; and I may mention that there are three +bottles of good wine in the valise of one of the saddles, and a story is +none the worse for such an accompaniment." + +A laugh went round the circle at Ronald's coolness, and a man stepped +forward with the two saddles which he had carried from the spot when the +captives had been seized. The wine was taken out and opened. + +"Yes," the captain of the band said, after tasting it, "the wine is good; +now let us have your story." + +Ronald gave them an outline of his history, told them how his father and +mother had been for many years imprisoned for marrying contrary to the +king's pleasure, and how he had at last obtained the royal order for +their release, and how the enemies of his parents were now trying to +prevent him from having those orders carried out. "There are the orders," +Ronald said as he concluded, taking them from the inner pocket where he +carried them. "You see they are addressed to the abbess of the convent of +Our Lady at Tours, and to the governor of Blois." + +"The story you tell us is a singular one," the captain replied, "and I +doubt not its truth. What was the name of your father?" + +"He was Colonel Leslie, and commanded the same regiment to which I +belong." + +"I remember him," one of the band said. "Our regiments were quartered +together, nigh twenty years ago, at Flanders, and I was in Paris at the +time when he was imprisoned. We were in the next barracks to the +Scotchmen, and I remember what a stir it made. The regiment was very nigh +mutinying." + +"And I remember you too, though I cannot recall your name," Malcolm said, +rising and looking hard at the speaker; "and if I mistake not we have +cracked many a flask together, and made many a raid on the hen roosts of +the Flemish farmers. My name is Malcolm Anderson." + +"I remember you well," the other said, rising and giving him his hand. +"Of course I met you scores of times, for the regiments were generally +brigaded together." + +"That confirms your story altogether, monsieur," the captain of the band +said. "From this moment do not consider yourself a prisoner any longer. I +may say that we had no expectation of booty in your case, and you were +captured rather from curiosity than from any other reason. One of my men, +this afternoon, happened to see you ride into the wood and then dismount +and make preparations for passing the night there. He reported the matter +to me. I know that gentlemen of your cloth -- I may say of mine, for I +was once an officer of his majesty, though I left the service somewhat +hastily," and he smiled, "on account of an unfortunate deficiency in the +funds of the regiment in which I happened, at the time, to be acting as +paymaster -- are seldom burdened with spare cash, but the incident seemed +so strange that I determined to capture and question you. If you happen +to have more cash on you than you care about carrying we shall be glad to +purchase a few bottles of wine equal to that which you have given us. If +not, I can assure you that I do not press the matter.". + +"I am obliged to you for your courtesy," Ronald said; "and as at present +I really happen to be somewhat flush of cash I am happy to contribute ten +louis for the laudable purpose you mention." + +So saying he took out his purse, counted out ten pieces, and handed them +to the captain. + +The action was received with a round of applause, for the robbers had +not, from the first, anticipated obtaining any booty worth speaking of, +and the turn affairs had taken had altogether driven any idea of gain +from their minds. + +"I thank you warmly, sir," the captain said, "and promise you that I will +tomorrow despatch a messenger to Orleans, which is but ten miles away, +and will lay out the money in liquor, with which we will, tomorrow night, +drink your health and success in the enterprise. Nay, more, if you like, +a dozen of my men shall accompany you on your road to Tours. They have, +for various reasons, which I need not enter into, a marked objection to +passing through towns, but as far as Blois they are at your service." + +"I thank you for your offer," Ronald replied, "but will not accept it, as +we intend to ride tomorrow morning to Le Mans, and then to enter Tours +from the south side, by which we shall throw our enemies completely off +the scent." + +"But why do you not go to Blois first?" the man asked. "It is on your way +to Tours." + +"I wish my mother to be present at the release of my father. So long a +confinement may well have broken him down. Now that I see how obstinately +bent our enemies are upon our destruction I will take with me two or +three stout fellows from Tours, to act as an escort." + +"What day will you be leaving there?" the man asked. + +"Today is Tuesday," Ronald said; "on Thursday we shall be at Tours, on +Friday morning we shall leave." + +"Very well," the man replied, "we will be on the road. It is no +difference to us where we are, and as well there as here. I will have men +scattered all along in the forest between Blois and Amboise, and if I +find that there are any suspicious parties along the road we will catch +them, and if you are attacked you will find that we are close at hand to +help you. You are a generous fellow, and your story has interested me. We +gentlemen of the woods are obliged to live, whatever the law says; but if +we can do a good action to anybody it pleases us as well as others." + +"I am greatly obliged to you," Ronald said, "and can promise you, anyhow, +that your time shall be not altogether thrown away." + +Soon afterwards the whole band lay down round the fire and were sound +asleep. In the morning Malcolm saddled the two horses, and after a hearty +adieu from the captain and his followers -- all of whom were discharged +soldiers who had been driven to take up this life from an inability to +support themselves in any other way -- they started for Le Mans, which +town they reached late in the afternoon, without adventure. + +Deeming it in the highest degree improbable that any watch would be set +for them at a place so far from their line of travel, they put up for the +night at the principal inn. In the morning they again started, and after +riding for some distance to the south, made a wide sweep, and crossing +the river, entered Tours from the south, late in the evening. They again +put up at the principal inn, for although they doubted not that their +arrival would be noticed by the emissaries of the enemy, they had no fear +of molestation in a town like Tours. And on the following morning Ronald +presented himself at the entrance to the convent. + +"I wish to see the lady superior," he said to the lay sister at the +wicket. "I am the bearer of a communication to her from the king." + +He was left waiting for a few minutes outside the gate, then the wicket +door opened, and the sister requested him to follow her. Not a soul was +to be seen as he traversed the gloomy courts and passed through several +corridors to the room where the abbess was waiting him. In silence he +handed to her the king's order. The abbess opened and read it. + +"His majesty's commands shall be obeyed," she said; "in an hour the +countess will be in readiness to depart." + +"A carriage shall be in waiting at the gate to receive her," Ronald said, +bowing, and then, without another word, retired. + +Malcolm was awaiting him outside, and they at once went to the officer of +the royal post and engaged a carriage and post horses to take them to +Blois. + +The carriage was at the door at the appointed time, and a few minutes +later the gate opened, and the countess, in travelling attire, issued +out, and in a moment was clasped in her son's arms. He at once handed her +into the carriage and took his place beside her. Malcolm closed the door +and leapt up on the box, the postilion cracked his whip, and the carriage +moved off. + +"Can it be true, Ronald, or am I dreaming? It is but a week since you +were here last, and the news of my release came upon me with such a +surprise that, do you know, I fainted. Am I really free? Is it possible +that I have seen the last of those hateful walls? It seems like a dream. +Where are we going?" + +"We are going to Blois." + +"To a prison?" the countess exclaimed. "But no, there are no guards or +escorts. Are we going, oh, Ronald, are we going to see my husband?" + +"Yes, mother, we are going, not only to see him but to release him. I +have the king's order in my pocket." + +For some time the countess was unable to speak, her joy was too great for +words. Then tears came to her relief, and she sobbed out exclamations of +joy and gratitude. Ronald said nothing until she had somewhat recovered +her calmness, and then he told her the manner in which Marshal Saxe had +obtained the two orders of release. + +"I will pray for him night and morning to the last day of my life," the +countess said. "God is indeed good to me. I had hoped, from what you +said, that my term of imprisonment was drawing to an end; but I had +looked forward to a long struggle, to endless efforts and petitions +before I could obtain your father's release, with, perhaps, failure in +the end. Not for one moment did I dream that such happiness as this +awaited me." + +Ronald now thought it wise to repeat the warning which the marshal had +given him. + +"Mother, dear," he said "you must be prepared to find that a total change +will have taken place in my father. His imprisonment has been a very +different one to yours. You have had companions and a certain amount of +freedom and comfort. You have had people to speak to, and have known what +is going on in the world. He has been cut off altogether from mankind. He +cannot even know whether you are alive, or whether you may not have +yielded to the pressure that would be sure to be brought upon you, and +acquiesced in a divorce being obtained. He has, doubtless, been kept in a +narrow cell, deprived almost of the air and light of heaven. He will be +greatly changed, mother. He will not be like you; for it does not seem to +me that you have changed much from what you were. I could not see you +much that night on the terrace; but now I see you I can hardly believe +that you are my mother, so young do you look." + +"I am nearly forty," the countess said smiling. "I was past twenty-one +when I married. Had I not been of age they could have pronounced the +marriage null and void. But you are right, Ronald, and I will prepare +myself to find your father greatly changed. It cannot be otherwise after +all he has gone through; but so that I have him again it is enough for +me, no matter how great the change that may have taken place in him. But +who are these men?" the countess exclaimed, as, a quarter of a mile +outside the town, four men on horseback took up their places, two on each +side of the carriage. + +"Do not be alarmed, mother, they are our escort. Malcolm hired them at Le +Mans. They are all old soldiers, and can be relied on in case of +necessity." + +"But what need can there be for them, Ronald? I have heard that bands of +discharged soldiers and others make travelling insecure; but I had no +idea that it was necessary to have an armed escort." + +"Not absolutely necessary, mother, but a useful measure of precaution. We +heard of them as we came through from Paris, and Malcolm and I agreed, +that as you would have with you any jewels and valuables that you took to +the convent, it would be just as well to be in a position to beat off any +who might be disposed to trouble us. As you see, they have brought with +them Malcolm's horse and mine, and we shall now mount. The less weight +the horses have to draw the better. I will get in and have a talk from +time to time where the road happens to be good; but, to tell you the +truth, the jolting and shaking are neither pleasant nor good for +talking." + +"You are expecting to be attacked, Ronald," the countess said. "I am sure +you would not be wanting to get out and leave me so soon after we have +met did you not anticipate some danger." + +"Frankly, mother, then, I do think it is probable that an attempt may be +made to stop us, and that not by regular robbers, but by your enemies. +They did their best to prevent me from reaching Tours, and will now most +likely try to prevent our arriving at Blois. I will tell you all about it +when we get there tonight. Here is the order for my father's release. +Will you hide it in your dress? I had rather not have it about me. And, +mother, if we should be attacked, do not be alarmed, for I have reason to +believe that if we should be outnumbered and hard pressed, help will +speedily be forthcoming." + +"I am not in the least afraid for myself," the countess said; "but be +careful, Ronald. Remember I have only just found you, and for my sake do +not expose yourself unnecessarily." + +"I will take care of myself, mother," he said. "You know I have always +had to do so." + +Malcolm had already mounted his horse, and Ronald was really glad when he +took his place beside him a few yards ahead of the carriage. The art both +of road making and carriage building was still in its infancy. When the +weather was fine and the ground hard a fair rate of progress could be +maintained; but in wet weather the vehicles often sank almost up to their +axles in mud holes and quagmires, and the bumping and jolting were +terrible. + +"Now we take up our work of looking out for ambushes again, Malcolm." + +"It will not be quite the same thing now," Malcolm said. "Before, two or +three men with guns behind a wall might do the business, now they will +have to make a regular attack. I have no doubt that we were watched from +the time we entered the town, and that the news that we are travelling +with the countess in a carriage, and with an escort of four armed men, +has been carried on ahead already. It is by horsemen that we shall be +attacked today if we are attacked at all, and they will probably fall +upon us in the forest beyond Amboise. They will know that with a vehicle +we must keep the road, and that as we cannot travel more than six miles +an hour at the outside, we cannot attempt to escape by our speed." + +"Do you think we had better wait at Amboise for the night and go on to +Orleans tomorrow?" + +"No, I think we had better push straight on, especially as we told our +friends in the forest that we should come today, and I feel sure they +will keep their promise to be on the lookout to aid us. If it were not +for that I should have said let us stay at Tours for the present, for we +may expect to be attacked by a force much superior to our own." + +"Why, they would not have sent down more than six men to attack us two, +Malcolm?" + +"No, if they had been sure which road we should travel; but as they +didn't know that, they may have had small parties at half a dozen spots, +and these will now be united. Probably there may be a score of them. +However, I rely on the robbers. The captain meant what he said, and you +won the goodwill of all the men. If there are a dozen horsemen anywhere +along the road they are sure to know of it, and will, I have no doubt, +post themselves close at hand so as to be ready to join in the fray as +soon as it commences." + +Amboise was reached without adventure. Here the horses in the carriage +were changed, and the party proceeded on their way. Four miles further +they entered a great forest. Ronald now ordered two of the men to ride a +few yards in front of the horses' heads. He and Malcolm rode on each side +of the coach, the other two followed close behind. He ordered the driver, +in case they were attacked, to jump off instantly and run to the horses' +heads, and keep them quiet during the fray. + +A vigilant lookout was kept. Suddenly, when they were in the thickest +part of the wood, a number of mounted men dashed out from either side. In +obedience to the orders Ronald had given, the men in front and behind at +once closed in, so that there were three on either side of the carriage. +The assailants fired their pistols as they dashed down, but the bullets +flew harmlessly by, while the fire of the defenders, sitting quietly on +their horses, was more accurate, two of the assailants falling dead, +while another was severely wounded. + +A moment later swords were drawn, and a furious combat ensued. Ronald had +told his men to keep close to the carriage, so that they could not be +attacked in the rear, keeping just far enough out on either side of him +to be able to use their swords. For a short time the defenders of the +coach maintained their position, the number of their assailants giving +them but slight advantage, as they were unable to utilize their force. + +Ronald ran the first man who attacked him through the body, and laid open +the face of the next with a sweeping blow from left to right. The men +they had hired fought stoutly; but they were being pressed together as +the assailants urged forward their horses, when suddenly a volley of +firearms was heard. + +Several of the assailants fell dead, and with a loud shout a number of +men rushed out from the wood and fell upon them in rear. The assailants +turned to fly, and it was now the turn of the defenders of the coach to +attack, which they did furiously. + +In two or three minutes all was over. Five or six only of the assailants +cut their way through the footmen who had attacked them in rear, while +twelve lay dead or dying on the ground. Ronald's first impulse was to +ride up to the carriage to assure his mother of his safety, his next to +leap off his horse and grasp the hand of the chief of the robbers. + +"You have kept your promise nobly," he said, "and arrived at the very +nick of time. They were beginning to press us hotly; and though I fancy +we should have rendered an account of a good many more, we must have been +beaten in the end." + +"I was farther behind than I intended to be," the man said; "but we were +obliged to keep in hiding some little distance behind them. There were +four parties of them. We kept them in sight all yesterday, and last night +they assembled a mile or two away. I had men watching them all night, and +this morning we followed them here, and saw them take up their position +on both sides of the road. We crept up as closely as we dared without +being observed, but you had for a couple of minutes to bear the brunt of +it alone." + +"I thank you most heartily," Ronald said. "My mother will thank you +herself" So saying, he led them to the door of the carriage, which he +opened. + +"Mother, I told you that if we were attacked I relied upon help being +near at hand. We owe our lives, for I have no doubt that yours as well as +mine would have been taken, to this brave man and his followers." + +"I thank you most sincerely, sir," the countess said. "At present I feel +like one in a dream; for I have been so long out of the world that such a +scene as this has well nigh bewildered me." + +"I am only too glad to have been of service," the man said as he stood +bareheaded. "I am not a good man, madame. I am one of those whom the +necessities of the times have driven to earn their living as they can +without much regard to the law; but I trust that I have not quite lost my +instincts as a gentleman, and I am only too glad to have been able to be +of some slight assistance to a persecuted lady; for your son, the other +night, related to us something of the treatment which you have had to +endure." + +With a bow he now stepped back. His followers were engaged in searching +the pockets of the fallen, and found in them a store of money which spoke +well for the liberality of their employer, and well satisfied the robbers +for the work they had undertaken. After a few words with her son the +countess opened a small bag she carried with her, and taking from it a +valuable diamond brooch, called the leader of the band up and presented +it to him. + +Ronald and his party then remounted their horses -- the robbers had +already overtaken and caught those of the fallen assailants -- the driver +mounted the box, and after a cordial farewell to their rescuers the party +proceeded on their way to Blois. + + + +CHAPTER XI: Free. + + +It was late at night before Blois was reached, and having alighted at the +Aigle d'Or they engaged a private room. + +"Even the Duke of Chateaurouge will be satisfied," Ronald said, "that his +schemes have failed, and that no more can be done just at present. It +will be a bitter blow to him when those scoundrels, on their return to +Paris, report their utter failure, for he must have considered it +impossible that we could escape from the toils he had laid for us. I only +wish that we had clear evidence that he is the author of these attempts. +If so, I would go straight with Marshal Saxe and lay an accusation +against him before the king; but however certain we may feel about it, we +have really nothing to connect him with the affair, and it would be +madness to accuse a king's favourite unless one could prove absolutely +the truth of what one says. However, I hope some day that I shall get +even with him. It will not be my fault if I do not." + +That night Ronald and his mother debated what would be the best way to +proceed in the morning, and finally they agreed that Malcolm should +present himself at the prison with the order of release, and that they +should remain at the hotel, to which Malcolm should bring Colonel Leslie, +after breaking to him the news that his wife and son were both awaiting +him. The shock, in any case, of sudden liberty, would be a severe one, +and the meeting with his attached comrade would act as a preparation for +that with his wife. + +Mother and son sat hand in hand after hearing the carriage drive off with +Malcolm next morning. In the hours they had spent together they had come +to know each other, and the relationship had become a real one. They had +scarce been able to make out each other's features at their midnight +meeting on the terrace, and at that meeting, rejoiced as they both were, +there was still a feeling of strangeness between them. Now they knew each +other as they were, and both were well satisfied. The countess was less +strange to Ronald than he was to her. Malcolm had already described her +to him as he knew her eighteen years before, and the reality agreed +closely with the ideal that Ronald had pictured to himself, except that +she was younger and brighter. For in thinking of her he had told himself +over and over again that she would have grown much older, that her hair +might have turned gray with grief and trouble, and her spirit been +altogether broken. + +She on her part had been able to form no idea as to what the infant she +had last seen would have grown up, and was not even sure that he was in +existence. She had hoped that if he had lived he would have grown up like +his father, and although she now saw but slight resemblance between them, +she was indeed well satisfied with her son. + +He was not, she thought, as handsome as his father, but he bade fair to +surpass him in strength and stature. She was delighted with his manly +bearing; and when he laughed he reminded her of her husband, and she +thought that she read in his gray eye and firm mouth a steadfastness and +depth of character equal to his. They spoke but little now. Both were too +anxious, Ronald for his mother's sake rather than his own. He was +prepared to find this unknown father a man broken down by his years of +captivity; but although his mother said that she too was prepared for +great changes, he could not but think that the reality would be a sad +shock to her. In little over an hour the carriage drove into the +courtyard. + +"Be brave, mother," Ronald said, as he felt the hand he held in his own +tremble violently. "You must be calm for his sake." + +Steps were heard approaching. The door opened, and Malcolm entered with a +man leaning on his arm. The countess with a cry of joy sprang forward, +and the next moment was clasped in her husband's arms. + +"At last, my love, at last!" she said. + +Ronald drew aside to the window to leave his father and mother to enjoy +the first rapture of their meeting undisturbed, while Malcolm slipped +quietly from the room again. + +"Why, Amelie," Leslie said at last, holding her at arms' length that he +might look the better at her, "you are scarce changed. It does not seem +to me that you are five years older than when I saw you last, and yet +Malcolm tells me that you too have been a prisoner. How much my love has +cost you, dear! No, you are scarce changed, while I have become an old +man -- my hair is as white as snow, and I am so crippled with rheumatism +I can scarce move my limbs." + +"You are not so much changed, Angus. Your hair is white and your face is +very pale; but you are not so much changed. If I have suffered for your +love, dear, what have you suffered for mine! I have been a prisoner in a +way, but I had a certain amount of freedom in my cage, while you --" And +she stopped. + +"Yes, it has been hard," he said; "but I kept up my spirits, Amelie. I +never lost the hope that some day we should be reunited." + +"And now, Angus, here is our boy, to whom we owe our liberty and the joy +of this meeting. You may well be proud of such a son." + +"I am proud," Leslie said as Ronald advanced, and he took him in his +arms. "God bless you, my boy. You have performed well nigh a miracle. +Malcolm has been telling me of you. Call him in again. It is right that +he to whom you owe so much should share in our happiness." + +Ronald at once fetched Malcolm, and until late at night they talked of +all that had happened during so many years. Colonel Leslie had passed the +first three years of his confinement in the Chatelet. "It was well it was +no longer," he said; "for even I, hard as I was with years of soldiering, +could not have stood that much longer. My cell there was below the level +of the river. The walls were damp, and it was there I got the rheumatism +which has crippled me ever since. Then they moved me to Blois, and there +my cell was in one of the turrets, and the sun shone in through the +window slit for half an hour a day; besides for an hour once a week I was +allowed to take what they called exercise on the wall between my turret +and the next. The governor was not a bad fellow, and did not try to +pocket the best part of the money allowed for the keep of the prisoners. +Fortunately I never lost hope. Had I done so I would have thrown myself +over the parapet and ended it at once. I felt sure that you too were shut +up, Amelie, and I pictured to myself how they would try to make you give +me up; but I never thought they would succeed, dear. I knew you too well +for that. Sometimes for months I lay as if paralysed by rheumatism, and I +think I should have died if I had not known how my enemies would have +rejoiced at the news of my death. So I held on stoutly, and I have got my +reward." + +But the hardships had told their tale. Although but the same age as +Malcolm Anderson, Colonel Leslie looked fully ten years older. His long +confinement had taken every tinge of colour out of his face, and left it +almost ghastly in its whiteness. He could with difficulty lift his hands +to his head, and he walked as stiffly as if his legs had been jointless. +His voice only had not lost the cheery ring his wife remembered. + +"No, Amelie," he said when she remarked this. "I kept my tongue in +practice; it was the one member that was free. After I had been confined +a few months it struck me that I was rapidly losing the power of speech, +and I determined that if I could not talk for want of someone to answer +me, I could at least sing, and having a good store of songs, Scottish and +French, I sang for hours together, at first somewhat to the uneasiness of +the prison authorities, who thought that I could not be so merry unless I +had some communication from without, or was planning an escape; but at +last they grew accustomed to it, and as my voice could not travel through +the thick walls of my cells, it annoyed no one." + +"And did you never think of escaping, father?" + +"The first few years of my confinement I was always thinking of it, +Ronald, but nothing ever came of my thought. I had no tools to burrow +through a four foot wall, and if I could have done so I should have tried +if it had only been to give me something to do, had it not been that I +hoped some day to obtain my release, and that any attempt at escape +would, if discovered, as it was almost certain to be, decrease my +chances." + +Not a word was said that evening as to their future plans, all their +thoughts being in the past; but the next morning Colonel Leslie said at +breakfast: + +"And now what are we going to do next? How do we stand?" + +"I know no more than you do, Angus. I do not know whether the king has +gifted my mother's estate to others, as assuredly he has done my father's +lands. If he has, I have been thinking that the best plan will be to ask +the king's permission to leave the kingdom and return to your native +Scotland." + +"I am very fond of Scotland, Amelie; but I have also a fondness for +living, and how I should live in Scotland I have not the most remote +idea. My estate there was but a small one, and was forfeited thirty years +ago; so unless I become a gaberlunzie and sit on the steps of St. Andrews +asking for alms, I don't see how we should get porridge, to say nothing +of anything else. No, Amelie, it seems to me that we must stop in France. +For very shame they cannot let the daughter of the Marquis de Recambours +starve, and they must at least restore you a corner of your parents +estates, if it be but a farm. How are we off for funds at present?" he +asked with a laugh. "I hope at least we have enough to pay our hotel +bill." + +"We have forty louis in cash, father; the remains of the hundred you +committed to Malcolm with me." + +"Is that so?" he exclaimed. "All I can say is that that money has lasted +longer than any that ever passed through my fingers before." + +"We have plenty of money," the countess said quietly. "I have all the +jewels which came to me from my mother, and their sale will keep us for +years, either in Scotland or France." + +"That is good indeed," the colonel said cheerily. + +"Yes; I took them all with me when I was sent to the convent, and have +parted with none save the diamond necklet which I gave to the girl who +brought Ronald and me together, as a parting keepsake, and a brooch with +which I rewarded the men who aided us in the forest; but seriously, +Angus, we must settle upon something." + +"I quite agree with you, Amelie; but what is that something to be?" + +"I should think, Angus, that the proper thing would be for me to write to +the king thanking him for our release, asking his commands, and +petitioning him that my mother's estates may be restored to me. I will +also ask permission to retire to some southern town where there are +waters which may do good to your rheumatism." + +Colonel Leslie frowned. + +"I suppose that is the right thing to do, Amelie; though, for my part, I +cannot thank a sovereign whom I have served well after such treatment as +I have received. I would rather beg my bread from door to door." + +"No, I would not ask you, Angus, and of course you are differently +placed; but I have my rights as a peeress of France; besides I have on my +own account no complaint against the king. It was my father who shut me +up in the convent, not the king." + +"By the way, Amelie," her husband said, "you are not yet in mourning." + +"Nor do I intend to be," she said firmly; "unless I have to go to court +no thread of mourning do I put on. My father behaved like a tyrant to me, +and I will not feign a grief at an event which has brought us happiness. +Well, Ronald, what do you think had best be done? You and Malcolm have +managed so well that we had best leave it for you to decide." + +"I think what you propose, mother, is best. I think you had better travel +down to some place near where your mother's estates lay, and then write +your petition to the king. I will leave you there and return with it to +Paris, and will there consult Colonel Hume and Marshal Saxe as to how it +should be delivered to the king." + +This plan was carried out. The party journeyed together to Poitiers, and +there having seen his parents comfortably settled in a small house near +the town, and remained with them a few days, Ronald with Malcolm returned +to Paris, bearing with him his mother's memorial to the king. + +Ronald was glad to find that Colonel Hume was now recovered from his +wound. Marshal Saxe too was better; the latter at once took charge of the +petition, and said that he would hand it to the king on the first +opportunity. Ronald accompanied the marquis several times to Versailles, +but the latter had no private audience with the king, and thought it +better not to present the memorial in public. One day, however, he was +called into the king's closet. + +When he emerged with the king, Ronald thought from his expression of +countenance that things had not gone well. On leaving the palace he +mounted his horse -- for he was now well enough to ride -- and as he set +out he called Ronald, who with other gentlemen had accompanied him to +ride beside him. + +"Things have not gone well," he said. "Your father's enemies have +evidently been at work, and have been poisoning the king's mind. He read +the memorial, and then said harshly, 'The Countess of Recambours has +forfeited all rights to her mother's estates by marrying an alien. The +lands of France are for the King of France's subjects, not for soldiers +of fortune.' This touched me, and I said, 'Your majesty may recollect +that I am an alien and a soldier of fortune, and methinks that in time of +war the swords of our soldiers of fortune have done such things for +France that they have earned some right to gratitude. In a hundred +battles our Scottish troops have fought in the front ranks, and had it +not been for the Irish Brigade we should not have had to write Fontenoy +down among the list of French victories." + +"You are bold, marshal," the king said angrily. + +"I am bold, sire," I replied, "because I am in the right: and I humbly +submit that a brave soldier like Colonel Leslie deserves better treatment +than he has received at the hands of France." + +The king rose at once. + +"An answer to the petition will be sent to you tomorrow, marshal." + +"I bowed, and without another word the king left his closet and entered +the room of audience. However, lad, you must not look so downcast. We +could perhaps expect no more the first time. Of course every man who has +a hope, or who has a relation who has a hope, of obtaining the grant of +your mother's estates is interested in exciting the king's displeasure +against her; besides which there is, as you have told me, the Duc de +Chateaurouge, who may be regarded as a personal enemy of your father, and +who has the king's ear as much as anyone about him. However, we must have +courage. I consider my personal honour is touched in the matter now, and +I will not let the matter drop till justice is done." + +At the appointed time Ronald again called at Marshal Saxe's hotel, and +watched the gay crowd of officers and nobles who were gathered in his +reception rooms. An hour later a royal attendant entered and handed a +document to the marshal. The latter glanced at it and looked around. As +soon as his eye fell upon Ronald he nodded to him. + +"Here is the judgement," he said in a low tone, as he handed him the +paper. "You see it is directed to the countess, to my care. I suppose you +will start with it at once." + +"Yes, marshal; the horses are saddled and we shall leave immediately." + +"Don't hurry your horses," the marshal said with a slight smile; "from +the king's manner I think that the contents are such that a few hours' +delay in the delivery will cause the countess no pain. However, I do not +anticipate anything very harsh. In the first place, although the king is +swayed by favourites who work on his prejudices, his intention is always +to be just; and in the second place, after granting the release of your +parents as a boon to me he can scarcely annul the boon by any severe +sentence. Will you tell the countess from me that I am wholly at her +service, and that, should any opportunity offer, she may be sure that I +will do what I can to incline the king favourably towards her. Lastly, +Leslie, take care of yourself. The change in the king's manner shows that +you have powerful enemies, and now that you have succeeded in obtaining +your parents' freedom you have become dangerous. Remember the attack that +was made upon you before, when there seemed but little chance that you +would ever succeed in obtaining their release or in seriously threatening +the interests of those who were looking forward to the reversion of the +family estates. Their enmity now, when it only needs a change in the +king's mood to do justice to your parents, will be far greater than +before. + +"Bid your father, too, to have a care for himself and your mother. +Remember that violence is common enough, and there are few inquiries +made. An attack upon a lonely house and the murder of those within it is +naturally put down as the act of some party of discharged soldiers or +other ruffians. Tell him therefore he had best get a few trusty men +around him, and be on guard night and day against a treacherous attack. +Those who stand in the way of powerful men in France seldom live long, so +he cannot be too careful." + +A quarter of an hour later Ronald was on horseback. He had already +provided himself with a pass to leave the city after the usual hour of +closing the gates, and he and Malcolm were soon in the open country. As +they rode along Ronald repeated the warning that the marshal had given +him. + +"He is quite right, Ronald, and you cannot be too careful. We have +against us, first, this vindictive Duc de Chateaurouge, who, no doubt, +has poisoned the king's mind. In all France there is no one whom I would +not rather have as a foe. He is powerful, unscrupulous, and vindictive; +he would hesitate at nothing to carry out anything on which he had set +his mind, and would think no more of obtaining the removal of one whom he +considered to stand in his way than of crushing a worm. Even as a young +man he had a villainous reputation, and was regarded as one of the most +dangerous men about the court. To do him justice, he is brave and a fine +swordsman, and for choice he would rather slay with his own hands those +who offend him than by other means. Though he was but three-and-twenty at +the time I first left France he had fought half a dozen duels and killed +as many men, and several others who were known to have offended him died +suddenly. Some were killed in street brawls, returning home at night, one +or two were suspected of having been poisoned. Altogether the man was +feared and hated in those days, although, of course, none spoke their +suspicions openly. + +"From what I have heard those suspicions have stuck to him ever since. He +has not been engaged in many duels, because in the first place edicts +against duelling are very strict, and in the second because his +reputation as a swordsman is so great that few would risk their lives +against him. Still all who stood in his way have somehow or other come to +a sudden end. We must therefore be on our guard night and day. He is, of +course, your most dangerous foe; but besides him must be numbered all +those who hope to obtain your mother's estates. The heirs of the marquis +doubtless feel perfectly safe from interference. There is no chance +whatever of the king dispossessing them in favour of a foreigner, so we +need not count them among your foes. + +"It is just as well, Ronald, that we started tonight instead of waiting +till tomorrow. The duke is pretty certain to learn that the king's answer +will be sent this evening, and may possibly have made preparations for +you on the road; but he will hardly expect that you will start before the +morning. However, in order to be on the safe side I propose that we shall +presently turn off from the main road and avoid all large towns on our +way down to Poitiers." + +"Do you think the danger is as great as that, Malcolm?" + +"I do not think there is much danger, Ronald, just at present, though I +do in the future." + +Travelling by byways Ronald and Malcolm arrived at Poitiers without +adventure. + +"I have brought you the king's answer, mother," Ronald said as he +alighted; "but before you open it I may tell you that it is unfavourable, +though I am ignorant of the precise nature of its contents. But you must +not be disappointed. Marshal Saxe bade me tell you that he considers his +honour engaged in seeing you righted, and that whenever an opportunity +occurs he will endeavour to move the king's mind in your favour. How is +my father?" + +"He suffers grievously from rheumatism, Ronald, and can scarce move from +his couch." + +As soon as they joined the colonel the countess opened the king's letter. +It was brief. "The Countess Amelie de Recambours is hereby ordered to +withdraw at once to her estate of La Grenouille and there to await the +king's pleasure concerning her." + +The king's signature was affixed. + +"Well, that is not so very bad," the countess said. "At any rate my right +to one of my mother's estates is recognized. La Grenouille is the +smallest of them, and contains but three or four farms. Still that will +suffice for our wants, and as it lies but twenty miles from Bordeaux the +air will be warm and soft for you, Angus." + +"Is there a chateau on it, mother?" + +"Yes, there is a small chateau. I was there once as a girl. It has never +been modernized, but is still a castle such as it was two hundred years +ago." + +"All the better," Ronald said; and he then gave Malcolm's reasons for +their being on the watch against any sudden attack. + +"He is quite right, Ronald," Colonel Leslie said. "The duke is capable of +anything. However, we will be on our guard, and if, as your mother says, +it is a fortified house, we need have no fear of any sudden attack." + +"I would suggest, colonel, that I should ride to Tours," Malcolm said, +"and hire two of the men who escorted madame's carriage. They have served +in the wars and can be relied upon. They would not need high wages, for +most of the discharged soldiers have trouble enough to keep body and soul +together. With a couple of men of this kind, and two or three of the men +on the estate, I think, colonel, you need fear no sudden attack." + +The colonel approved of the suggestion, and a week later, Malcolm having +returned with the two men, a carriage was hired to convey the colonel and +his wife, and so they journeyed quietly down to La Grenouille. On +arriving there they found that they were expected, the old steward in +charge having received a letter from the royal chancellor, saying that he +was to receive the countess as the owner of the estate. + +The old man, who had known her mother well and remembered her visits as a +child, received the countess with respectful joy. The chateau was, as +Amelie had said, really a castle. It was surrounded by a moat filled with +water, from which the walls rose abruptly, with no windows in the lower +stories and only small loopholes in those above. Although the steward was +ignorant when his mistress might be expected, he had already caused great +fires to be lighted in all the rooms and had temporarily engaged two of +the farmer's daughters to wait upon the countess, and three stout men as +servitors. + +"What are the revenues of the estate?" the countess asked the steward +that evening. "My mother's other estates have not been restored to me as +yet, and I have only this to depend upon, and I do not know what +establishment I can afford to keep up." + +"The revenue amounts to twelve thousand francs," he said. "There are +three large farms and four small ones. Twelve thousand francs are not +much, countess, for your mother's daughter; but they go a long way here, +where one can live for next to nothing. We have a garden which will +provide all the fruit and vegetables you require, and your poultry will +cost you nothing. The vineyard attached to the chateau furnishes more +than enough wine, and the cellars are well filled, for every year I have +put aside a few barrels, so that in fact it will be only meat you have to +buy." + +"So that you think I can keep the two men I have brought with me and the +servants you have engaged?" + +"Easily, madam, and more if you wished it." + +"Do you think five men will be sufficient?" the countess said. "I ask +because I have powerful enemies, and in these lawless times an attack +upon a lonely house might well be carried out." + +"With the drawbridge drawn up, madam, five men could hold the chateau +against a score, and the sound of the alarm bell would bring all the +tenants and their men down to your assistance. I will answer for them +all. There were great rejoicings last week when I sent round the news +that you were expected. The memory of your mother, who once resided here +for a year, is very dear to all of us, and there is not a man on the +estate but would take up arms in your defence. The sound of the alarm +bell would bring thirty stout fellows, at least, to your aid." + +"Then we need not trouble on that score, Amelie," the colonel said +cheerfully. "Malcolm will see to the drawbridge tomorrow; probably it has +not been raised for years." + +"I have already been examining it," Malcolm -- who had just entered the +room -- said. "It only needs a little oil and a bolt or two. I will have +it raised tonight. Things look better than I expected, colonel, and I +shall be able to return to Paris without having any anxiety upon your +score." + +"But you are not thinking of going back, Ronald?" the countess asked +anxiously. "If there is danger here for us, there must be surely danger +for you in Paris. And I want you here with us." + +"I will stop for a few days, mother, and then Malcolm and I will be off. +As I have Marshal Saxe's protection I need fear no open enmity from +anyone, and as I shall be with the regiment I shall be safe from the +secret attacks; besides, my sword can guard my head." + +"You have taught him to defend himself -- eh, Malcolm?" Colonel Leslie +said. + +"I," Malcolm repeated -- "I can use my sword in a melee, colonel, as you +know, and hold my own against Dutchman or German when I meet them on the +field; but Ronald is a different blade altogether. He was well taught in +Glasgow, and has practised under the best maitres d'armes in Paris since, +and I am proud to say that I do not think there are ten men in France +against whom he could not hold his own." + +"That is good, that is good, indeed," the colonel said, delighted. +"Malcolm, I feel my obligations to you more and more every day. Truly I +had never even hoped that if my son were ever to be restored to me, I +should have such cause to be proud of him." + +"But why do you think you had better return to Paris, Ronald?" his mother +inquired. + +"Because, mother, it will not do to let your enemies have entirely their +own way now that you have been so far restored. Doubtless your family +will be the more inclined to aid you with their influence, but there must +be somebody to urge them to do so." + +"Besides, Amelie," the colonel put in, "we must not cage the lad here at +your apron strings. He has already won Saxe's regard and protection by +his conduct in the field, and can now accept a commission in the old +regiment. He has begun well, and may yet live to command it. No, no, my +love. I should like to keep him here as much as you would, but in every +way it is better that he should go out and take his place in the world. +To you and me, after our long imprisonment, this place is life, freedom, +and happiness, and we are together; but for him it is a dreary little +country chateau, and he would soon long for a life among men." + +And so, after three weeks' stay at the chateau, Ronald and Malcolm rode +back to Paris, and the former received a week later a commission through +Marshal Saxe in the Scottish Dragoons. That regiment had returned from +the frontier, and Ronald at once took his place in its ranks, and was +heartily received by all the officers, to whom he was formally introduced +by Colonel Hume as the son of their former commanding officer. + +A short time afterwards it became the turn of duty of the Scottish +Dragoons to furnish guards for a week at Versailles, and Colonel Hume +took down two troops for that purpose. That to which Ronald belonged was +one of them. Ronald, knowing that for the present he was not in favour +with the king, begged the colonel to put him on duty as often as +possible, so that he might avoid the necessity of being present at the +king's audiences with the other officers. + +He was one day walking with the colonel and several other officers in the +grounds at a distance from the palace, when they came, at the turn of the +walk, upon the Duc de Chateaurouge and three other gentlemen of the +court. The former stopped abruptly before Colonel Hume. + +"I had the honour, Colonel Hume, to speak to you some time since of a +volunteer in your regiment who chose to call himself the name of Leslie. +I understand he is now an officer. I see by the lists in the courtyard +that a Cornet Leslie is now on duty here. Where does he hide himself, for +I have been seeking in vain to meet him?" + +"Cornet Leslie is not one to balk any man's desire that way," Colonel +Hume said gravely. "This is Cornet Leslie." + +Ronald stepped forward and looked the duke calmly in the face. + +"So this is the young cockerel," the duke said contemptuously. "A worthy +son of a worthy father, I doubt not." + +"At any rate, my lord duke," Ronald said quietly, "I do not rid myself of +my foes by getting those I am afraid to meet as man to man thrown into +prison, nor by setting midnight assassins upon them. Nor do I rely upon +my skill as a swordsman to be a bully and a coward." + +The duke started as if struck. + +"I had made up my mind to kill you, young sir," he said, "sooner or +later; but you have brought it on yourself now. Draw, sir!" And the duke +drew his sword. + +Colonel Hume and several others threw themselves before Ronald. + +"Put up your sword, sir. Duelling is forbidden, and you know the +consequence of drawing within the precincts of the palace." + +"What care I for ordinances!" the duke said furiously. "Stand aside, +gentlemen, lest I do you harm!" + +"Harm or no harm," Colonel Hume said sternly, "my young friend shall not +fight in the palace grounds. I protest against his being forced into a +duel at all; but at any rate he shall not fight here." + +The duke looked for a moment as if he was about to spring upon Colonel +Hume, but he saw by their faces that his companions also were against +him. For the consequences of drawing a sword within the precincts of a +palace were so serious, that even the most powerful nobles shrank from +braving them. + +"Very well," he said at last, thrusting his sword back into its scabbard. +"It is but ten minutes' walk to the boundary wall, I will let him live +till then." + +So saying he started off with rapid strides down the walk, followed at a +slower pace by the rest. + + + +CHAPTER XII: The End of the Quarrel. + + +"This is a serious business, Leslie," the colonel said in a low voice. +"If it had been anyone but you I should have ordered him to the barracks +at once under pain of arrest, and have laid the matter before the king, +for it would have been nothing short of murder. But I can trust you to +hold your own even against the Duke of Chateaurouge. And, in truth, after +what has been said, I do not see that you can do other but meet him." + +"I would not avoid it if I could," Ronald said. "His insults to me do not +disturb me; but I have my father's wrongs to avenge." + +"Forbes," the colonel said to one of the other officers, "do you go +straight to the barracks, bid Leslie's man saddle his own horse and his +master's instantly, and bring them round outside the wall of the park. If +Leslie wounds or kills his man he will have to ride for it." + +The officer at once hurried away. + +"Ronald, I will tell you a piece of news I heard this morning. The young +Chevalier left Paris secretly five days ago, and I have received certain +private information this morning that he has gone to Nantes, and that he +is on the point of sailing for Scotland on his own account. I am told +that this plan of his is known to but five or six persons. If you get +safely through this business mount and ride thither at all speed. They +are more likely to pursue you towards the frontier or the northern ports, +and will not think you have made for Nantes. If you get there before the +prince has sailed, present yourself to him and join his expedition. The +king will be furious at first, both at the loss of his favourite and the +breaking of the edicts; but he must come round. The gentlemen here with +the duke are all honourable men, and were, I could see, shocked at the +insult which the duke passed on you. Therefore I can rely upon them to +join me in representing the matter in its true light to the king. Before +you return, the matter will have blown over, and it may be that the +removal of your father's most powerful enemy may facilitate an +arrangement. In any case, my dear boy, you can rely upon the marshal and +myself to look after your interests." + +They had now reached a wicket gate in the wall of the park. The duke was +standing a few paces distant, having already removed his coat and turned +up the shirt sleeve of the sword arm. + +"You will act as second, marquis?" he said to one of the gentlemen. + +The latter bowed coldly. + +"I act as second to my friend Leslie," Colonel Hume said. "And I call +upon you all, gentlemen, to bear witness in the future, that this +encounter has been wantonly forced upon him by the Duc de Chateaurouge, +and that Cornet Leslie, as a man of honour, has no alternative whatever +but to accept the challenge forced upon him." + +Ronald had by this time stripped to his shirt sleeves. The seconds took +the two swords and compared their length. They were found to be as nearly +as possible the same. They were then returned to their owners. A piece of +even turf was selected, and a position chosen in which the light was +equally favourable to both parties. Then both fell into position on +guard, and as the rapiers crossed Colonel Hume said solemnly: + +"May God defend the right!" + +An instant later they were engaged in deadly conflict. It lasted but a +few seconds. The duke, conscious of his own skill, and believing that he +had but a lad to deal with, at once attacked eagerly, desirous of +bringing the contest to a termination before there was any chance of +interruption. He attacked, then, carelessly and eagerly, and made a +furious lunge which he thought would terminate the encounter at once; but +Ronald did not give way an inch, but parrying in carte, slipped his blade +round that of the duke, feinted in tierce, and then rapidly disengaging, +lunged in carte as before. The blade passed through the body of his +adversary, and the lunge was given with such force that the pommel of his +sword struck against the ribs. The duke fell an inert mass upon the +ground as Ronald withdrew the rapier. + +An exclamation of surprise and alarm broke from the three gentlemen who +had accompanied the duke, while Colonel Hume said gravely: + +"God has protected the right. Ah! here come the horses! Mount and ride, +Leslie, and do not spare the spurs. I should advise you," he said, +drawing him aside, "to take the northern route for a few miles, so as to +throw them off the scent. When you get to Nantes search the inns till you +find the Duke of Athole, he is an intimate friend of mine, and it was +from him I learned in strict secrecy of the prince's intentions. Show him +this ring, he knows it well, and tell him I sent you to join him; say +nothing at first as to this business here. Your own name and my name will +be enough. He will introduce you to Prince Charlie, who will be with him +under a disguised name. May God bless you, my lad! We will do our best +for you here." + +At this moment Malcolm arrived with the two horses. + +"Thank God you are safe, Ronald!" he exclaimed as Ronald leapt into his +saddle, and with a word of thanks and adieu to the colonel dashed off at +full speed. + +Colonel Hume then rejoined the group gathered round the duke. The +Scottish officers were looking very grave, the courtiers even more so. +They had from the first recognized fully that the duel had been provoked +by the duke, and had accompanied him reluctantly, for they regarded the +approaching conflict as so unfair that it would excite a strong amount of +feeling against all who had a hand in the matter. As to the edict against +duelling, it had not concerned them greatly, as they felt sure that with +the duke's influence the breach of the law would be passed over with only +a show of displeasure on the part of the king, and an order to absent +themselves for a short time from court. The contingency that this young +Scottish officer, who had scarcely yet attained the age of manhood, +should kill one of the best swordsmen in France had not occurred to them; +but this had happened, and there could be no doubt that the king's anger, +alike at the loss of his favourite and at the breach of the law, would +fall heavily on all concerned, and that a prolonged exile from court was +the least evil they could expect. Not a word had been spoken after they +had, on stooping over the duke, found that death had been instantaneous, +until Colonel Hume joined them. + +"Well, gentlemen," he said; "this is a bad business, and means trouble +for us all. His majesty will be vastly angry. However, the duke brought +it upon himself, and is the only person to blame. His character is pretty +well known, and it will be manifest that if he had made up his mind to +fight no remonstrance on your part would have availed to induce him to +abstain from doing so. At the same time the king will not, in the first +burst of his anger, take that into consideration, and for awhile we shall +no doubt all of us suffer from his displeasure; but I do not think that +it will be lasting. The duke forced on the duel, and would have fought +within the royal park had we not interfered, and we were in a way forced +to be present. I propose that we return to the palace and give notice of +what has occurred. Captain Forbes, as you were not present at the affair, +and will not therefore be called upon to give any account of it, will you +remain here until they send down to fetch the body? + +"We will, if you please, gentlemen, walk slowly, for every mile that +Leslie can put between him and Versailles is very important. The news +will reach the king's ears very shortly after we have made it public. You +and I, marquis, as the seconds in the affair, are sure to be sent for +first. As, fortunately, we were both present at the quarrel we are both +in a position to testify that the duke brought his fate upon himself, +that there was no preventing the duel, and that had we refused to act he +was in a frame of mind which would have driven him to fight without +seconds if none had been forthcoming; lastly, we can testify that the +combat was a fair one, and that the duke fell in consequence of the +rashness of his attack and his contempt for his adversary, although in +point of fact I can tell you that young Leslie is so good a swordsman +that I am confident the result would in any case have been the same." + +"I suppose there's nothing else for it," the marquis grumbled. "I must +prepare myself for a prolonged visit to my country estates." + +"And I shall no doubt be placed under arrest for some time," Colonel Hume +said; "and the regiment will probably be packed off to the frontier +again. However, these things don't make much difference in the long run. +What I am most anxious about, marquis, is that his majesty should +thoroughly comprehend that Leslie was not to blame, and that this affair +was so forced upon him that it was impossible for him to avoid it. There +is much more than the lad's own safety dependent on this." + +"You may be sure, colonel, that I will do him justice." + +At a slow pace the party proceeded until they neared the palace, when +they quickened their steps. The marquis proceeded immediately to the +apartments occupied by the duke, and told his domestics that their master +had been killed in a duel, and directed them to obtain assistance and +proceed at once to the spot where his body would be found. The colonel +went to the king's surgeon, and told him of what had taken place. + +"His death was instantaneous," he said; "the sword passed right through +him, and I believe touched the heart. However, it will be as well that +you should go and see the body, as the king will be sure to ask +particulars as to the wound." + +The rest of the party joined their acquaintances, and told them what had +happened, and the news spread quickiy through the palace. It created a +great sensation. Breaches of the edict were not unfrequent; but the death +of so powerful a noble, a chief favourite, too, of the king, took it +altogether out of the ordinary category of such events. The more so since +the duke's reputation as a swordsman and a duellist was so great that men +could scarce believe that he had been killed by a young officer who had +but just joined the regiment. It seemed like the story of David and +Goliath over again. A quarter of an hour later a court official +approached Colonel Hume and the Marquis de Vallecourt, who were standing +together surrounded by a number of courtiers and officers. + +"Monsieur le Marquis and Colonel Hume," he said, saluting them; "I regret +to say that I am the bearer of the orders of his majesty that you shall +deliver me your swords, and that you will then accompany me to the king's +presence." + +The two gentlemen handed over their swords to the official, and followed +him to the king's presence. Louis was pacing angrily up and down his +apartment. + +"What is this I hear, gentlemen?" he exclaimed as they entered. "A breach +of the edicts here at Versailles, almost in the boundaries of the park; +and that the Duc de Chateaurouge, one of my most valued officers and +friends has been killed; they tell me that you acted as seconds in the +affair." + +"They have told your majesty the truth," the marquis said; "but I think +that, much as we regret what has happened, we could scarcely have acted +otherwise than we did. The duke drew in the first place within the limits +of the park, and would have fought out his quarrel there had we not, I +may almost say forcibly, intervened. Then he strode away towards the +boundary of the park, calling upon his antagonist to follow him; and had +we not gone the encounter would have taken place without seconds or +witnesses, and might then have been called a murder instead of a duel." + +"You should have arrested him, sir," the king exclaimed, "for drawing in +the park." + +"Perhaps we should have done so, sire; but you must please to remember +that the Duke of Chateaurouge was of a temper not to be crossed, and I +believe that bloodshed would have taken place had we endeavoured to +thwart him. He enjoyed your majesty's favour, and a forcible arrest, with +perhaps the shedding of blood, in the royal demesne would have been a +scandal as grave as that of this duel." + +"How did it come about?" the king asked abruptly. + +"The duke was walking with De Lisle, St. Aignan, and myself, when we +suddenly came upon Colonel Hume with three of the officers of his +regiment. The duke at once walked up to them and addressed Colonel Hume, +and finding which of his companions was Monsieur Leslie, addressed him in +terms of so insulting a nature that they showed that he had been waiting +for the meeting to provoke a quarrel. The young officer replied perfectly +calmly, but with what I must call admirable spirit and courage, which so +infuriated the duke, that, as I have already had the honour of telling +your majesty, he drew at once, and when we interfered he called upon him +to proceed forthwith outside the park, and there settle the quarrel. We +most reluctantly accompanied him, and determined to interfere at the +first blood drawn; but the affair scarcely lasted for a second. The duke +threw himself furiously and rashly upon the lad, for as your majesty is +aware, he is but little more. The latter, standing firm, parried with +admirable coolness, and in an instant ran the duke right through the +body." + +"But I have always heard," the king said, "that the duke was one of the +best swordsmen in the army." + +"Your majesty has heard correctly," Colonel Hume replied; "but young +Leslie is one of the best swordsmen in France. The duke's passion and +rashness led to the speedy termination of the duel; but had he fought +with his accustomed coolness I believe that Leslie would have turned out +his conqueror." + +"But what was the cause of the quarrel? Why should the Duc de +Chateaurouge fix a dispute, as you tell me he did, upon this officer of +yours?" + +"I believe, sire, that it was a long standing quarrel. The duke's words +showed that he bore an enmity against the lad's father, and that it was +on this account that he insulted the son." + +"Leslie!" the king exclaimed, with a sudden recollection. "Is that the +youth whom Marshal Saxe presented to me?" + +"The same, sire; the lad who distinguished himself at Fontenoy, and whom +the Marshal afterwards appointed to a commission in my regiment, in which +he had served as a gentleman volunteer for nearly a year." + +"These Leslies are always causing trouble," the king said angrily. "I +have already given orders that he shall be arrested wherever he is found, +and he shall be punished as he deserves." + +"In punishing him," Colonel Hume said with grave deference, "I am sure +that your majesty will not forget that this quarrel was forced upon him, +and that, had he accepted the insults of the Duke of Chateaurouge, he +would have been unworthy to remain an officer of your majesty." + +"Silence, sir!" the king said angrily. "You will return immediately to +Paris, under arrest, until my pleasure in your case is notified to you. I +shall at once give orders that your troops here are replaced by those of +a regiment whose officers will abstain from brawling and breaking the +edicts in our very palace. Marquis, you will retire at once to your +estates." The two gentlemen bowed and left the royal presence. + +"Not worse than I expected," the marquis said, after the door had closed +behind them. "Now he will send for St. Aignan and De Lisle, and will hear +their account, and as it cannot but tally with ours the king must see +that the duke brought his fate upon himself. Louis is not unjust when his +temper cools down, and in a few weeks we shall meet again here." + +"I expect to be on the frontier with my regiment before that," Colonel +Hume replied; "but as I would rather be there than in Paris that will be +no hardship." + +Colonel Hume at once mounted and rode back to Paris and proceeded +straight to the hotel of Marshal Saxe, to whom he communicated what had +occurred. + +"If Leslie gets safely away it will, perhaps, all turn out for the best," +the marshal said. "As soon as the king's anger dies out I will begin to +plead the cause of the boy's parents; and now that the influence of +Chateaurouge the other way is withdrawn, I may hope for a more favourable +hearing. As to the lad himself, we will make his peace in a few months. +The king is brave himself, as he showed when under fire at Fontenoy, and +he admires bravery in others, and when he has once got over the loss of +Chateaurouge he will appreciate the skill and courage which the lad +showed in an encounter with one of the most noted duellists in France. +Now, too, that the duke has gone, some of the stories to his +disadvantage, of which there are so many current, are likely to meet the +king's ears. Hitherto no one has ventured to speak a word against so +powerful a favourite; but the king's eyes will soon be open now, and he +will become ashamed of so long having given his countenance to a man who +is generally regarded as having not only killed half-a-dozen men in +duels, but as having procured the removal, by unfair means, of a score of +others. When he knows the truth the king is likely to do justice, not +only to young Leslie, but to his parents. I only hope that they will not +manage to overtake the lad before he reaches the frontier, for although I +can rely on the king's justice when he is cool I would not answer for it +just at present." + +As Ronald rode off at full speed with Malcolm he related to him the whole +circumstances of the quarrel and subsequent duel. + +"It was well done, Ronald. I made sure that sooner or later you and the +duke would get to blows, that is if he did not adopt other means to get +you removed from his path; anyhow I am heartily glad it's over, and that +the most dangerous enemy of your father and yourself is out of the way. +And now we must hope that we sha'nt be overtaken before we get to the +frontier. The danger is that orders for your arrest will be passed by +signal." + +"We are not going to the frontier, Malcolm; I am only riding this way to +throw them off the scent. We are going to Nantes." + +"Well, that's not a bad plan," Malcolm said. "They are not so likely to +send orders there as to the northern ports. But it will not be easy to +get a vessel to cross, for you see, now that we are at war with England, +there is little communication. However, we shall no doubt be able to +arrange with a smuggler to take us across." + +"We are not going to England, Malcolm; we are going direct to Scotland. +Colonel Hume has told me a secret: Prince Charles has gone down to Nantes +and is going to cross at once to Scotland." + +"What! Alone and without an army!" Malcolm exclaimed in astonishment. + +"I suppose he despairs of getting assistance from Louis. Now that +Fontenoy has put an end to danger on the frontier the King of France is +no longer interested in raising trouble for George at home." + +"But it is a mad scheme of the prince's," Malcolm said gravely. "If his +father did not succeed in '15 how can he expect to succeed now?" + +"The country has had all the longer time to get sick of the Hanoverians, +and the gallantry of the enterprise will appeal to the people. Besides, +Malcolm, I am not so sure that he will not do better coming alone than if +he brought the fifteen thousand men he had at Dunkirk last year with him. +Fifteen thousand men would not win him a kingdom, and many who would join +him if he came alone would not do so if he came backed by an army of +foreigners. It was the French, you will remember, who ruined his +grandfather's cause in Ireland. Their arrogance and interference +disgusted the Irish, and their troops never did any fighting to speak of. +For myself, I would a thousand times rather follow Prince Charles +fighting with an army of Scotsmen for the crown of Scotland than fight +for him with a French army against Englishmen." + +"Well, perhaps you are right, Ronald; it went against the grain at +Fontenoy; for after all, as you said, we are closely akin in blood and +language to the English, and although Scotland and France have always +been allies it is very little good France has ever done us. She has +always been glad enough to get our kings to make war on England whenever +she wanted a diversion made, but she has never put herself out of the way +to return the favour. It has been a one sided alliance all along. +Scotland has for centuries been sending some of her best blood to fight +as soldiers in France, but with a few exceptions no Frenchman has ever +drawn his sword for Scotland. + +"No, I am inclined to think you are right, Ronald, and especially after +what we saw at Fontenoy I have no wish ever to draw sword again against +the English, and am willing to be the best friends in the world with them +if they will but let us Scots have our own king and go away peacefully. I +don't want to force Prince Charles upon them if they will but let us have +him for ourselves. If they won't, you know, it is they who are +responsible for the quarrel, not us." + +"That is one way of putting it, certainly," Ronald laughed. "I am afraid +after having been one kingdom since King James went to London, they won't +let us go our own way without making an effort to keep us; but here is a +crossroad, we will strike off here and make for the west." + +They avoided the towns on their routes, for although they felt certain +that they were ahead of any messengers who might be sent out with orders +for their arrest, they knew that they might be detained for some little +time at Nantes, and were therefore anxious to leave no clue of their +passage in that direction. On the evening of the third day after starting +they approached their destination. + +On the first morning after leaving Versailles they had halted in wood a +short distance from Chartres, and Malcolm had ridden in alone and had +purchased a suit of citizen's clothes for Ronald, as the latter's uniform +as an officer of the Scotch Dragoons would at once have attracted notice. +Henceforward, whenever they stopped, Malcolm had taken an opportunity to +mention to the stable boy that he was accompanying his master, the son of +an advocate of Paris, on a visit to some relatives in La Vendee. This +story he repeated at the inn where they put up at Nantes. + +The next morning Malcolm went round to all the inns in the town, but +could hear nothing of the Duke of Athole, so he returned at noon with the +news of his want of success. + +"They may have hired a private lodging to avoid observation," Ronald +said, "or, not improbably, may have taken another name. The best thing we +can do is to go down to the river side, inquire what vessels are likely +to leave port soon, and then, if we see anyone going off to them, to +accost them. We may hear of them in that way." + +Accordingly they made their way down to the river. There were several +vessels lying in the stream, in readiness to sail when the wind served, +and the mouth of the river was reported to be clear of any English +cruisers. They made inquiries as to the destination of the vessels. All +the large ones were sailing for Bordeaux or the Mediterranean ports of +France. + +"What is that little vessel lying apart from the rest?" Malcolm asked. +"She looks a saucy little craft." + +"That is the privateer La Doutelle, one of the fastest little vessels on +the coast. She has brought in more than one English merchantman as a +prize." + +As they were speaking a boat was seen to leave her side and make for the +shore. With a glance at Malcolm to break off his conversation with the +sailor and follow him, Ronald strode along the bank towards the spot +where the boat would land. Two gentlemen got out and advanced along the +quay. As they passed Ronald said to Malcolm: + +"I know one of those men's faces." + +"Do you, Ronald? I cannot recall having seen them." + +Ronald stood for a moment in thought. + +"I know now!" he exclaimed. "And he is one of our men, sure enough." + +"I think, sir," he said as he came up to them, "that I have had the +honour of meeting you before." + +A look of displeasure came across the gentleman's face. + +"I think you are mistaken, sir," he said coldly. "You must take me for +some one else. My name is Verbois -- Monsieur Verbois of Le Mans." + +"I have not the pleasure of knowing Monsieur Verbois," Ronald said with a +slight smile; "but I hardly think, sir, that that is the name that you +went by when I had the honour of meeting you in Glasgow more than two +years ago?" + +"In Glasgow!" the gentleman said, looking earnestly at Ronald. "In +Glasgow! I do not remember you." + +"I had the pleasure of doing you some slight service, nevertheless," +Ronald said quietly, "when I brought you news that your enemies were upon +you, and managed to detain them while you made your escape through the +attic window." + +"A thousand pardons!" the gentleman exclaimed, speaking in English. "How +could I have forgotten you? But I saw you for such a short time, and two +years have changed you greatly. This is the young gentleman, marquis, to +whom I am indebted for my escape when I was so nearly captured at +Glasgow, as you have heard me say. It was to his kindly warning in the +first place, and to his courage in the second, that I owed my liberty. It +is wonderful that you should remember me." + +"Two years have not changed you as much as they have changed me," Ronald +said; "besides, you were busy in destroying papers, while I had nothing +to do but to watch you." + +"That is so," the gentleman agreed. "At any rate I am heartily glad of +the happy chance which has thrown us together, and has given me an +opportunity of expressing to you the deep gratitude which I have felt for +your warning and assistance. Had it not been for that, not only should I +myself have been taken, but they would have got possession of those +papers, which might have brought the heads of a score of the best blood +of Scotland to the scaffold. I took a boat that was lying in readiness, +and making down the river got on board a ship which was cruising there +awaiting me, and got off. It has always been a matter of bitter regret to +me that I never learned so much as the name of the brave young gentleman +to whom I owed so much, or what had happened to him for his share in that +night's work." + +"My name is Ronald Leslie, sir. I am the son of Leslie of Glenlyon, who +fought with the Chevalier in '15, and afterwards entered the service of +the King of France, and was colonel of the 2nd Scorch Dragoons." + +"Of course I knew him well," the gentleman said, "and with others +endeavoured to obtain his pardon when he fell under the king's +displeasure some fifteen years ago, although I regret to say without +success. Believe me, if Prince Charles --" He stopped suddenly as his +companion touched him. + +"You would say, sir," Ronald said with a smile, "If Prince Charles +succeeds in his present enterprise, and regains his throne, you will get +him to exert his influence to obtain my father's release." + +The two gentlemen gave an exclamation of astonishment. + +"How do you know of any enterprise that is meditated?" + +"I was told of it as a secret by a Scotch officer in Paris, and am the +bearer of a message from him to the Duke of Athole, to ask him to allow +me to join the prince." + +"I am the duke," the other gentleman said. + +"Since it is you, sir, I may tell you that the officer I spoke of is +Colonel Hume, and that he bade me show you this ring, which he said you +would know, as a token that my story was a correct one." + +"Hume is my greatest friend," the duke exclaimed, "and his introduction +would be sufficient, even if you had not already proved your devotion to +the cause of the Stuarts. I will take you at once to the prince. But," he +said, "before I do so, I must tell you that the enterprise upon which we +are about to embark is a desperate one. The prince has but five +companions with him, and we embark on board that little privateer lying +in the stream. It is true that we shall be escorted by a man of war, +which will convey the arms which Prince Charles has purchased for the +enterprise; but not a man goes with us, and the prince is about to trust +wholly to the loyalty of Scotland." + +"I shall be ready to accompany him in any case, sir," Ronald said, "and I +beg to introduce to you a faithful friend of my father and myself. His +name is Malcolm Anderson. He fought for the Chevalier in '15, and +accompanied my father in his flight to France, and served under him in +the French service. Upon the occasion of my father's arrest he carried me +to Scotland, and has been my faithful friend ever since." + +So saying he called Malcolm up and presented him to the duke, and the +party then proceeded to the lodging where Prince Charles was staying. + +"I have the misfortune to be still ignorant of your name, sir," Ronald +said to his acquaintance of Glasgow. + +"What!" the gentleman said in surprise. "You do not know my name, after +doing so much for me! I thought, as a matter of course, that when you +were captured for aiding my escape you would have heard it, hence my +remissness in not introducing myself. I am Colonel Macdonald. When you +met me I was engaged in a tour through the Highland clans, sounding the +chiefs and obtaining additions to the seven who had signed a declaration +in favour of the prince three years before. The English government had +obtained, through one of their spies about the person of the Chevalier, +news of my mission, and had set a vigilant watch for me." + +"But is it possible that there can be spies among those near the +Chevalier!" Ronald exclaimed in astonishment. + +"Aye, there are spies everywhere," Macdonald said bitterly. "All sorts of +people come and go round the Chevalier and round Prince Charles. Every +Scotch or Irish vagabond who has made his native country too hot to hold +him, come to them and pretend that they are martyrs to their loyalty to +the Stuarts; and the worst of it is their story is believed. They flatter +and fawn, they say just what they are wanted to say, and have no opinion +of their own, and the consequence is that the Chevalier looks upon these +fellows as his friends, and often turns his back upon Scottish gentlemen +who have risked and lost all in his service, but who are too honest to +flatter him or to descend to the arts of courtiers. Look at the men who +are here with the prince now." + +"Macdonald! Macdonald!" the duke said warmly. + +"Well, well," the other broke off impatiently; "no doubt it is better to +hold one's tongue. But it is monstrous, that when there are a score, ay, +a hundred of Scottish gentlemen of family, many of them officers with a +high knowledge of war, who would gladly have accompanied him at the first +whisper of his intentions, the prince should be starting on such a +venture as this with yourself only, duke, as a representative of the +Scottish nobles and chiefs, and six or eight mongrels -- Irish, English, +and Scotch -- the sort of men who haunt the pot houses of Flanders, and +spend their time in telling what they have suffered in the Stuart cause +to any who will pay for their liquor." + +"Not quite so bad as that, Macdonald," the duke said. "Still I admit that +I could have wished that Prince Charles should have landed in Scotland +surrounded by men with names known and honoured there, rather than by +those he has selected to accompany him." + +"But you are going, are you not, sir?" Ronald asked Colonel Macdonald. + +"No, I do not accompany the prince; but I hope to follow shortly. As soon +as the prince has sailed it is my mission to see all his friends and +followers in France, and urge them to join him in Scotland; while we +bring all the influence we have to bear upon Louis, to induce him to +furnish arms and assistance for the expedition." + + + +CHAPTER XIII: Prince Charles. + + +Upon arriving at the prince's lodgings Macdonald remained without, the +Duke of Athole entering, accompanied only by Ronald. + +"The prince is in disguise," he said, "and but one or two of us visit him +here in order that no suspicion may be incited among the people of the +house that he is anything beyond what he appears to be -- a young student +of the Scotch college at Paris." + +They ascended the stairs to the upper story, and on the marquis knocking, +a door was opened. The duke entered, followed by Ronald. + +"Well, duke, what is the news?" + +The question was asked by a young man, who was pacing restlessly up and +down the room, of which he was, with the exception of his valet de +chambre, an Italian named Michel, the person who had opened the door, the +only occupant. + +"Ah! whom have you here?" + +"Allow me to present to your royal highness Lieutenant Leslie. He is the +son of Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought by my side in your father's cause +in '15, and has, like myself, been an exile ever since. This is the young +gentleman who, two years since, saved Macdonald from arrest in Glasgow." + +"Ah! I remember the adventure," the prince said courteously, "and right +gallant action it was; but how did you hear that I was here, sir?" + +"I was told by my good friend and commanding officer, Colonel Hume of the +2nd Scottish Dragoons, your royal highness." + +"I revealed it to Hume before leaving Paris," the duke said, "he being a +great friend of mine and as staunch as steel, and I knew that he could be +trusted to keep a secret." + +"It seems that in the last particular you were wrong," the prince +remarked with a slight smile. + +"Colonel Hume only revealed it to me, sir," Ronald said, anxious to save +his friend from the suspicion of having betrayed a secret confided to +him, "for very special reasons. I had the misfortune to kill in a duel +the Duke of Chateaurouge, and as we fought just outside the park of +Versailles, and the duke was a favourite of the king's, I had to ride for +it; then Colonel Hume, knowing my devotion to the cause of your highness, +whispered to me the secret of your intention, and gave me a message to +his friend the Duke of Athole." + +"Do you say that you have killed the Duke of Chateaurouge in a duel?" the +duke exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, he has the reputation of being one +of the best swordsmen in France, and has a most evil name as a dangerous +and unscrupulous man. I met him constantly at court, and his arrogance +and haughtiness were well nigh insufferable. And you have killed him?" + +"I knew him well too," the prince said, "and his reputation. We do not +doubt what you say, young gentleman," he added quickiy, seeing a flush +mount into Ronald's face; "but in truth it seems strange that such should +have been the case." + +"Colonel Hume did me the honour to be my second," Ronald said quietly, +"and the Marquis de Vallecourt was second to the duke; some other +officers of the Scottish regiment were present, as were two other French +noblemen, De Lisle and St. Aignan." + +"We doubt you not, sir," the duke said warmly. "You will understand that +it cannot but seem strange that you at your age -- for it seems to me +that you cannot be more than nineteen -- should have been able to stand +for a moment against one of the best swordsmen in France, to say nothing +of having slain him." + +"Colonel Hume would scarcely have consented to act as my second had he +thought that the contest was a wholly unequal one," Ronald said with a +slight smile; "indeed I may say that he regarded it as almost certain +that I should have the best of the fray." + +"Why, you must be a very Paladin," the prince said admiringly; "but sit +down and tell us all about it. Upon my word I am so sick of being cooped +up for four days in this wretched den that I regard your coming as a +godsend. Now tell me how it was that the Duc de Chateaurouge condescended +to quarrel with a young officer in the Scottish Horse." + +"It was a family quarrel, sir, which I had inherited from my father." + +"Yes, yes, I remember now," the Duke of Athole broke in. "It is an old +story now; but I heard all about it at the time, and did what I could, as +did all Leslie's friends, to set the matter right, but in vain. Leslie of +Glenlyon, prince, was colonel of the Scottish Dragoons, and as gallant +and dashing a soldier as ever was in the service of the King of France, +and as good looking a one too; and the result was, the daughter of the +Marquis de Recambours, one of the richest heiresses in France, whom her +father and the king destined as the bride of this Duke of Chateaurouge, +who was then quite a young man, fell in love with Leslie, and a secret +marriage took place between them. For three years no one suspected it; +but the young lady's obstinacy in refusing to obey her father's orders +caused her to be shut up in a convent. Somehow the truth came out. Leslie +was arrested and thrown into the Bastille, and he has never been heard of +since. What became of the child which was said to have been born no one +ever heard; but it was generally supposed that it had been put out of the +way. We in vain endeavoured to soften the king's anger against Leslie, +but the influence of Recambours and Chateaurouge was too great for us. +Hume told me some time since that Leslie's son had been carried off to +Scotland by one of his troopers, and had returned, and was riding as a +gentleman volunteer in his regiment; but we have had no further talk on +the subject." + +"You will be glad to hear, sir," Ronald said, "that my father and mother +have within the last few weeks been released, and are now living on a +small estate of my mother's in the south. They were ordered to retire +there by the king." + +"I am glad, indeed," the duke said cordially; "and how is your father?" + +"He is sadly crippled by rheumatism, and can scarce walk," Ronald said, +"and I fear that his health is altogether shaken with what he had to go +through." + +"How did you obtain their release, Leslie?" the prince asked. + +"Marshal Saxe obtained it for me," Ronald answered. "Colonel Hume first +introduced me to him, and as he too had known my father he promised that +should he obtain a victory he would ask as a boon from the king the +release of my father, and he did so after Fontenoy, where the Marquis de +Recambours was killed, and the king thereby freed from his influence. The +Duke of Chateaurouge, whose hostility against my father had always been +bitter, was doubtless greatly irritated at his release, and took the +first opportunity, on meeting me, of grossly insulting me. On my replying +in terms in accordance with the insult, he drew, and would have fought me +in the palace grounds had not Colonel Hume and his friends interfered; +then we adjourned outside the park. The duke doubtless thought that he +would kill me without difficulty, and so rushed in so carelessly that at +the very first thrust I ran him through." + +"And served him right," the prince said heartily. "Now since both your +father's enemies are gone, it may be hoped that his troubles are over, +and that your mother will recover the estates to which she is entitled. +And now, duke, what is your news? When are we going to sail?" + +"The Doutelle is already by this time on her way down the river, and it +is proposed that we shall start this evening and board her there. The +stores and arms are all safely on board the Elizabeth, and she is lying +off Belleisle; so far as Mr. Walsh has heard, no suspicion has been +excited as to their purpose or destination, so that we may hope in +twenty-four hours to be fairly on board." + +"That is the best news I have heard for months," the prince said; "thank +goodness the time for action is at last at hand!" + +"I have, I trust, your royal highness' permission to accompany you," +Ronald said; "together with my follower, Anderson. He is the trooper who +carried me over to Scotland as a child, and has been my faithful friend +ever since." + +"Certainly, Leslie. I shall be glad indeed to have a member of a family +who have proved so faithful to my father's cause with me in the adventure +upon which I am embarking." + +Ronald with a few words of thanks bowed and took his leave, after +receiving instructions from the duke to start shortly and to ride down +the river towards Lorient. + +"You can halt for a few hours on the road, and then ride on again; we +shall overtake you before you reach the port. We shall all leave singly +or in pairs, to avoid attracting any attention." + +Ronald left, delighted with the kindness of the prince's manner. Prince +Charles was indeed possessed of all the attributes which win men's hearts +and devotion. In figure he was tall and well formed, and endowed both +with strength and activity. He excelled in all manly exercises, and was +an excellent walker, having applied himself ardently to field sports +during his residence in Italy. + +He was strikingly handsome, his face was of a perfect oval, his features +high and noble, his complexion was fair, his eyes light blue, and, +contrary to the custom of the time, when wigs were almost universally +worn, he allowed his hair to fall in long ringlets on his neck. His +manner was graceful, and although he always bore himself with a sort of +royal dignity he had the peculiar talent of pleasing and attracting all +with whom he came in contact, and had the art of adapting his +conversation to the taste or station of those whom he addressed. + +His education had been intrusted to Sir Thomas Sheridan, an Irish Roman +Catholic, who had grossly neglected his duties, and who indeed has been +more than suspected of acting as an agent in the pay of the British +government. The weakness in the prince's character was that he was a bad +judge of men, and inclined on all occasions to take the advice of +designing knaves who flattered and paid deference to him, rather than +that of the Scottish nobles who were risking their lives for his cause, +but who at times gave their advice with a bluntness and warmth which were +displeasing to him. It was this weakness which brought an enterprise, +which at one time had the fairest prospect of success, to destruction and +ruin. + +On leaving the house Ronald was joined by Malcolm, and half an hour later +they mounted their horses and rode for the mouth of the Loire. The whole +party arrived on the following day at St. Nazaire, embarking separately +on board the Doutelle, where Prince Charles, who had come down from +Nantes in a fishing boat, was received by Mr. Walsh, the owner of the +vessel. Ronald now saw gathered together the various persons who were to +accompany Prince Charles on this adventurous expedition. These were +Sheridan, the former tutor of the prince; Kelly, a non-juring clergyman, +and Sullivan -- both, like Sheridan, Irishmen; Strickland, a personage so +unimportant that while some writers call him an Englishman, others assert +that he was Irish; Aeneas Macdonald, a Scotchman; Sir John Macdonald, an +officer in the Spanish service; the prince's valet, Michel; and the Duke +of Athole, or, as he is more generally called, the Marquis of +Tullibardine, the last named being the only man of high standing or +reputation. Never did a prince start to fight for a kingdom with such a +following. + +The Doutelle weighed anchor as soon as the last of the party arrived on +deck, and under easy sail proceeded to Belleisle. Here she lay for some +days awaiting the arrival of the Elizabeth. Mr. Rutledge, a merchant at +Nantes, had obtained an order from the French court that this man of war +should proceed to cruise on the coast of Scotland, and had then arranged +with the captain of the ship to take on board the arms that had been +purchased by the prince with the proceeds of the sale of some of the +family jewels. + +These consisted of fifteen hundred muskets, eighteen hundred broadswords, +twenty small field pieces, and some ammunition. The captain had also +agreed that the Doutelle, which only mounted eighteen small guns, should +sail in company with the Elizabeth to Scotland. As soon as the Elizabeth +was seen the Doutelle spread her sails, and keeping a short distance from +each other, the two vessels sailed north. So great was the necessity for +prudence that the prince still maintained his disguise as a Scottish +student, and, with the exception of Mr. Walsh, none of the officers and +crew of the Doutelle were acquainted with his real rank, and the various +members of his party treated him and each other as strangers. + +Four days after leaving Belleisle a British man of war of fifty-eight +guns hove in sight, and crowding on all sail rapidly came up. The +Elizabeth at once prepared to engage her, signalling to the Doutelle to +do the same. The prince urged Mr. Walsh to aid the Elizabeth, but the +latter steadily refused. + +He had undertaken, he said, to carry the prince to Scotland, and would do +nothing to endanger the success of the enterprise. The two vessels were +well matched, and he would not allow the Doutelle to engage in the +affair. The prince continued to urge the point, until at last Mr. Walsh +said "that unless he abstained from interference he should be forced to +order him below." + +The Doutelle, therefore, stood aloof from the engagement, which lasted +for five or six hours, and sailed quietly on her course, in order to be +beyond the risk of capture should the English ship prove victorious; +neither of the vessels, however, obtained any decided advantage. Both +were so crippled in the encounter that the Elizabeth returned to France, +the Lion to Plymouth to refit. Thus the small supply of arms and +artillery which the prince had with such great trouble got together was +lost. + +"Well, Ronald," Malcolm said that evening as they leant over the taffrail +together, "I do think that such a mad headed expedition as this was never +undertaken. An exiled prince, an outlawed duke, six adventurers, a valet, +and our two selves. One could laugh if one was not almost ready to cry at +the folly of invading a country like England in such a fashion." + +"That is only one way of looking at it, Malcolm. We are not an army of +invasion. The prince is simply travelling with a few personal followers +to put himself at the head of an army. The affair depends, not upon us, +but upon the country. If the clans turn out to support him as they did in +'15 he will soon be at the head of some twenty thousand men. Not enough, +I grant you, to conquer England, but enough for a nucleus round which the +Lowland and English Jacobites can gather." + +"Yes, it depends upon the ifs, Ronald. If all the Highland clans join, +and if there are sufficient Jacobites in the Lowlands and England to make +a large army, we may do. I have some hopes of the clans, but after what +we saw of the apathy of the English Jacobites in '15 I have no shadow of +faith in them. However, I fought for the Chevalier in '15, and I am ready +to fight for Prince Charles now as long as there is any fighting to be +done, and when that is over I shall be as ready to make for France as I +was before." + +Ronald laughed. + +"You are certainly not enthusiastic about it, Malcolm." + +"When one gets to my age, Ronald, common sense takes the place of +enthusiasm, and I have seen enough of wars to know that for business a +well appointed and well disciplined army is required. If Prince Charles +does get what you call an army, but which I should call an armed mob, +together, there will be the same dissensions, the same bickerings, the +same want of plan that there was before; and unless something like a +miracle happens it will end as the last did at Preston, in defeat and +ruin. However, lad, here we are, and we will go through with it to the +end. By the time we get back to France we must hope that King Louis will +have got over the killing of his favourite. However, I tell you frankly +that my hope is that when the Highland chiefs see that the prince has +come without arms, without men, and without even promises of support by +France, they will refuse to risk liberty and life and to bring ruin upon +their people by joining in such a mad brained adventure." + +"I hope not, Malcolm," Ronald said, as he looked at the prince as he was +pacing up and down the deck with the Duke of Athole, talking rapidly, his +face flushed with enthusiasm, his clustering hair blown backward by the +wind. "He is a noble young prince. He is fighting for his own. He has +justice and right on his side, and God grant that he may succeed!" + +"Amen to that, Ronald, with all my heart! But so far as my experience +goes, strength and discipline and generalship and resources go a great +deal further than right in deciding the issue of a war." + +Two days later another English man of war came in sight and gave chase to +the Doutelle, but the latter was a fast sailer and soon left her pursuer +behind, and without further adventure arrived among the Western Isles, +and dropped anchor near the little islet of Erisca, between Barra and +South Uist. As they approached the island an eagle sailed out from the +rocky shore and hovered over the vessel, and the Duke of Athole pointed +it out as a favourable augury to the prince. + +Charles and his companions landed at Erisca and passed the night on +shore. They found on inquiry that this cluster of islands belonged to +Macdonald of Clanranald, a young chief who was known to be attached to +the Jacobite cause. He was at present absent on the mainland, but his +uncle and principal adviser, Macdonald of Boisdale, was in South Uist. +The prince sent off one of his followers in a boat to summon him, and he +came aboard the Doutelle the next morning; but when he heard from the +prince that he had come alone and unattended he refused to have anything +to do with the enterprise, which he asserted was rash to the point of +insanity, and would bring ruin and destruction on all who took part in +it. + +The prince employed all his efforts to persuade the old chief, but in +vain, and the latter returned to his isle in a boat, while the Doutelle +pursued her voyage to the mainland and entered the Bay of Lochnanuagh, in +Inverness shire, and immediately sent a messenger to Clanranald, who came +on board shortly with Macdonald of Kinloch Moidart, and several other +Macdonalds. + +They received the prince with the greatest respect, but, like Macdonald +of Boisdale, the two chiefs refused to take up arms in an enterprise +which they believed to be absolutely hopeless. In vain Prince Charles +argued and implored. The two chiefs remained firm, until the prince +suddenly turned to a younger brother of Moidart, who stood listening to +the conversation, and with his fingers clutching the hilt of his +broadsword as he heard the young prince, whom he regarded as his future +king, in vain imploring the assistance of his brother and kinsmen. + +"Will you at least not assist me?" the prince exclaimed. + +"I will, I will!" Ranald Macdonald exclaimed. "Though no other man in the +Highlands shall draw a sword, I am ready to die for you." + +The enthusiasm of the young man was catching, and throwing to the winds +their own convictions and forebodings, the two Macdonalds declared that +they also would join, and use every exertion to engage their countrymen. +The clansmen who had come on board the ship without knowing the object of +the visit were now told who the prince was, and they expressed their +readiness to follow to the death. Two or three days later, on the 25th of +July, Prince Charles landed and was conducted to Borodale, a farmhouse +belonging to Clanranald. + +Charles at once sent off letters to the Highland chiefs whom he knew to +be favourable to the Stuart cause. Among these the principal were Cameron +of Locheil, Sir Alexander Macdonald, and Macleod. Locheil immediately +obeyed the summons, but being convinced of the madness of the enterprise +he came, not to join the prince, but to dissuade him from embarking in +it. On his way he called upon his brother, Cameron of Fassefern, who +agreed with his opinion as to the hopelessness of success, and urged him +to write to the prince instead of going to see him. + +"I know you better than you know yourself," he said. "If the prince once +sets eyes upon you, he will make you do whatever he pleases." + +Locheil, however, persisted in going, convinced that the prince would, on +his representation, abandon the design. For a long time he stood firm, +until the prince exclaimed: + +"I am resolved to put all to the hazard. In a few days I will erect the +royal standard and proclaim to the people of Britain that Charles Stuart +is come over to claim the crown of his ancestors or perish in the +attempt. Locheil, who my father has often told me was our firmest friend, +may stay at home and learn from the newspapers the fate of his prince." + +Locheil's resolution melted at once at these words, and he said: + +"Not so. I will share the fate of my prince whatsoever it be, and so +shall every man over whom nature or fortune hath given me power." + +The conversion of Locheil was the turning point of the enterprise. Upon +the news of the prince's landing spreading, most of the other chiefs had +agreed that if Locheil stood aloof they would not move; and had he +remained firm not a man would have joined the prince's standard, and he +would have been forced to abandon the enterprise. Sir Alexander Macdonald +and Macleod, instead of going to see the prince, had gone off together, +on the receipt of his letter, to the Isle of Skye, so as to avoid an +interview. Clanranald was despatched by Prince Charles to see them, but +they declined to join, urging with the truth that the promises which they +had given to join in a rising were contingent upon the prince arriving at +the head of a strong French force with arms and supplies. They therefore +refused at present to move. Others, however, were not so cautious. Fired +by the example of Locheil, and by their own traditions of loyalty to the +Stuarts' cause, many of the lesser chiefs at once summoned their +followers to the field. With the majority the absence of French troops +had the exactly opposite effect that it had had with Sir Alexander +Macdonald and Macleod. Had the prince landed with a French army they +might have stood aloof and suffered him to fight out his quarrel unaided; +but his arrival alone and unattended, trusting solely and wholly to the +loyalty of the Scottish people, made an irresistible appeal to their +generous feelings, and although there were probably but few who did not +foresee that failure, ruin, and death would be the result of the +enterprise, they embarked in the cause with as much ardour as if their +success had been certain. + +From Borodale, after disembarking the scanty treasure of four thousand +louis d'or which he had brought with him and a few stands of arms from +the Doutelle, Charles proceeded by water to Kinloch Moidart. + +Mr. Walsh sailed in the Doutelle, after receiving the prince's warmest +thanks, and a letter to his father in Rome begging him to grant Mr. Walsh +an Irish earldom as a reward for the services he had rendered, a +recommendation which was complied with. + +The chiefs soon began to assemble at Moidart, and the house became the +centre of a picturesque gathering. + +Ronald had now put aside the remembrance of Malcolm's forebodings, and +entered heart and soul into the enterprise. He had in Glasgow frequently +seen Highlanders in their native dress, but he had not before witnessed +any large gathering, and he was delighted with the aspect of the sturdy +mountaineers in their picturesque garb. + +The prince had at once laid aside the attire in which he had landed and +had assumed Highland costume, and by the charm and geniality of his +manner he completely won the hearts of all who came in contact with him. +Among those who joined him at Moidart was Murray of Broughton, a man who +was destined to exercise as destructive an influence on the prince's +fortune as had Mr. Forster over that of his father. Murray had hurried +from his seat in the south, having first had a large number of +manifestoes for future distribution printed. He was at once appointed by +Charles his secretary of state. + +While the gathering at Moidart was daily growing, the English remained in +ignorance of the storm which was preparing. It was not until the 30th of +July that the fact that the prince had sailed from Nantes was known in +London, and as late as the 8th of August, nearly three weeks after +Charles first appeared on the coast, the fact of his landing was unknown +to the authorities in Edinburgh. + +On the 16th of August the English governor at Fort Augustus, alarmed at +the vague reports which reached him, and the sudden news that bodies of +armed Highlanders were hurrying west, sent a detachment of two companies +under Captain Scott to reinforce the advance post of Fort William. + +After marching twenty miles the troops entered the narrow ravine of Spean +Bridge, when they were suddenly attacked by a party of Keppoch's clansmen +who were on their way to join the prince when they saw the English troops +on their march. They were joined by some of Locheil's clansmen, and so +heavy a fire was kept up from the heights that the English, after having +five or six men killed and many more wounded, among them their commanding +officer, were forced to lay down their arms. + +They were treated with great humanity by their captors, and the wounded +were well cared for. The news of this success reached the prince on the +day before that fixed for the raising of his standard, the 19th of +August, and added to the enthusiasm which prevailed among the little +force gathered in Glenfinnan, where the ceremony took place. The glen lay +about halfway between Borodale and Fort William, both being about fifteen +miles distant. The gathering consisted principally of the Camerons of +Locheil, some six hundred strong, and they brought with them two English +companies captured on the 16th, disarmed and prisoners. + +The Duke of Athole performed the ceremony of unfurling the banner. He was +the heir to the dukedom of Athole, but had been exiled for taking part in +the rising of '15 and the dukedom bestowed by the English government upon +his brother; thus among the English he was still spoken of as the Marquis +of Tullibardine, while at the French court and among the followers of the +Stuarts he was regarded as the rightful Duke of Athole. + +The unfurling of the standard was greeted with loud shouts, and the +clansmen threw their bonnets high in the air. The duke then read the +manifesto of the Chevalier, and the commission of regency granted by him +to Prince Charles. After this the prince himself made an inspiring +speech, and declared that at the head of his faithful Highlanders he was +resolved to conquer or to perish. + +Among the spectators of the ceremony was Captain Swetenham, an English +officer taken prisoner a few days before while on his way to assume the +command of Fort William. He had been treated with great courtesy and +kindness by the prince, who, after the ceremony, dismissed him with the +words, "You may now return to your general; tell him what you have seen, +and add that I am about to give him battle." + +Soon after the conclusion of the ceremony Keppoch marched in with three +hundred of his clan, and some smaller parties also arrived. The next +morning the force marched to Locheil's house at Auchnacarrie, where the +prince was joined by the Macdonalds of Glencoe, a hundred and fifty +strong, two hundred Stuarts of Appin under their chief, and by the +younger Glengarry with two hundred more, so that the force had now +swelled to sixteen hundred men. + +"We begin to look like an army," Ronald said to Malcolm. + +"Well, yes," the latter replied drily, "we are rather stronger than one +regiment and not quite so strong as two; still, if things go on like this +we shall ere very long have mounted up to the strength of a brigade; but +even a brigade, Ronald, does nor go very far towards the conquest of a +kingdom, especially when only about one man in three has got a musket, +and so far there are neither cavalry nor artillery. Still, you know, +these things may come." + +Ronald laughed gaily at his companion's want of faith. He himself had now +caught the enthusiasm which pervaded all around. It was true that as yet +the prince's adherents were but a handful, but it was not to be expected +that an army would spring from the ground. Promises of assistance had +come from all quarters, and if the army was a small one the English army +in Scotland was but little larger, and if a first success could be +achieved, all Scotland might be expected to rise, and the news would +surely influence the Jacobites of England to declare for the prince. + +Sir John Cope, the English officer commanding the English forces in +Scotland, at the first rumour of troubles had ordered his troops to +assemble at Stirling. He had with him two regiments of dragoons, +Gardiner's and Hamilton's, both young regiments, and the whole force at +his disposal, exclusive of troops in garrison, did not exceed three +thousand men. With these he proposed to march at once to the west, and +crush the rebellion before it gained strength. The English government +approved of his proposal, and sent him a proclamation offering a reward +of thirty thousand pounds to any person who should seize and secure the +pretended Prince of Wales. + +On the day of the raising of the standard Cope set out from Edinburgh for +Stirling and the next day commenced his march at the head of fifteen +hundred infantry, leaving the dragoons behind him, as these could be of +but little service among the mountains, where they would have found it +next to impossible to obtain forage for their horses. He took with him a +large quantity of baggage, a drove of black cattle for food, and a +thousand stand of arms to distribute among the volunteers who he expected +would join him. As, however, none of these came in, he sent back seven +hundred muskets to Crieff. + +The first object of the march was Fort Augustus, which he intended to +make his central post. As he advanced he was met by Captain Swetenham, +who informed him of the raising of the standard and the gathering he had +witnessed. As, however, only Locheil's clansmen had arrived before +Swetenham left, Cope considered his force ample for the purpose, and +continued his march. In order to reach Fort Augustus, however, he had to +pass over Corry Arrack, a lofty and precipitous mountain which was +ascended by a military road with fifteen zigzags, known to the country as +the devil's staircase. + +Prince Charles, who had received early news of the advance from Stirling, +had recognized the importance of the position, and having burned and +destroyed all baggage that would impede his progress, made a forced march +and reached Corry Arrack on the 27th, before Sir John Cope had commenced +his ascent. As Sir John saw that the formidable position was in the hands +of the enemy he felt that it would be in vain to endeavour to force it. +Each zigzag would have to be carried in turn, and the enterprise would be +a desperate one. Success would be of no great advantage, as the +Highlanders, lightly clad and active, would make off and defy pursuit; +defeat would be disastrous. He, therefore, called a council of war and +asked his officers to decide whether it would be best to remain at +Dalwhinnie at the foot of the mountain, to return to Sterling, or to +march to Inverness, where they would be joined by the well affected +clans. He himself strongly urged the last course, believing that the +prince would not venture to descend into the Lowlands while he remained +in his rear. The council of war adopted his opinion. No officer advocated +remaining inactive at Dalwhinnie, one only supported the alternative of +the retreat to Stirling, the rest agreed upon an advance to Inverness. + +When it was found that Cope's army had moved away without fighting, the +exultation of the Highlanders was great. Most of the chiefs wished to +follow at once and give battle, urging that it would be hazardous to +advance south and leave the enemy to cut off their retreat; but the +prince himself saw the supreme importance of a descent into the Lowlands, +and that plan of action was decided upon. + + + +CHAPTER XIV: Prestonpans. + + +Advancing in high spirits through the mountains of Badenoch, Prince +Charles with his army came down into the vale of Athole, and visited, +with Tullibardine, the castle of Blair Athole, the noble property of +which the marquis had so long been deprived, owing to his constancy to +the cause of the Stuarts, but which would again be his own were this +great enterprise successful. + +From Blair Athole the little army moved on to Perth. Here they were +joined by powerful friends, of whom the principal were the young Duke of +Perth, Lord Nairn, and Lord George Murray, the younger brother of the +Marquis of Tullibardine. Lord George Murray was but ten years of age when +the events of 1715 had taken place, but four years later he came over +with the marquis with a handful of Spaniards and was wounded at the +battle of Glenshiels. The influence of the family obtained his pardon on +the plea of his extreme youth, but he remained at heart a Jacobite, and, +going to the Continent, entered the service of Sardinia, then a portion +of the possessions of the Duke of Savoy. For many years he served abroad, +and acquired a considerable reputation as an excellent officer and a most +gallant soldier. + +He had, indeed, a natural genius for military operations, and had he not +been thwarted at every turn by the jealousy of Murray of Broughton, it is +by no means improbable that he would have brought the enterprise to a +successful termination and seated the Stuarts upon the throne of England. +The accession of such an officer was of the highest value to the prince. + +Hitherto the army had consisted merely of wild clansmen, full of valour +and devotion but wholly undisciplined; while among those who accompanied +him, or who had joined him in Scotland, there was not a single officer of +any experience in war or any military capacity whatever. Lord George +Murray and the Duke of Perth were at once named generals in the prince's +army; but the command in reality remained entirely in the hands of +Murray, for Lord Perth, though an estimable young nobleman possessed of +considerable ability, had no military experience and was of a quiet and +retiring disposition. + +Lord George Murray at once set about raising the tenantry of his brother +the Hanoverian Duke of Athole, who was absent in England, and as these +had always remained attached to the Stuart cause, and still regarded the +Marquis of Tullibardine as their rightful head, they willingly took up +arms upon Lord George Murray's bidding. Lord George decided at once that +it would be useless to attempt to drill the Highlanders into regular +soldiers, but that they must be allowed to use their national style of +fighting and trust to their desperate charge with broadsword and target +to break the enemy's ranks. + +Unfortunately dissensions commenced among the leaders from the very +first. Secretary Murray, who desired to be all powerful with the prince, +saw that he should not succeed in gaining any influence over so firm and +energetic a character as Lord George Murray, while it would be easy for +him to sway the young Duke of Perth, and he was not long in poisoning the +ear of the latter against his companion in arms by representing to him +that Lord George treated him as a mere cipher, although of equal rank in +the army. The secretary's purpose was even more easily carried out with +Prince Charles. The latter was no judge of character, and fell readily +under the influence of the wily and unscrupulous Murray, who flattered +his weaknesses and assumed an air of deference to his opinions. Lord +George Murray, on the other hand, was but too prone to give offence. He +was haughty and overbearing in manner, expressed his opinions with a +directness and bluntness which were very displeasing to the prince, and, +conscious of his own military genius and experience, put aside with open +contempt the suggestions of those who were in truth ignorant of military +matters. Loyal, straightforward, and upright, he scorned to descend to +the arts of the courtier, and while devoting his whole time to his +military work, suffered his enemies to obtain the entire command of the +ear of the prince. + +Ronald was introduced to him as soon as he joined at Perth, and finding +that young Leslie had had some military experience, Lord George at once +appointed him one of his aides de camp, and soon took a warm liking to +the active and energetic young officer, whose whole soul was in his work, +and who cared nothing for the courtly gatherings around the person of the +prince. + +Malcolm rode as Ronald's orderly, and during the few days of their stay +in Perth, Ronald was at work from morning till night riding through the +country with messages from Lord George, and in the intervals of such duty +in trying to inculcate some idea of discipline into the wild Highland +levies. At this time Charles was using all his efforts to persuade Lord +Lovat, one of the most powerful of the northern noblemen, to join him, +offering him his patent as Duke of Fraser and the lord lieutenancy of the +northern counties. + +Lovat, however, an utterly unscrupulous man, refused openly to join, +although he sent repeatedly assurances of his devotion. Throughout the +struggle he continued to act a double part, trying to keep friends with +both parties, but declaring for the prince at the moment when his +fortunes were at their highest. The result was that while he afforded the +prince but little real assistance, his conduct cost him his head. + +Sir John Cope, finding that his march to Inverness had failed to draw the +prince after him, and had left the Lowlands and the capital open to the +insurgents, directed his march to Aberdeen, and sent to Edinburgh for +transports to bring down his army to cover that city. But Prince Charles +determined to forestall him, and on the 11th of September commenced his +march south. The age and infirmities of the Marquis of Tullibardine +prevented his accompanying Prince Charles during active operations. + +It was impossible for the army to march direct against Edinburgh, as the +magistrates of that town had taken the precaution to withdraw every ship +and boat from the northern side of the Forth, and the prince was +consequently obliged to make a detour and to cross the river at the fords +eight miles above Stirling, and then marching rapidly towards Edinburgh, +arrived on the evening of the 16th within three miles of that town. + +So long as the coming of the prince was doubtful the citizens of +Edinburgh had declared their willingness to defend the town to the last. +Volunteer regiments had been formed and guns placed on the walls; but +when the volunteers were ordered to march out with Hamilton's regiment of +dragoons, to oppose the advance of the insurgents, the men quitted their +ranks and stole away to their houses, leaving the dragoons to march out +alone. The latter, however, showed no greater courage than that of their +citizen allies, when on the following day they came in contact with a +party of mounted gentlemen from the prince's army, who fired their +pistols at their pickets. These rode off in haste, their panic was +communicated to the main body, whose officers in vain endeavoured to +check them, and the whole regiment galloped away in wild confusion, and +passing close under the walls of Edinburgh continued their flight, +without halting, to Preston. There they halted for the night; but one of +the troopers happening in the dark to fall into a disused well, his +shouts for assistance caused an alarm that they were attacked, and +mounting their horses the regiment continued their flight to Dunbar, +where they joined General Cope's army, which had just landed there. + +This disgraceful panic added to the terror of the citizens of Edinburgh, +and when, late in the afternoon, a summons to surrender came in from +Prince Charles, the council could arrive at no decision, but sent a +deputation to the prince asking for delay, hoping thereby that Cope's +army would arrive in time to save them. But the prince was also well +aware of the importance of time, and that night he sent forward Lochiel +with five hundred Camerons to lie in ambush near the Netherbow Gate. They +took with them a barrel of powder to blow it in if necessary; but in the +morning the gate was opened to admit a carriage, and the Highlanders at +once rushed in and overpowered the guard, and sending parties through the +streets they secured these also without disturbance or bloodshed, and +when the citizens awoke in the morning they found, to their surprise, +that Prince Charles was master of the city. + +The Jacobite portion of the population turned out with delight to greet +the prince, while the rest thought it politic to imitate their +enthusiasm. The Highlanders behaved with perfect order and discipline, +and although the town had, as it were, been taken by storm, no single +article of property was touched. An hour later Prince Charles, at the +head of his troops, entered the royal palace of Holyrod, being met by a +crowd of enthusiastic supporters from the city, who received him with +royal shouts and tears of joy. + +In the evening a grand ball was held in the palace, in spite of the fact +that it was within range of the guns of Edinburgh Castle, which still +held out. But one day was spent in Edinburgh. This was occupied in +serving out about a thousand muskets found in the magazines to the +Highlanders, and in obtaining tents, shoes, and cooking vessels, which +the town was ordered to supply. They were joined during the day by many +gentlemen, and on the night of the 19th the army, two thousand five +hundred strong, of whom only fifty were mounted, moved out to the village +of Duddingston. There the prince that evening called a council of war, +and proposed to march next morning to meet the enemy halfway, and +declared that he would himself lead his troops and charge in the first +ranks. + +The chiefs, however, exclaimed against this, urging that if any accident +happened to him ruin must fall upon the whole, whether they gained or +lost the battle; and upon the prince persisting they declared that they +would return home and make the best terms they could for themselves. He +was therefore obliged to give way, declaring, however, that he would lead +the second line. The next morning the army commenced its march. They had +with them only one cannon, so old that it was quite useless, and it was +only taken forward as an encouragement to the Highlanders, who had the +greatest respect for artillery. + +Sir John Cope, who had received intelligence of all that had happened at +Edinburgh, had also moved forward on the 19th, and on the 20th the two +armies came in sight of each other. The Highlanders, after passing the +bridge of Musselburgh, left the road, and turning to the right took up +their position on the brow of Carberry Hill, and there waited the attack. +The English forces were marching forward with high spirit, and believed +that the Highlanders would not even wait their assault. Cope had with him +two thousand two hundred men, including the six hundred runaway dragoons. +The numbers, therefore, were nearly equal; but as the English were well +armed, disciplined, and equipped, while only about half the Highlanders +had muskets, and as they had, moreover, six pieces of artillery against +the one unserviceable gun of Prince Charles, they had every reason to +consider the victory to be certain. + +On seeing the Highland array Cope drew up his troops in order of battle +-- his infantry in the centre, with a regiment of dragoons and three +pieces of artillery on each flank. His right was covered by a park wall +and by the village of Preston. On his left stood Seaton House, and in his +rear lay the sea, with the villages of Prestonpans and Cockenzie. Their +front was covered by a deep and difficult morass. + +It was now about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the Highlanders, +seeing that the English did not advance against them, clamoured to be led +to the attack. Prince Charles was himself eager to fight, but his +generals persuaded him to abstain from attacking the English in such a +formidable position. The Highlanders, however, fearing that the English +would again avoid a battle, were not satisfied until Lord Nairn with five +hundred men was detached to the westward to prevent the English from +marching off towards Edinburgh. + +During the night the two armies lay upon the ground. Cope retired to +sleep at Cockenzie, the prince lay down in the middle of his soldiers. +Before doing so, however, he held a council, and determined to attack +next morning in spite of the difficulty of the morass. But in the course +of the night Anderson of Whitburg, a gentleman well acquainted with the +country, bethought himself of a path from the height towards their right +by the farm of Ruigan Head, which in a great measure avoided the morass. +This important fact he imparted to Lord George Murray, who at once awoke +the prince. + +Locheil and some other chiefs were sent for, and it was determined to +undertake the enterprise at once. An aide de camp was sent to recall Lord +Nairn and his detachment, and under the guidance of Anderson the troops +made their way across the morass. This was not, however, accomplished +without great difficulty, as in some places they sank knee deep. The +march was unopposed, and covered by the darkness they made their way +across to firm ground just as the day was breaking dull and foggy. As +they did so, however, the dragoon outposts heard the sound of their +march, and firing their pistols galloped off to give the alarm. Sir John +Cope lost no time facing his troops about, and forming them in order of +battle. He was undisturbed while doing so, for the Highlanders were +similarly occupied. + +As the sun rose the mist cleared away, and the two armies stood face to +face. The Macdonalds had been granted the post of honour on the Highland +right, the line being completed by the Camerons and Stuarts, Prince +Charles with the second line being close behind. The Highlanders +uncovered their heads, uttered a short prayer, and then as the pipers +blew the signal they rushed forward, each clan in a separate mass, and +raising their war cry, the Camerons and Stuarts rushed straight at the +cannon on the left. + +These guns were served, not by Royal Artillerymen, but by some seamen +brought by Cope from the fleet. They, panic struck by the wild rush of +the Highlanders, deserted their guns and fled in all directions. Colonel +Gardiner called upon his dragoons to follow him, and with his officers +led them to the charge. But the Stuarts and Camerons, pouring in a volley +from their muskets, charged them with their broadswords, and the +dragoons, panic stricken, turned their horses and galloped off. + +The Macdonalds on the right had similarly captured three guns, and +charging with similar fury upon Hamilton's regiment of dragoons, drove +them off the field; Macgregor's company, who, for want of other weapons +were armed with scythes, doing terrible execution among the horses and +their riders. The English infantry, deserted by their cavalry, and with +their guns lost, still stood firm, and poured a heavy fire into the +Highlanders; but these, as soon as they had defeated the cavalry, faced +round and charged with fury upon both flanks of the infantry. Their +onslaught was irresistible. The heavy masses of the clans broke right +through the long line of the English infantry, and drove the latter +backward in utter confusion. But the retreat was impeded by the inclosure +and park wall of Preston, and the Highlanders pressing on, the greater +portion of the English infantry were killed or taken prisoners. + +A hundred and seventy of the infantry alone succeeded in making their +escape, four hundred were killed, and the rest captured. Colonel Gardiner +and many of his officers were killed fighting bravely, but the loss of +the dragoons was small. Only thirty of the Highlanders were killed, and +seventy wounded. The battle lasted but six minutes, and the moment it had +terminated Prince Charles exerted himself to the utmost to obtain mercy +for the vanquished. + +He treated the prisoners with the greatest kindness and consideration, +and the wounded were relieved without any distinction of friend or foe. +The dragoons fled to Edinburgh, and dashed up the hill to the castle; but +the governor refused to admit them, and threatened to open his guns upon +them as cowards who had deserted their colours. Later on in the day the +greater portion were rallied by Sir John Cope and the Earls of Loudon and +Home; but being seized with a fresh panic they galloped on again at full +speed as far as Coldstream, and the next morning continued their flight +in a state of disgraceful disorder as far as Berwick. The contents of the +treasure chest, consisting of two thousand five hundred pounds, with the +standards and other trophies, were brought to Prince Charles. The rest of +the spoil was divided among the Highlanders, of whom a great number +immediately set off towards their homes to place the articles they had +gathered in safety. + +So greatly was the Highland army weakened by the number of men who thus +left the ranks that the prince was unable to carry out his wish for an +instant advance into England. His advisers, indeed, were opposed to this +measure, urging that in a short time his force would be swelled by +thousands from all parts of Scotland; but unquestionably his own view was +the correct one, and had he marched south he would probably have met with +no resistance whatever on his march to London. There were but few troops +in England. A requisition had been sent to the Dutch by King George for +the six thousand auxiliaries they were bound to furnish, and a resolution +was taken to recall ten English regiments home from Flanders. + +Marshal Wade was directed to collect as many troops as he could at +Newcastle, and the militia of several counties was called out; but the +people in no degree responded to the efforts of the government. They +looked on coldly, not indeed apparently favouring the rebellion, but as +little disposed to take part against it. The state of public feeling was +described at the time by a member of the administration, Henry Fox, in a +private letter. + +"England, Wade says, and I believe, is for the first comer, and if you +can tell me whether these six thousand Dutch and the ten battalions of +England, or five thousand French or Spaniards, will be here first, you +know our fate. The French are not come, God be thanked; but had five +thousand landed in any part of this island a week ago, I verily believe +the entire conquest would not have cost a battle." + +The prince indeed was doing his best to obtain assistance from France, +conscious how much his final success depended upon French succour. + +King Louis for a time appeared favourable. The prince's brother, Henry of +York, had arrived from Rome, and the king proposed to place him at the +head of the Irish regiments in the king's service and several others to +enable him to effect a landing in England; but with his usual insincerity +the French king continued to raise difficulties and cause delays until it +was too late, and he thus lost for ever the chance of placing the family +who had always been warm friends of France, and who would in the event of +success have been his natural friends and allies, on the throne of +England. + +In the meantime Prince Charles had taken up his abode in Edinburgh, where +he was joined by most of the gentry of Scotland. He was proclaimed king +in almost every town of the Tweed, and was master of all Scotland, save +some districts beyond Inverness, the Highland forts, and the castles of +Edinburgh and Stirling.. Prince Charles behaved with the greatest +moderation. He forbade all public rejoicing for victory, saying that he +could not rejoice over the loss which his father's misguided subjects had +sustained. He abstained from any attempt to capture Edinburgh Castle, or +even to cut off its supplies, because the general of the castle +threatened that unless he were allowed to obtain provisions he would fire +upon the city and lay it in ruins, and he even refused to interfere with +a Scotch minister who continued from his pulpit to pray for King George. + +In one respect he carried his generosity so far as to excite discontent +among his followers. It was proposed to send one of the prisoners taken +at Preston to London with a demand for the exchange of prisoners taken or +to be taken in the war, and with the declaration that if this were +refused, and if the prince's friends who fell into the enemy's hands were +put to death as rebels, the prince would be compelled to treat his +captives in the same way. It was evident that this step would be of great +utility, as many of the prince's adherents hesitated to take up arms, not +from fear of death in battle, but of execution if taken prisoners. + +The prince, however, steadily refused, saying, "It is beneath me to make +empty threats, and I will never put such as this into execution. I cannot +in cold blood take away lives which I have saved in the heat of action." + +Six weeks after the victory the prince's army mustered nearly six +thousand men; but Macleod, Macdonald, and Lovat, who could have brought a +further force of four thousand men, still held aloof. Had these three +powerful chiefs joined at once after the battle of Prestonpans, Prince +Charles could have marched to London, and would probably have succeeded +in placing his father on the throne, without having occasion to strike +another blow; but they came not, and the delay caused during the +fruitless negotiations enabled the English troops to be brought over from +Flanders, while Prince Charles on his side only received a few small +consignments of arms and money from France. + +But in the meantime Edinburgh was as gay as if the Stuart cause had been +already won. Receptions and balls followed each other in close +succession, and Prince Charles won the hearts of all alike by his +courtesy and kindness, and by the care which he showed for the comfort of +his troops. + +At the commencement of the campaign Lord George Murray had but one aide +de camp besides Ronald. This was an officer known as the Chevalier de +Johnstone, who afterwards wrote a history of the campaign. After the +battle of Prestonpans he received a captain's commission, and immediately +raised a company, with which he joined the Duke of Perth's regiment. Two +other gentlemen of family were then appointed aides de camp, and this +afforded some relief to Ronald, whose duties had been extremely heavy. + +A week after the battle Lord George said to Ronald: + +"As there is now no chance of a movement at present, and I know that you +care nothing for the court festivities here, I propose sending you with +the officers who are riding into Glasgow tomorrow, with the orders of the +council that the city shall pay a subsidy of five thousand pounds towards +the necessities of the state. The citizens are Hanoverians to a man, and +may think themselves well off that no heavier charge is levied upon them. +Do you take an account of what warlike stores there are in the magazines +there, and see that all muskets and ammunition are packed up and +forwarded." + +The next morning Ronald started at daybreak with several other mounted +gentlemen and an escort of a hundred of Clanranald's men, under the +command of the eldest son of that chief, for Glasgow, and late the same +evening entered that city. They were received with acclamation by a part +of the population; but the larger portion of the citizens gazed at them +from their doorways as they passed in sullen hostility. They marched +direct to the barracks lately occupied by the English troops, the +gentlemen taking the quarters occupied by the officers. A notification +was at once sent to the provost to assemble the city council at nine +o'clock in the morning, to hear a communication from the royal council. + +As soon as Malcolm had put up Ronald's horse and his own in the stables, +and seen to their comfort, he and Ronald sallied out. It was now dark, +but they wrapped themselves up in their cloaks so as not to be noticed, +as in the hostile state of the town they might have been insulted and a +quarrel forced upon them, had they been recognized as two of the new +arrivals. The night, however, was dark, and they passed without +recognition through the ill lighted streets to the house of Andrew +Anderson. They rang at the bell. A minute later the grille was opened, +and a voice, which they recognized as that of Elspeth, asked who was +there, and what was their business. + +"We come to arrest one Elspeth Dow, as one who troubles the state and is +a traitor to his majesty." + +There was an exclamation from within and the door suddenly opened. + +"I know your voice, bairn. The Lord be praised that you have come back +home again!" and she was about to run forward, when she checked herself. +"Is it yourself, Ronald?" + +"It is no one else, Elspeth," he replied, giving the old woman a hearty +kiss. + +"And such a man as you have grown!" she exclaimed in surprise. For the +two years had added several inches to Ronald's stature, and he now stood +over six feet in height. + +"And have you no welcome for me, Elspeth?" Malcolm asked, coming forward. + +"The Lord preserve us!" Elspeth exclaimed. "Why, it's my boy Malcolm!" + +"Turned up again like a bad penny, you see, Elspeth." + +"What is it, Elspeth?" Andrew's voice called from above. "Who are these +men you are talking to, and what do they want at this time of night?" + +"They want some supper, Andrew," Malcolm called back, "and that badly." + +In a moment Andrew ran down and clasped his brother's hand. In the +darkness he did not notice Malcolm's companion, and after the first +greeting with his brother led the way up stairs. + +"It is my brother Malcolm," he said to his wife as he entered the room. + +Ronald followed Malcolm forward. As the light fell on his face Andrew +started, and, as Ronald smiled, ran forward and clasped him in his arms. + +"It is Ronald, wife! Ah, my boy, have you come back to us again?" + +Mrs. Anderson received Ronald with motherly kindness. + +"We had heard of your escape before your letter came to us from Paris. +Our city constables brought back the news of how you had jumped +overboard, and had been pulled into a boat and disappeared. And finely +they were laughed at when they told their tale. Then came your letter +saying that it was Malcolm who had met you with the boat, and how you had +sailed away and been wrecked on the coast of France; but since then we +have heard nothing." + +"I wrote twice," Ronald said; "but owing to the war there have been no +regular communications, and I suppose my letters got lost." + +"And I suppose you have both come over to have a hand in this mad +enterprise?" + +"I don't know whether it is mad or not, Andrew; but we have certainly +come over to have a hand in it," Malcolm said. "And now, before we have a +regular talk, let me tell you that we are famishing. I know your supper +is long since over, but doubtless Elspeth has still something to eat in +her cupboard. Oh, here she comes!" + +Elspeth soon placed a joint of cold meat upon the table, and Ronald and +Malcolm set to at once to satisfy their hunger. Then a jar of whiskey and +glasses were set upon the table, and pipes lighted, and Ronald began a +detailed narration of all that had taken place since they had last met. + +"Had my father and mother known that I was coming to Scotland, and should +have an opportunity of seeing you both, they would have sent you their +warmest thanks and gratitude for your kindness to me," he concluded. "For +over and over again have I heard them say how deeply they felt indebted +to you for your care of me during so many years, and how they wished that +they could see you and thank you in person." + +"What we did was done, in the first place, for my brother Malcolm, and +afterwards for love of you, Ronald; and right glad I am to hear that you +obtained the freedom of your parents and a commission as an officer in +the service of the King of France. I would be glad that you had come over +here on any other errand than that which brings you. Things have gone on +well with you so far; but how will they end? I hear that the Jacobites of +England are not stirring, and you do not think that with a few thousand +Highland clansmen you are going to conquer the English army that beat the +French at Dettingen, and well nigh overcame them at Fontenoy. Ah, lad, it +will prove a sore day for Scotland when Charles Stuart set foot on our +soil!" + +"We won't talk about that now, Andrew," Malcolm said good temperedly. +"The matter has got to be fought out with the sword, and if our tongues +were to wag all night they could make no difference one way or another. +So let us not touch upon politics. But I must say, that as far as Ronald +and I are concerned, we did not embark on this expedition because we had +at the moment any great intention of turning Hanoverian George off his +throne; but simply because Ronald had made France too hot to hold him, +and this was the simplest way that presented itself of getting out of the +country. As long as there are blows to be struck we shall do our best. +When there is no more fighting to be done, either because King James is +seated on his throne in London, or because the clans are scattered and +broken, we shall make for France again, where by that time I hope the +king will have got over the breach of his edict and the killing of his +favourite, and where Ronald's father and mother will be longing for his +presence." + +"Eh, but it's awful, sirs," Elspeth, who as an old and favourite servant +had remained in the room after laying the supper and listened to the +conversation, put in, "to think that a young gallant like our Ronald +should have slain a man! He who ought not yet to have done with his +learning, to be going about into wars and battles, and to have stood up +against a great French noble and slain him. Eh, but it's awful to think +of!" + +"It would be much more awful, Elspeth, if the French noble had killed me, +at least from the light in which I look at it." + +"That's true enough," Elspeth said. "And if he wanted to kill you, and it +does seem from what you say that he did want, of course I cannot blame +you for killing him; but to us quiet bodies here in Glasgow it seems an +awful affair; though, after you got in a broil here and drew on the city +watch, I ought not to be surprised at anything." + +"And now we must go," Ronald said, rising. "It is well nigh midnight, and +time for all decent people to be in bed." + + + +CHAPTER XV: A Mission. + + +The next morning early Ronald proceeded to take an inventory of the arms +and ammunition left behind by the troops when they had marched to join +Sir John Cope at Stirling. Having done this he saw that they were all +packed up in readiness to be sent off the next day under the escort, who +were also to convey the money which the city was required to pay. For the +provost and council, knowing that it was useless to resist the order, and +perhaps anxious in the present doubtful state of affairs to stand well +with Prince Charles, had arranged that the money should be forthcoming of +the following morning. After his work was over Ronald again spent the +evening at Andrew Anderson's. + +The next morning he returned to Edinburgh with the arms and escort. It +was late when he arrived; but as he knew that Lord George Murray would be +at work in his tent, he repaired there at once. + +"We have brought back the money and arms, Lord George. I have handed over +the arms and ammunition at the magazine tent, and those in charge of the +money have gone into the town with a part of the escort to give it over +to the treasurer." + +"How many arms did you get?" + +"Two hundred and twenty-three muskets and eighty pistols, fourteen kegs +of gunpowder, and well nigh a ton of lead." + +"That is more than I had expected. And now, Leslie, I have an important +mission for you. The prince this morning asked me whom I could recommend, +as a sure and careful person likely to do the business well, to go down +into Lancashire to visit the leading Jacobites there, and urge them to +take up arms. I said that I knew of none who would be more likely to +succeed than yourself. Your residence of two years in France has rubbed +off any Scotch dialect you may have had, and at any rate you could pass +for a northern Englishman. In the next place, your youth would enable you +to pass unsuspected where an older man might be questioned. The prince +agreed at once, and took shame to himself that he had not before given +promotion to one who was his companion on his voyage to Scotland, the +more so as he had made Johnstone a captain. Your claims are far greater +than his, and moreover you have served as an officer in the French army. +But, in truth, the fault is in some degree your own, for you spend all +your time in carrying out your duties, and do not show yourself at any of +the levees or festivities. And you know, with princes, as with other +people, out of sight is out of mind. However, the prince at once took +steps to repair the omission, and has signed your commission as captain. +Here it is. You will understand, of course, that it is for past services, +and that you are perfectly free to decline this mission to the south if +you would rather not undertake it. It is unquestionably a dangerous one." + +"I will undertake it readily, sir," Ronald said, "and I thank you +sincerely for bringing my name before the prince, and the prince himself +for his kindness in granting me his commission, which so far I have done +but little to win. I shall be able, I trust, to carry out this mission to +his satisfaction; and although I am ignorant of the country I shall have +the advantage of taking with me my brave follower, Malcolm Anderson, who +for years was in the habit of going with droves of cattle down into +Lancashire, and will not only know the country but have acquaintances +there, and being known as a drover would pass without suspicion of his +being engaged with politics." + +"That will do well," Lord George said. "I will get the list of persons on +whom you should call prepared tomorrow. You had best go to Sir Thomas +Sheridan and Francis Strickland, who came over with you, and get them to +present you to Secretary Murray and recommend you to him. If he hears +that your mission is of my recommendation he will do all he can to set +the prince against you. Everything that I do is wrong in his eyes, and I +do believe that he would ruin the cause in order to injure me, did he see +no other way to accomplish that end. Therefore, if he mentions my name, +as he is like to do, knowing that you have been my aide de camp, be sure +that you say nought in my favour, or it will ruin you with him. You will, +of course, attend the prince's levee tomorrow, and had best make +preparation to start at nightfall." + +The next day, accordingly, Ronald called upon Sir Thomas Sheridan and +Strickland, and telling them that the prince had determined to send him +on a mission into Lancashire, asked them to present him to Secretary +Murray, from whom he would receive orders for his guidance and +instruction as to the persons whom he was to visit. The two gentlemen +proceeded with him to the house in which Secretary Murray had taken up +his abode, and introduced him, with much warmth, as a fellow passenger on +board the Doutelle. + +"You have been serving since as Lord Murray's aide de camp?" + +"Yes, sir, the prince recommended me to him at Perth, and I have since +had the honour to carry his orders." + +"Captain Leslie, for so the prince has granted him a commission," Sir +Thomas said, "has served two years in the French army, and was present at +Dettingen and Fontenoy. He mentioned to me on the voyage that he had the +honour of being presented by Marshal Saxe to the King of France, and that +he received his commission from the marshal, to whom he had acted as aide +de camp at Fontenoy." + +"You have begun well, indeed, young sir," Murray said, "to have received +at your age, for I judge that you are not yet twenty, commissions in the +French army and ours." + +Ronald bowed. + +"He has another claim upon all you Scottish gentlemen," Sir Thomas said, +"for Colonel Macdonald told us, when he introduced him to us at Nantes, +that it was through his interference and aid alone that he escaped safely +from Glasgow, and that all his papers, with the names of the king's +friends in Scotland, did not fall into George's hands. He was taken +prisoner for his share in that affair, but escaped from the ship in the +Thames, and succeeded in crossing to France. So you see, young as he is, +he has rendered good service to the cause." + +The expression of the secretary's face, which had before been cold and +distant, changed at once. He had been aware that Ronald had been chosen +for this business on the recommendation of Lord George Murray, and his +jealousy of that nobleman had at once set him against Ronald, of whose +antecedents he was entirely ignorant; but what he now heard entirely +altered the case, and disposed him most favourably towards him, +especially as his own name would have been one of the most prominent in +the list, he having been in constant communication with Colonel Macdonald +during the stay of the latter in Scotland. + +"I had no idea it was to you that we are all so indebted," he said +warmly. "I heard from Colonel Macdonald, after his return from France, +that he owed his escape entirely to the quickness and bravery of a young +gentleman of whose name he was ignorant, but who, he feared, would suffer +for his interference on his behalf, and prayed me and all other loyal +gentlemen of Scotland to befriend you should they ever discover your +name, for that we assuredly owed it to you that we escaped imprisonment, +if not worse. I am truly glad to meet you and thank you in person. And so +you are going on this mission?" + +"I have undertaken to do my best, sir. Fortunately I have a faithful +follower who fought beside my father in '15, followed him to France and +fought by his side in the Scottish Dragoons for fifteen years, and who +has since been my best friend. He worked for years, when I was a child, +as a drover of cattle from the Highlands into England. He knows +Cumberland and Lancashire well, and would be known at every wayside inn. +He will accompany me, and I shall pass as his nephew, therefore no +suspicion will be likely to light upon me." + +"And you set out tonight?" + +"Yes, sir, if my orders and letters are ready." + +"There will not be many letters," the secretary said. "It would not do +for you to have documents upon you which might betray you and our friends +there should you be arrested. I will give you a list of the gentlemen on +whom you have to call, which you had best learn by heart and destroy +before you cross the frontier. You shall have one paper only, and that +written so small that it can be carried in a quill. This you can show to +one after the other. If you find you are in danger of arrest you can +destroy or swallow it. I will give them to you at the prince's levee this +afternoon, and will send to your tent a purse of gold for your expenses." + +"I shall need but little for that, sir," Ronald said smiling. + +"For your expenses, no," the secretary said; "but one never can say what +money may be required for. You may have to buy fresh horses, you may want +it to bribe someone to conceal you. Money is always useful, my young +friend. By the way, what family of Leslies do you belong to? I heard that +one of your name had accompanied the prince, but no more." + +"My father was Leslie of Glenlyon." + +"Indeed!" the secretary exclaimed. "Of course, I know the name well. The +lands were confiscated; but we shall soon set that right, and I will see +that they are added to when the time comes to reward the king's friends +and punish his foes." + +Ronald now took his leave and returned to Malcolm, who was making +preparation for the enterprise. He had already purchased two suits of +clothes, such as would be worn by Lowland drovers, and was in high +spirits, being more elated than was Ronald himself at the latter's +promotion. In the course of the day he bought two rough ponies, as being +more suitable for the position they were to assume than the horses with +which they had been furnished at Perth. Ronald attended the levee, and +thanked the prince for the favour which he bestowed upon him. + +"You are a young gentleman after my own heart," Prince Charles said, "and +I promised myself on shipboard that we should be great friends; but I +have been so busy since I landed, and you have been so occupied in my +service, that I have seen but little of you. On your return I hope that I +shall be able to have you near my person. I am half jealous of you, for +while you are younger than I am you have seen good service and taken part +in great battles, but hitherto I have led a life almost of idleness." + +Ronald bowed deeply at the prince's gracious speech. On his return to his +tent he found a messenger from the secretary with a purse which, on +counting its contents, they found to amount to a hundred guineas. + +They started immediately, and travelled twenty miles before stopping for +the night at a small wayside inn. + +"This seems like old times to me," Malcolm said as, after eating supper, +they sat by a turf fire, "except that on my way down I had the herd to +look after. There is no fear of our being questioned or suspected till we +reach the border, for there is not an English soldier between the Forth +and the Tweed; nor is it likely that we shall meet with any difficulty +whatever till we get to Carlisle. Cope's forces, or what remain of them, +are at Newcastle, and it will be there that the English will gather, and +the western road is likely to be open until, at any rate, Prince Charles +moves south. George's troops have plenty to think about without +interfering with the Lowlands drovers. At the same time, after we have +once crossed the Tweed, we may as well leave the high road. I know every +bypath over the fells." + +On the third day after starting they crossed the border and were among +the hills of Cumberland. They found that among the villages great +apprehension existed. The tales of the rapine and destruction wrought in +the old times by the Scottish forays had been handed down from father to +son, and nothing less than the destruction of their homes and the loss of +their flocks and herds was looked for. Malcolm was welcomed warmly at the +little village inn where they put up for the night. + +"Why, it's well nigh three years since I saw you last," the host said, +"and before that it was seldom two months without our seeing you. What +have you been doing with yourself?" + +"I have been gathering the herds in the Highlands," Malcolm said, "while +others have driven them down for sale; but at present my occupation is +gone. The Highlanders are swarming like angry bees whose hive has been +disturbed, and even if we could collect a herd it would not be safe to +drive it south; it would be seized and despatched to Edinburgh for the +use of the clans there." + +"Is it true that there are fifty thousand of them, and that they have +sworn to kill every English man, woman, and child?" + +"No, they are not so strong as that," Malcolm said. "From what I hear I +should say they were not more than half; and I do not think there is any +occasion for peaceful people to be afraid, for they say that the prince +has treated all the prisoners who fell into his hands in the kindest +manner, and that he said that the English are his father's subjects as +well as the Scots, and that he will see that harm is done to no man." + +"I am right glad to hear it," the innkeeper said. "I don't know that I am +much afraid myself; but my wife and daughter are in a terrible fright, +and wanted me to quit the house and go south till it is all over." + +"There is no occasion for that, man," Malcolm said; "you will have no +reason for fear were the whole of the clans to march through your +village, unless you took it into your head to stand at the door and +shout, `God bless King George.'" + +"I care not a fig about King George or King James," the man said. "It's +nought to me who is king at London, and as far as I know that's the way +with all here. Let them fight it out together, and leave us hard working +folks to ourselves." + +"I don't suppose either James or George would care for that," Malcolm +said laughing; "but from what I have heard of Prince Charles I should say +that there is nothing in the world that he would like better than to +stand with broadsword or dagger against the Duke of Cumberland, and so +settle the dispute." + +"That would be the most sensible thing to my mind," the innkeeper said; +"but what brings you here, Anderson, since you have no herd with you?" + +"I am just getting out of it all," Malcolm said. "I have had my share of +hard knocks, and want no more of them. I don't want to quarrel with +Highlanders or Lowlanders, and as trade is at a standstill at present, +and there's nothing for me to do in the Highlands, I thought I would come +south till it was all over. There is money to collect and things to look +after, and I have to notify to our regular customers that the herds will +come down again as soon as the tempest is over; and between ourselves," +he said in a lower voice, "I wanted to get my nephew out of harm's way. +He has a hankering to join the prince's army, and I don't want to let him +get his brains knocked out in a quarrel which isn't his, so I have +brought him along with me." + +"He is a good looking young fellow, I can see, and a strong one. I don't +wonder that he wanted to mount the white cockade; lads are always wanting +to run their heads into danger. You have had your share of it, as you +say; still you are wise to keep the lad out of it. I don't hold with +soldiering, or fighting in quarrels that don't concern you. + +Malcolm and Ronald travelled through Cumberland and Westmoreland, calling +upon many of the gentlemen to whom the latter had been charged to deliver +Prince Charles's messages. They could not, however, flatter themselves +that their mission was a success, for from few of those on whom they +called did they receive assurances that they were prepared to take +action; all the gentlemen professed affection for the Stuarts, but +deprecated a descent into England unless the prince were accompanied by a +strong body of French troops. + +The rising of '15 had been disastrous for the Jacobites of the North of +England, and though all declared that they were ready again to take up +arms and risk all for the cause of the Stuarts, if the prince was at the +head of a force which rendered success probable, they were unanimously of +opinion that it would be nothing short of madness to rise until at any +rate the prince had marched into England at the head of a strong army. + +The principal personage upon whom they called was Mr. Ratcliff, a brother +of the Earl of Derwentwater, who had been executed after the rising of +'15. That gentleman assured them that he himself was ready to join the +prince as soon as he came south, but that he wished the prince to know +that in his opinion no large number of English would join. + +"The memory of ' 15 is still too fresh," he said; "while the Stuarts have +been absent so long that, although there are great numbers who would +prefer them to the Hanoverians, I do not believe that men have the cause +sufficiently at heart to risk life and property for it. Many will give +their good wishes, but few will draw their swords. That is what I wish +you to say to Prince Charles. Among gentlemen like myself the feeling of +respect and loyalty to his father's house is as strong as ever, and we +shall join him, however desperate, in our opinion, the chances of success +may be; but he will see that the common people will stand aloof, and +leave the battle to be fought out by the clansmen on our side and +George's troops on the other." + +Some weeks were passed in traversing the country to and fro, for the +desired interviews were often only obtained after considerable loss of +time. They could not ride up as two Highland drovers to a gentleman's +house, and had to wait their chances of meeting those they wished to see +on the high road, or of sending notes requesting an interview, couched in +such terms that while they would be understood by those to whom they were +addressed they would compromise no one if they fell into other hands. +There was indeed the greatest necessity for caution, for the authorities +in all the towns and villages had received orders from the government to +be on the lookout for emissaries from the north, and they were frequently +exposed to sharp examination and questioning. Indeed it was only +Malcolm's familiarity with the country, and the fact that he had so many +acquaintances ready to testify that he was, as he said, a Scotch drover, +in the habit for many years of journeying down from the north with +cattle, that enabled them to escape arrest. + +After much thought they had decided upon a place of concealment for the +quill containing Ronald's credentials, which would, they thought, defy +the strictest scrutiny. A hole had been bored from the back into the heel +of Ronald's boot deep enough to contain the quill, and after this was +inserted in the hiding place the hole was filled up with cobbler's wax, +so that it would need a close examination indeed to discover its +existence. Thus, although they were several times closely searched, no +document of a suspicious nature was found upon them. + +Their money was the greatest trouble, as the mere fact of so large a sum +being carried by two drovers would in itself have given rise to +suspicions, although had they been on their return towards Scotland the +possession of such an amount would have been easily explained as the +proceeds of the sale of the cattle they had brought down. They had +therefore left the greater part of it with a butcher in Carlisle, with +whom Malcolm had often had dealings, retaining only ten pounds for their +necessary expenses. + +The day after they reached Manchester four constables came to the little +inn where they were stopping and told them that they were to accompany +them before the magistrates. + +"I should like to know what offence we are charged with," Malcolm said +angrily. "Things have come to a pretty pass, indeed, when quiet drovers +are to be hauled before magistrates without rhyme or reason." + +"You will hear the charge quickly enough when you are before their +worships," the constable said; "but that is no affair of mine -- my +orders are simply to take you there." + +"Well, of course we must go," Malcolm said grumblingly; "but here we have +been well nigh twenty years travelling to and fro between England and +Scotland, as my host here can testify, without such a thing happening +before. I suppose somebody has been robbed on the highway, and so you +sharp sighted gentlemen clap hands on the first people you come across." + +Three magistrates were sitting when Ronald and Malcolm were brought into +the courthouse. They were first asked the usual questions as to their +names and business, and then one of the magistrates said: + +"Your story is a very plausible one; but it happens that I have here +before me the reports, sent in from a score of different places, for in +times like these it is needful to know what kinds of persons are +travelling through the country, and two men answering to your description +are reported to have visited almost every one of these places. It is +stated in nearly every report that you are drovers ordinarily engaged in +bringing down herds of Highland cattle, and it is added that in every +case this account was verified by persons who have previously known you. +All this would seem natural enough, but you seem to have journeyed hither +and thither without any fixed object. Sometimes you have stopped for two +days at little villages, where you could have had no business, and, in +short, you seem for upwards of a month to have been engaged in wandering +to and fro in such a way as is wholly incompatible with the affairs upon +which you say you were engaged." + +"But you will observe, sir," Malcolm said quietly, "that I have not said +I am engaged upon any affairs whatever. I am not come to England on +business, but solely to escape from the troubles which have put a stop to +my trade in the Highlands, and as for fifteen years I was engaged in +journeying backwards and forwards, and had many friends and +acquaintances, I came down partly, as I have said, to avoid being mixed +up in the trouble, partly to call upon old acquaintances, and partly to +introduce to them my nephew, who is new to the work, and will shortly be +engaged in bringing down cattle here. I thought the present was a good +opportunity to show him all the roads and halting places in order that he +might the better carry out the business." + +"Your story has been well got up," one of the magistrates said, "though I +doubt whether there be a single word of truth in it. However, you will be +at present searched, and detained until we get to the bottom of the +matter. This is not a time when men can travel to and fro through the +country without exciting a suspicion that they are engaged upon other +than lawful business. At present I tell you that in our eyes your conduct +appears to be extremely suspicious." + +The prisoners were then taken to a cell and searched with the utmost +rigour. Their clothes were examined with scrupulous care, many of the +seams being cut open and the linings slit, to see if any documents were +concealed there. Their shoes were also carefully examined; but the mud +had dried over the opening where the quill was concealed, and the +officials failed to discover it. Even their sticks were carefully +examined to see if they contained any hollow place; but at last, +convinced that had they been the bearers of any documents these must have +been discovered, the officials permitted them to resume their clothes, +and then paying no heed to the angry complaints of Malcolm at the state +to which the garments had been reduced, they left the prisoners to +themselves. + +"Be careful what you say," Malcolm whispered to Ronald. "Many of these +places have cracks or peepholes, so that the prisoners can be watched and +their conversation overheard." + +Having said this Malcolm indulged in a long and violent tirade on the +hardship of peaceful men being arrested and maltreated in this way, and +at the gross stupidity of magistrates in taking an honest drover known to +half the countryside for a Jacobite spy. Ronald replied in similar +strains, and any listeners there might have been would certainly have +gained nothing from the conversation they overheard. + +"I should not be surprised," Malcolm said in low tones when night had +come and all was quiet, "if some of our friends outside try to help us. +The news will speedily spread that two men of the appearance of drovers +have been taken on suspicion of being emissaries from Scotland, and it +will cause no little uneasiness among all those on whom we have called. +They cannot tell whether any papers have been found upon us, nor what we +may reveal to save ourselves, so they will have a strong interest in +getting us free if possible." + +"If we do get free, Malcolm, the sooner we return to Scotland the better. +We have seen almost all those whom we are charged to call upon, and we +are certainly in a position to assure the prince that he need hope for no +rising in his favour here before he comes, and that it is very doubtful +that any numbers will join him if he marches south." + +The next morning they were removed from the cell in which they had been +placed to the city jail, and on the following day were again brought +before the magistrates. + +"You say that you have been calling on people who know you," one of the +magistrates began; "and as I told you the other day we know that you have +been wandering about the country in a strange way, I now requite that you +shall tell us the names of all the persons with whom you have had +communication." + +The question was addressed to Malcolm as the oldest of the prisoners. +Ronald looked round the court, which was crowded with people, and thought +that in several places he could detect an expression of anxiety rather +than curiosity. + +"It will be a long story," Malcolm said in a drawling voice, "and I would +not say for sure but that I may forget one or two, seeing that I have +spoken with so many. We came across the hills, and the first person we +spoke to was Master Fenwick, who keeps the Collie Dog at Appleswade. I +don't know whether your worship knows the village. I greeted him as +usual, and asked him how the wife and children had been faring since I +saw him last. He said they were doing brawly, save that the eldest boy +had twisted his ankle sorely among the fells." + +"We don't want to hear all this nonsense," the magistrate said angrily. +"We want a list of persons, not what you said to them." + +"It will be a hard task," Malcolm said simply; "but I will do the best I +can, your worship, and I can do no more. Let me think, there was Joseph +Repton and Nat Somner -- at least I think it was Nat, but I won't be sure +to his Christian name -- and John Dykes, and a chap they called Pitman, +but I don't know his right name." + +"Who were all these people?" the magistrate asked. + +"Joe Repton, he is a wheelwright by trade, and Nat Somner he keeps the +village shop. I think the others are both labouring men. Anyhow they were +all sitting at the tap of the Collie Dog when I went in." + +"But what have we to do with these fellows?" the magistrate exclaimed +angrily. + +"I don't know no more than a child," Malcolm said; "but your worship +ordered me to tell you just the names of the persons I met, and I am +doing so to the best of my ability." + +"Take care, prisoner," the magistrate said sternly; "you are trifling +with the court. You know what I want you to tell me. You have been to +these villages," and he read out some fifteen names. "What did you go +there for, and whom did you see?" + +"That is just what I was trying to tell your worship in regular order, +but directly I begin you stop me. I have been going through this district +for fifteen years, and I am known in pretty well every village in +Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire. Having been away for three +years, and my trade being stopped by the war, as your worship well knows, +I have been going round having a crack with the people I know. Such as +were butchers I promised some fine animals next time I came south; such +as were innkeepers I stayed a night with and talked of old times. If your +worship will have patience with me I can tell you all the names and what +I said to each of them, and what they said to me, and all about it." + +"I don't want to know about these things. I am asking you whether you +have not been calling on some of the gentry." + +"Indeed, now," Malcolm said with an air of astonishment, "and this is the +first time that I have heard a word about the gentry since I came into +the court. Well, let me think now, I did meet Squire Ringwood, and he +stopped his horse and said to me: 'Is that you, Malcolm Anderson, you +rascal;' and I said, 'It's me, sure enough, squire;' and he said, 'You +rascal, that last score of beasts I bought of you --'" + +"Silence!" shouted the magistrate as a titter ran through the court. "All +this fooling will do you no good, I can tell you. We believe that you are +a traitor to the king and an emissary of the Pretender. If you make a +clean breast of it, and tell me the names of those with whom you have +been having dealings, there may be a hope of mercy for you; but if not, +we shall get at the truth other ways, and then your meanness of condition +will not save you from punishment." + +"Your worship must do as you like," Malcolm said doggedly. "I have done +my best to answer your questions, and you jump down my throat as soon as +I open my mouth. What should a man of my condition have to do with kings +or pretenders? They have ruined my trade between them, and I care not +whether King George or King James get the best of it, so that they do but +make an end of it as soon as possible, and let me bring down my herds +again. There's half a dozen butchers in the town who know me, and can +speak for me. I have sold thousands of beasts to Master Tregold; but if +this is the treatment an honest man meets with I ain't likely to sell +them any more, for as soon as I am let free and get the money the +constables have taken from me I am off to Glasgow and if I ever come +south of the border again, may I be hung and quartered." + +Finding that nothing was to be made out of the prisoners, the magistrate +ordered them to be taken back to jail. + + + +CHAPTER XVI: The March to Derby. + + +Two days later when the jailer brought in breakfast to their cell he +dropped on the table by the side of the loaf a tiny ball of paper, and +then without a word went out and locked the back door. Malcolm put his +finger to his lips as Ronald was about to utter an exclamation of joy. + +"One's appetite is not as good here as it was when we were tramping the +hills, Ronald; but one looks forward to one's meals; they form a break in +the time." + +So saying, he took up one of the lumps of bread and began to ear, +securing at the same time the pellet of paper. "We can't be too careful," +he said in a whisper. "It is quite possible that they may be able to +overhear us." + +"I don't see how," Ronald replied in the same tone; "I see no crack or +crevice through which sound could pass." + +"You may not see one," Malcolm said, "but it may exist for all that. One +of the boards of the ceiling may be as thin as paper, and anyone +listening through could hear every word we say when we speak in our +natural voices. The magistrates evidently believe that they have made a +valuable capture, and would give anything to prove that their suspicions +are correct. Now, I will go and stand at that grated opening and look at +this paper, if they are watching us they will see nothing then." + +The little piece of paper when unfolded contained but a few words: "Keep +up your courage. You have friends without working for you. Destroy this." + +Malcolm at once again rolled up the pellet, put it into his mouth and +swallowed it, and then whispered to Ronald what he had just read. + +"I thought," he whispered, "that we should soon get a message of some +sort. The news of our arrest will have set the hearts of a score of +people quaking, and they would do anything now to get us out from this +prison. They have already, you see, succeeded in bribing our warder." + +At his evening visit the warder passed into Ronald's hand a small parcel, +and then, as before, went out without speaking. + +"I am confirmed in the belief that we can be overheard," Malcolm said. +"Had the man not been afraid of listeners he would have spoken to us. Now +let us see what he has brought us this time." + +The parcel contained a small file, a saw made of watch spring, and a tiny +phial of oil. + +"So far so good," Malcolm said quietly. "Our way through these bars is +clear enough now. But that is only the beginning of our difficulties. +This window looks into the prison yard, and there is a drop of some forty +feet to begin with. However, I have no doubt our friends will send us the +means of overcoming these difficulties in due course. All we have to +concern ourselves about now is the sawing through of these bars." + +As soon as it was dark they began the work, relieving each other in +turns. The oil prevented much sound being made, but to deaden it still +further they wrapped a handkerchief over the file. The bars had been but +a short time in position and the iron was new and strong. It was +consequently some hours before they completed their work. When they had +done, the grating was left in the position it before occupied, the cuts +being concealed from any but close observation by kneading up small +pieces of bread and pressing them into them, and then rubbing the edges +with iron filings. + +"That will do for tonight," Malcolm said. "No one is likely to pay us a +visit; but if they did, they would not notice the bars unless they went +up and shook them. Tomorrow morning we can put a finishing touch to the +work." + +As soon as it was daylight they were upon their feet. + +"It does very well as it is," Malcolm said, examining the grating. "It is +good enough to pass, and we need not trouble further about it. Now +collect every grain of those iron filings. No, don't do that on any +account," he broke in, as Ronald was preparing to blow some of it from +the lower stonework through the opening. "Were you to do that, it would +be quite possible that one of the prisoners walking in the yard might see +it, and would as likely as not report the circumstance to one of the +warders in order to curry favour and perhaps obtain a remission of his +sentence. Scrape it inside and pour every atom down the crevices in the +floor. That done, we are safe unless anyone touches the grating." + +They watched their warder attentively when he next came into the cell, +but this time he had no message for them. "We must not be impatient," +Malcolm said; "our friends have a good many arrangements to make, for +they will have to provide for our getting away when we are once out; +besides, they will probably have to bribe other warders, and that kind of +thing can't be done in a hurry." + +It was not for another two days that the warder made any fresh sign. +Then, as on the first occasion, he placed a pellet of paper on the table +with their bread. + +"This is a good deal larger than the last," Ronald whispered. + +It was not until some little time after they had finished their meal that +Ronald moved to the grating and unrolled the little ball of paper; it +contained only the words: + +"You will receive a rope this evening. With this lower yourselves from +your window into the courtyard. Start when you hear the church bells +strike midnight, cross the court and stand against the wall near the +right hand corner of the opposite side. The third window on the second +floor will be opened, and a rope lowered to you. Attach yourselves to +this, and you will be pulled up from above." + +After reading the note Ronald passed it on to Malcolm, who, as before, +swallowed it, but had this time to tear it into several pieces before +doing so. The warder was later bringing their supper than usual that +evening, and it was dark when he came in. As he entered the room he let +the lamp fall which he carried. + +"Confound the thing!" he said roughly. "Here, take hold of this bread, +and let me feel for the lamp. I can't be bothered with going down to get +another light. You can eat your supper in the dark just as well, I have +no doubt." + +As he handed Ronald the bread he also pushed into his hand the end of the +rope, and while he pretended to search for the lamp he turned round and +round rapidly, and so unwound the rope, which was twisted many times +round his body. As soon as this was done he picked up the lamp, and with +a rough "Goodnight," left them. + +"It is just as I suspected," Malcolm said in Ronald's ear. "There is a +peephole somewhere, otherwise there could be no occasion for him to have +dropped the lamp. It is well that we have always been on our guard." + +They ate their bread in silence, and then after a short talk on the +stupidity of the English in taking two drovers for messengers of Prince +Charles, they lay down on their rough pallets to pass with what patience +they could the long hours before midnight, for it was late in October, +and it was little after five o'clock when the warder visited them. They +felt but slight anxiety as to the success of the enterprise, for they had +no doubt that every detail had been carefully arranged by their friends +without, although certainly it seemed a strange method of escape that +after lowering themselves from a third floor window they should +afterwards be hauled up into a second. At last, after what seemed almost +an endless watch, they heard the church clocks strike twelve, and +simultaneously rose to their feet. Not a word was spoken, for although it +was improbable in the extreme that any watcher would be listening at that +hour of the night, it was well to take every precaution. The grating was +lifted out and laid down on one of the couches so that all noise should +be avoided. The rope was then strongly fastened to the stump of one of +the iron bars. + +"Now, Malcolm, I will give you a leg up; I am younger and more active +than you are, so you had better go first." + +Without debating the question, Malcolm put his foot on Ronald's hand, and +in a moment was seated in the opening of the window. Grasping the rope he +let himself quietly out, and lowered himself to the ground, reaching it +so noiselessly that Ronald, who was listening, did nor hear a sound. +After waiting a minute, however, he sprang up on to the sill, and feeling +that the rope was slack, was soon by Malcolm's side below. Then both +removed their shoes and hung them round their necks, and walking +noiselessly across the court they took up their post under the window +indicated in the note. In less than a minute the end of a rope was +dropped upon their heads. + +"You go first this time, Ronald," Malcolm said, and fastened it beneath +Ronald's arms. Then he gave a pull at the rope to show that they were +ready. The rope tightened, and Ronald found himself swinging in the air. +He kept himself from scraping against the walls by his hands and feet, +and was especially careful as he passed the window on the first floor. In +a minute he was pulled into the room on the second floor by the men who +had hoisted him up. A low "Hush!" warned him that there was still a +necessity for silence. The rope was lowered again, and Ronald lent his +aid to hoist Malcolm up to the window. As soon as he was in, it was as +slowly and carefully closed. + +"You are mighty heavy, both of you," a voice whispered. "I should not +have thought it would have been such hard work to lift a man up this +height. Now, follow us, and be sure you make no noise." + +Two flights of stairs were descended, and then they stood before a small +but heavy door; some bolts were drawn and a key turned in the lock, this +being done so noiselessly that Ronald was sure they must have been +carefully oiled. The two men passed through with them, locking the door +behind them. + +"Thank God we are out!" Malcolm said fervently. "I have been in a watch +house more than once in my young days, but I can't say I like it better +as I grow older." They walked for some minutes, and then their guides +opened a door and they entered a small house. + +"Stir up those peats, Jack," one of the men said, "and blow them a bit, +while I feel for a candle." + +In a minute or two a light was obtained. + +"That's very neatly done, I think, gentlemen," laughed the man addressed +as Jack, and who they now saw was the warder who had attended upon them. +"We had rare trouble in hitting upon that plan. The cell you were in +opened upon a corridor, the doors to which are always locked by the chief +constable himself; and even if we could have got at his key, and opened +one of them, we should have been no nearer escape, for two of the warders +sleep in the lodge, and there would be no getting out without waking +them, and they could not be got at. They are both of them married men, +with families, and that sort of man does not care about running risks, +unless he happens to be tired of his wife and wanting a change. Nat here +and I have no incumbrances, and weren't sorry of a chance to shift. +Anyhow, there was no way, as far as we could see, of passing you out +through that part of the prison, and at last the idea struck us of +getting you out the way we did. That wing of the jail is only used for +debtors, and they are nothing like so strict on that side as they are on +the other. Some of the warders sleep there, so there was no difficulty in +getting hold of the key for an hour and having a duplicate made. Till +yesterday all the cells were full, and we had to wait till a man, whose +time was just up, moved out. After that it was clear sailing." + +"Well, we are immensely obliged to you," Ronald said. + +"Oh, you needn't be obliged to us," the warder replied; "we are well paid +for the job, and have a promise of good berths if Prince Charles gets the +best of it. Anyhow, we shall both make for London, where we have +acquaintances. Now we are going to dress up; there's no time to be lost +talking. There is a light cart waiting for us and horses for you half a +mile outside the town." + +He opened a cupboard and took our two long smock frocks, which he and his +companion put on. + +"Now, gentlemen, will you put on these two suits of soldiers' clothes. I +think they will about fit you." + +Ronald and Malcolm were soon attired as dragoons. + +"There's a regiment of them here," the man said, "so there was no +difficulty in buying a cast off suit and getting these made from it. As +to the helmets, I guess there will be a stir about them in the morning. +We got hold of a soldier today and told him we wanted a couple of helmets +for a lark, and he said, for a bottle of brandy he would drop them out of +a barrack window at ten o'clock tonight; and he kept his word. Two of +them will be surprised in the morning when they find that their helmets +have disappeared; as to the swords and belts, I don't know that they are +quite right; they were bought at an old shop, and I believe they are +yeomanry swords, but I expect they are neat enough. I was to give you +this letter to take with you; it is, as you see, directed to General Wade +at Newcastle, and purports to come from the colonel of your regiment +here, so that if by any chance you are questioned on the way, that will +serve as a reason for your journeying north. Here is a purse of twenty +guineas; I think that's about all." + +"But are we not to see those who have done us such service," Ronald +asked, "in order that we may thank them in person?" + +"I don't know who it is any more than the man in the moon," the warder +replied. "It was a woman dressed as a serving wench, though I doubt it +was only a disguise, who came to me. She met me in the street and asked +me if I should like to earn fifty pounds. I said I had no objection, and +then after a good deal of beating about the bush it came out that what +was wanted was that I should aid in your escape. I didn't see my way to +working it alone, and I told her so. She said she was authorized to offer +the same sum to another, so I said I would talk it over with Nat. He +agreed to stand in, and between us we thought about the arrangements; but +I never got to know any more about her. It was nothing to me whom the +money came from, as long as it was all right. We have had half down, and +are to have the other half when we get to the cart with you. And now if +you are ready we will be starting. The further we get away from here +before morning the better." + +They made their way quietly along the streets. The town was in total +darkness, and they did not meet a single person abroad, and in a quarter +of an hour they were in the open country. Another ten minutes and they +came upon the cart and horses. Three men were standing beside them, and +the impatient stamp of a horse's hoof showed that the horses were tied up +closely. A lantern was held up as the party came up. + +"All safe?" + +"All safe," Ronald replied. "Thanks, many thanks to you for our freedom." + +The man holding the lantern was masked, so they could not see his face. +He first turned to the two warders, and placed a bag of money in their +hand. + +"You have done your work well," he said; "the cart will take you thirty +miles on your road, and then drop you. I wish you a safe journey. You had +best hide your money in your boots, unless you wish it to fall into the +hands of highwaymen. The London road is infested with them." + +With a word of farewell to Ronald and Malcolm, the two warders climbed +into the cart, one of them mounted beside them and took the reins, and in +another minute the cart drove away in the darkness. As soon as it had +started the man with the lantern removed his mask. + +"Mr. Ratcliff!" Ronald exclaimed in surprise. + +"Yes, it is myself. There are half a dozen of us engaged in the matter. +As soon as we heard of your arrest we determined to get you out. I was +only afraid you would have been taken up to London before we could get +all our plans arranged, for I knew they had sent up for instructions. It +was well that we were ready to act tonight, for orders were received this +afternoon that you should be sent up under an escort tomorrow. You +puzzled them rarely at your examination, and they could make nothing of +you. Our greatest fear was that you might betray yourselves in the prison +when you fancied you were alone, for we learned from the men who have +just left us that you were placed in a special cell where all that you +said could be overheard, and your movements to some extent watched +through a tiny hole in the wall communicating with the cell next to it. +It widens out on that side so that a man can get his ear or his eye to +the hole, which is high up upon the wall, and but a quarter of an inch +across, so that it could scarcely be observed unless by one who knew of +its existence. The warder said that they could hear plainly enough +through this hole, but could see very little. However, they do not seem +to have gathered much that way." + +"We were on guard, sir; my friend Malcolm thought it possible that there +might be some such contrivance." + +"And now, my young friend," Mr. Ratcliff said, "you had best mount at +once; follow this road for half a mile, and then take the broad road to +the left; you cannot mistake it. It goes straight to Penrith. You have +got the letter to General Wade?" + +"Yes, sir, and the money; we are indeed in every way greatly indebted to +you." + +"Say nothing about it," Mr. Ratcliff said. "I am risking my life as well +as my fortune in the cause of Prince Charles, and this money is on his +service. I hear he is already on the march south. Repeat to him when you +join him what I have already told you, namely, that I and other gentlemen +will assuredly join him; but that I am convinced there will be no general +rising in his favour unless a French army arrive to his assistance. The +delay which has taken place has, in my opinion, entirely destroyed his +chances, unless he receives foreign assistance. Wade has ten thousand men +at Newcastle, the Duke of Cumberland has gathered eight thousand in the +Midlands, and there is a third army forming to cover London. Already many +of the best regiments have returned from Holland, and each day adds to +their number. Do all you can to dissuade him from advancing until French +aid arrives; but tell him also that if he comes with but half a dozen +followers, Charles Ratcliff will join him and share his fate, whatever it +be." + +With a hearty shake of the hand he leapt on his horse, and, followed by +his servant, galloped off in one direction, while Ronald and Malcolm set +out in the other. + +"This is a grand disguise," Ronald said. "We might ride straight into +Wade's camp at Newcastle without being suspected." + +"I have no doubt we could," Malcolm agreed. "Still, it will be wiser to +keep away from the neighbourhood of any English troops. Awkward questions +might be asked, and although the letter you have for the general may do +very well to impress any officers of militia or newly raised troops we +may meet on the road, and would certainly pass us as two orderlies +conveying despatches, it would be just as well not to have to appear +before the general himself. Our swords and belts would probably be +noticed at once by any cavalry officers. I know nothing about the English +army, and do not know how much the yeomanry swords and belts may differ +from those of the line. However, it is certain the less observation we +attract from the soldiers the better; but as to civilians we can ride +straight on through towns and villages with light hearts." + +"We may as well breathe our horses a bit, Malcolm, now there is no +occasion for haste, and we can jog along at our own pace. There is no +probability of pursuit, for when they find that we and the warders are +missing and see the rope from our window they will be sure that we shall +have started early and are far away by the time they find out we are +gone." + +Accordingly they travelled quietly north, boldly riding through small +towns and villages, putting up at little inns, and chatting freely with +the villagers who came in to talk over the news, for the north was all +excitement. Orders had been issued for all the militia to turn out, but +there was little response, for although few had any desire to risk their +lives in the cause of the Stuarts, fewer still had any intention of +fighting for the Hanoverians. + +When they arrived within a few miles of Newcastle they left the main road +and struck across country, their object being to come down upon the road +running north from Carlisle, for they thought it likely that parties of +General Wade's troops would be scattered far over the country north of +Newcastle. At a farm house they succeeded in buying some civilian +clothes, giving out that they were deserters, and as they were willing to +pay well, the farmer, who had no goodwill towards the Hanoverians, had no +difficulty in parting with two of his best suits. + +They were now in a country perfectly well known to Malcolm, and +travelling by byways across the hills they crossed the Cheviots a few +miles south of Carter Fell, and then rode down the wild valleys to +Castletown and thence to Canobie of the Esk. As they entered the little +town they found the wildest excitement prevailing. An officer with two +orderlies had just ridden in to say that quarters were to be prepared for +Prince Charles, and a quantity of bullocks and meal got in readiness for +the use of the army, which would arrive late that evening. Ronald soon +found the officer who had brought the order and recognized him as one of +Lord Perth's aides de camp. He did not know Ronald in his present dress, +but greeted him heartily as soon as he discovered who he was. + +"How is it the troops are coming this way?" Ronald asked. + +"They are marching through Liddesdale from Kelso. We halted there for two +days, and orders were sent forward to Wooler to prepare quarters. This +was to throw Wade off the scent and induce him to march north from +Newcastle to oppose us on that road, while, as you see, we have turned +west and shall cross into Cumberland and make a dash at Carlisle." + +A few hours later the prince arrived with his army, and as soon as he +entered the quarters prepared for him Ronald proceeded there and made his +report. + +"I could wish it had been better, Captain Leslie," the prince said; "but +the die is cast now, and I cannot think that our friends in the north, +who proved so loyal to our cause in '15, will hang back when we are among +them. When they see that Charles Ratcliff and other gentlemen whom you +have visited range themselves under our banner I believe the common +people will join us also. Now give me a full account of your mission." + +Ronald gave the list of the gentry he had visited, and described his +arrest and imprisonment in Manchester and the manner in which Mr. +Ratcliff had contrived his escape. + +"You have done all that is possible, sir," the prince said, "and at an +early opportunity I will show you I appreciate your services." + +On the next day, the 8th of November, the corps crossed the border; on +the 9th they were joined by another column, which had marched from +Edinburgh by the western road, and the united force marched to Carlisle +and sat down before it. The walls of the city were old and in bad +condition, the garrison was ill prepared for a siege. It consisted of a +company of invalids in the castle, under the command of Colonel Durand, +and a considerable body of Cumberland Militia. The walls, however, old as +they were, could for some time have resisted the battery of four pounder +guns which formed the prince's sole artillery. + +The mayor returned no answer to the prince's summons and orders were +issued to begin to throw up trench works, but scarcely had the operations +begun when news arrived that Marshal Wade was marching from Newcastle to +relieve the city. The siege was at once abandoned, and the prince marched +out with the army to Brampton and took up a favourable position there to +give battle. The news proved incorrect, and the Duke of Perth with +several regiments were sent back to resume the siege. + +On the 13th the duke began to raise a battery on the east side of the +town, but after a few shots had been fired from the walls the courage of +the besieged failed them. The white flag was hung out, and the town and +castle surrendered on the condition that the soldiers and militia might +march away, leaving their arms and horses behind and engaging not to +serve again for a year. On the 17th the prince made a triumphal entry +into the place, but was received with but little show of warmth on the +part of the inhabitants. + +A halt was made at Carlisle and a council was held to determine upon the +next step to be taken. The news which had been received from Scotland was +very unfavourable. Lord Strathallan, who had been appointed by the prince +as commander in chief, and directed to raise as many troops as possible, +had collected between two and three thousand men at Perth, and Lord Lewis +Gordon had raised three battalions in Aberdeenshire; but on the other +hand a considerable force had been collected at Inverness for King +George. The towns of Glasgow, Paisley, and Dumfries had turned out their +militia for the house of Hanover. The officers of the crown had +re-entered Edinburgh and two regiments of cavalry had been sent forward +by Marshal Wade to their support. + +While even Scotland was thus wavering it seemed almost madness for the +little army to advance into England. The greater portion of the +Highlanders had from the first objected strongly to leave their country, +and upwards of a thousand had deserted and gone home on the march down +from Edinburgh. They had started less than six thousand strong, and after +leaving a garrison of two hundred men in Carlisle, but four thousand five +hundred were available for the advance south, while Wade, with his ten +thousand men, would be in their rear and two English armies of nearly +equal strength be waiting to receive them. At the council the opinions of +the leaders were almost unanimous against an advance, but upon Lord +George Murray saying that if Prince Charles decided upon advancing the +army would follow him, he determined upon pressing forward. + +The army began its advance on the 20th of November, and halted a day at +Penrith, upon the news that Marshal Wade was moving to attack them; but +the English general had not made any move, and the Scotch again pushed on +through Shap, Kendal, and Lancaster, to Preston. During the march Prince +Charles marched with his troops clad in Highland garb, and with his +target thrown across his shoulder. He seldom stopped for dinner, but ate +his food as he walked, chatting gaily with the Highlanders, and by his +cheerfulness and example kept up their spirits. The strictest discipline +was enforced, and everything required by the troops was paid for. At +Preston the prince on his entry was cheered by the mob, and a few men +enlisted. + +From Preston the army marched to Wigan, and thence to Manchester. The +road was thronged with people, who expressed the warmest wishes for the +prince's success; but when asked to enlist, they all hung back, saying +they knew nothing about fighting. Still the feeling in favour of the +prince's cause became stronger as he advanced south, and at Manchester he +was received with the acclamations of the inhabitants, the ringing of the +bells, and an illumination of the city in the evening. The people mounted +white cockades, and the next day about two hundred men enlisted and were +enrolled under the name of the Manchester Regiment, the command of which +was given to Mr. Francis Townley, a Roman Catholic belonging to an old +Lancashire family, who, with Mr. Ratcliff and a few other gentlemen, had +joined the army on the advance. + +The leaders, however, of the prince's army were bitterly disappointed at +the general apathy of the people. Lancashire had in '15 been the +stronghold of the Jacobites, and the mere accession of two or three +hundred men was evident that nothing like a popular rising was to be +looked for, and they had but themselves to rely upon in the struggle +against the whole strength of England. Marshal Wade was in full march +behind them. The Duke of Cumberland lay at Lichfield in their front with +a force of eight thousand veteran troops; while a third army, of which +the Royal Guards were the nucleus, was being formed at Finchley. Large +bodies of militia had been raised in several districts. Liverpool had +declared against them; Chester was in the hands of the Earl of +Cholmondeley; the bridges of the Mersey had been broken down; +difficulties and dangers multiplied on all sides. + +Prince Charles, ever sanguine, was confident that he should be joined by +large numbers as he advanced south; but his officers were now thoroughly +alarmed, and the leaders in a body remonstrated with Lord George Murray +against any further advance. He advised them, however, to offer no +further opposition to the prince's wishes until they came to Derby, +promising that, unless by that time they were joined by the Jacobites in +considerable numbers, he would himself, as general, propose and insist +upon a retreat. Ronald utilized the short halt at Manchester to obtain +new uniforms for himself and Malcolm, which he was glad to exchange for +the farmer's garb, which had been the occasion of a good deal of joking +and mirth among his fellow officers on the downward march. + +On the first of December, Prince Charles, at the head of one division, +forded the Mersey near Stockport, where the water was waist deep. The +other division, with the baggage and artillery, crossed lower down, at +Cheadle, on a hastily constructed bridge, and the two columns joined that +evening at Macclesfield. Here Lord George Murray succeeded in misleading +the Duke of Cumberland as to his intentions by a dexterous manoeuvre. +Advancing with a portion of his force he dislodged and drove before him +the Duke of Kingston and a small party of English horse posted at +Congleton, and pursued them some distance along the road towards +Newcastle under Tyne. + +The Duke of Cumberland, supposing that the prince's army were on their +march either to give him battle or to make their way into Wales, where +the Jacobite party were extremely strong, pushed forward with his main +body to Stone. Lord George Murray, however, having gained his object, +turned sharp off to the left, and after a long march arrived at Ashborne, +where the prince, with the other division of the army, had marched +direct. The next afternoon they arrived at Derby, having thus altogether +evaded the Duke of Cumberland, and being nearly three days' march nearer +London than was his army. + +The prince that night was in high spirits at the fact that he was now +within a hundred and thirty miles of London, and that neither Wade's nor +Cumberland's forces interposed between him and the capital. But his +delight was by no means shared by his followers, and early next morning +he was waited upon by Lord George Murray and all the commanders of +battalions and squadrons, and a council being held, they laid before the +prince their earnest and unanimous opinion that an immediate retreat to +Scotland was necessary. + +They had marched, they said, so far on the promise either of an English +rising or a French descent upon England. Neither had yet occurred. Their +five thousand fighting men were insufficient to give battle to even one +of the three armies that surrounded them -- scarcely adequate, indeed, to +take possession of London were there no army at Finchley to protect it. +Even did they gain London, how could they hold it against the united +armies of Wade and Cumberland? Defeat so far from home would mean +destruction, and not a man would ever regain Scotland. + +In vain the prince replied to their arguments, in vain expostulated, and +even implored them to yield to his wishes. After several hours of stormy +debate the council broke up without having arrived at any decision. The +prince at one time thought of calling upon the soldiers to follow him +without regard to their officers; for the Highlanders, reluctant as they +had been to march into England, were now burning for a fight, and were +longing for nothing so much as to meet one or other of the hostile armies +opposed to them. The prince's private advisers, however, Sheridan and +Secretary Murray, urged him to yield to the opinion of his officers, +since they were sure that the clansmen would never fight well if they +knew that their chiefs were unanimously opposed to their giving battle. +Accordingly the prince, heartbroken at the destruction of his hopes, +agreed to yield to the wishes of his officers, and at a council in the +evening gave his formal consent to a retreat. + + + +CHAPTER XVII: A Baffled Plot. + + +Utterly disheartened and dispirited the army commenced its march north. +The prince himself was even more disappointed than his soldiers, and +showed by his manner how bitterly he resented the decision at which his +officers had arrived. It had seemed to him that success was within his +grasp, and that he had but to march to London to overthrow the Hanoverian +dynasty. And it is by no means improbable that his instincts were more +correct than the calculations of his advisers. The news of his rapid +march south had sent a thrill through the country; and although so far +the number of those who had joined him was exceedingly small, at that +moment numbers of gentlemen in Wales and other parts of the country were +arming their tenants, and preparing to take the field. + +There was no hostile force between himself and London, for the force at +Finchley was not yet organized, and could have offered no effectual +opposition. A panic reigned in the metropolis, and the king was preparing +to take ship and leave the country. Had the little army marched forward +there is small doubt that James would have been proclaimed king in +London. But it may be doubted whether Prince Charles could have +maintained the advantage he had gained. Two armies, both superior to his +own, were pressing on his rear, and would have arrived in London but a +few days after himself; and although the Londoners might have accepted +him, they would hardly have risen in arms to aid him against Cumberland's +army. Had this halted at a distance, the reinforcements which might have +joined the prince would have been more than counterbalanced by the +regiments of English and Hanoverian troops which the king could have sent +over, and although the strife might have been lengthened the result would +in all probability have been the same. + +Prince Charles had no ability in governing. His notions of the absolute +power of kings were as strong as those of his ancestors, and, surrounded +as he was by hotheaded Highlanders, he would speedily have caused +discontent and disgust even among those most favourably inclined by +hereditary tradition to the cause of the Stuarts. But of all this he was +ignorant, and in the retreat from Derby he saw the destruction of his +hopes. + +Hitherto he had marched on foot with the Highlanders, chatting gaily as +he went. Now he rode in rear of the column, and scarce exchanged a word +with even his most intimate advisers. The Highlanders no longer preserved +the discipline which had characterized their southward march. Villages +were plundered and in some cases burned, and in retaliation the peasantry +killed or took prisoners stragglers and those left behind. Even at +Manchester, where the reception of the army had been so warm a few days +before, its passage was opposed by a violent mob, and the prince was so +offended at the conduct of the townspeople that he imposed a fine of five +thousand pounds upon the city. + +The next morning the march was continued. The Highlanders laid hands on +every horse they could find, and so all pressed on at the top of their +speed for the border. The Duke of Cumberland, who had fallen back in all +haste for the protection of London, was close to Coventry when he heard +that the Scotch had retreated northward. With all his cavalry, and a +thousand foot whom he mounted on horses supplied by the neighbouring +gentry, he set out in pursuit. At Preston he was joined by another body +of horse, sent across the country from the army of Marshal Wade; but it +was not until he entered Westmoreland that he came up with the rear guard +of the insurgents, which was commanded by Lord George Murray. + +Defeating some local volunteers who molested him, Lord George learned +from the prisoners that the duke with four thousand men was close at +hand, and he sent on the news to the prince, who despatched two +regiments, the Stuarts of Appin and the Macphersons of Cluny, to +reinforce him. It was nearly dark when by the light of the moon Lord +George saw the English infantry, who had now dismounted, advancing. He at +once charged them at the head of the Macphersons and Stuarts, and in a +few minutes the English were completely defeated, their commander, +Colonel Honeywood, being left severely wounded on the field, with a +hundred killed or disabled men, while the loss of the Scotch was but +twelve. + +It was with great difficulty that the Highlanders could be recalled from +the pursuit, and Lord George himself sent an urgent message to the prince +begging for a further reinforcement, in order that he might maintain his +ground and defeat the whole force of the duke. As usual his wishes were +disregarded, and he was ordered to fall back and join the main body at +Penrith. The check, however, was so effective that the duke made no +further attempt to harass the retreat of the Highlanders. + +Passing through Carlisle, some men of a Lowland regiment, and Colonel +Twonley with his regiment raised at Manchester, were left there as a +garrison, so that the road should be kept open for another and, as the +prince hoped, not far distant invasion. The step was, however, a cruel +one, for the Duke of Cumberland at once laid siege to the place, battered +a breach in its ancient wall, and the garrison were forced to surrender. +Many of them were afterwards executed and imprisoned, and ruin fell upon +all. + +Charles with his army marched north to Glasgow, where they remained eight +days, requisitioning supplies from the town. During their stay Ronald and +Malcolm put up at the house of Andrew Anderson. + +"What think you of the chances now, Malcolm?" Andrew asked his brother, +after hearing what had taken place since he had last seen him. + +"I think no better and no worse of it than I did before, brother. They +have had more success than I looked for. I did not think they would ever +have got as far south as Derby. Who would have thought that a few +thousand Highlanders could have marched half through England? But I see +no prospect of success. The prince is badly advised. He has but one +really good soldier with him, and he is set against him by the intrigues +and spite of Secretary Murray and his friends, and partly, it may be, by +Lord George's own frankness of speech. He has at his back but half the +Highlands, for the other portion stand aloof from him. In the Lowlands he +has found scarce an adherent, and but a handful in England. The +Highlanders are brave; but it is surely beyond human expectation that +five or six thousand Highlanders can vanquish a kingdom with a brave and +well trained army with abundant artillery. Ronald and I mean to fight it +out to the end; but I do not think the end will be very far off." + +"I am sorry for the young prince," Andrew said. "He is a fine fellow, +certainly -- handsome and brave and courteous, and assuredly clement. For +three times his life has been attempted, and each time he has released +those who did it without punishment. I could not but think, as I saw him +ride down the street today, that it was sad that so fine a young man +should be doomed either to the block or to a lifelong imprisonment, and +that for fighting for what he has been doubtless taught to consider his +right. There are many here who are bitter against him; but I am not one +of them, and I am sorry for him, sorry for all these brave gentlemen and +clansmen, for I fear that there will be a terrible vengeance for all that +has been done. They have frightened the English king and his ministers +too sorely to be ever forgiven, and we shall have sad times in Scotland +when this is all over." + +Two evenings later Ronald noticed that Andrew, who had been absent for +some time, and had only returned just in time for supper, looked worried +and abstracted, and replied almost at random to any questions put to him. + +"It is of no use," he said suddenly when his wife had left the room after +the conclusion of the meal. "I am a loyal subject of King George, and I +wish him every success in battle, and am confident that he will crush out +this rebellion without difficulty, but I cannot go as far as some. I +cannot stand by and see murder done on a poor lad who, whatever his +faults, is merciful and generous to his enemies. Malcolm, I will tell you +all I know, only bidding you keep secret as to how you got the news, for +it would cost me my life were it known that the matter had leaked out +through me." + +"This evening five of the council, knowing that I am a staunch king's +man, took me aside after the meeting was over, and told me that there was +a plan on foot to put an end to all the trouble by the carrying off or +slaying of Prince Charles. I was about to protest against it, when I saw +that by so doing I should, in the, first place, do no good; in the +second, be looked upon as a Jacobite; and in the third, be unable to +learn the details of what they were proposing. So I said that doubtless +it was a good thing to lay by the heels the author of all these troubles, +and that the life of one man was as nought in the balance compared to the +prosperity of the whole country. Whereupon they revealed to me their +plan, asking me for a subscription of a hundred pounds to carry it out, +and saying truly that I should get back the money and great honour from +the king when he learned I had done him such service. After some +bargaining I agreed for fifty pounds." + +"But what is the plot, Andrew?" Malcolm said anxiously. + +"It is just this. The prince, as you know, goes about with scant +attendance, and though there are guards in front of his house, there are +but two or three beside himself who sleep there. There is a back entrance +to which no attention is paid, and it will be easy for those who know the +house to enter by that door, to make their way silently to his chamber, +and either to kill or carry him off. I threw my voice in against killing, +pointing out that the king would rather have him alive than dead, so that +he might be tried and executed in due form. This was also their opinion, +for they had already hired a vessel which is lying in the stream. The +plan is to seize and gag him and tie his arms. There will be no +difficulty in getting him along through the streets. There are few folks +abroad after ten o'clock, and should they meet anyone he will conclude +that it is but a drunken Highlander being carried home. You see, Malcolm, +there is not only honour to be gained from the king, but the thirty +thousand pounds offered for the prince's person. I pretended to fall in +with the plan, and gave them the fifty pounds which they lacked for the +hire of the vessel, the captain refusing to let them have it save for +money paid down. Now, Malcolm, I have told you and Ronald all I know +about the matter, and it is for you to see how a stop may be put to it." + +"The scoundrels!" Malcolm said. "Their loyalty to the king is but a veil +to hide their covetousness for the reward. When is it to take place, and +how many men are likely to be engaged in it?" + +"Six trusty men of the city watch and their five selves. I said I would +subscribe the money, but would have no active share in the business. They +might have all the honour, I would be content with my share of the reward +offered. Two of them with four of the guards will enter the house and +carry off the prince. The rest will wait outside and follow closely on +the way down to the port ready to give aid if the others should meet with +any obstruction. The whole will embark and sail to London with him." + +"And when is this plot to be carried out?" Malcolm asked. + +"Tomorrow at midnight. Tide will be high half an hour later; they will +drop down the river as soon as it turns, and will be well out to sea by +the morning. And now I have told you all, I will only ask you to act so +that as little trouble as possible may arise. Do not bring my name into +the matter if you can avoid doing so; but in any case I would rather run +the risk of the ruin and death which would alight upon me when this +rebellion is over than have such a foul deed of treachery carried out. +There is not a Scotchman but to this day curses the name of the traitor +Menteith, who betrayed Wallace. My name is a humble one, but I would not +have it go down to all ages as that of a man who betrayed Charles Stuart +for English gold." + +"Make yourself easy, brother; Ronald and I will see to that. When once +treachery is known it is easy to defeat, and Ronald and I will see that +your name does not appear in the matter." + +"Thank God that is off my mind!" Andrew said. "And I will off to bed, or +Janet will wonder what I am talking about so long. I will leave you two +to settle how you can best manage the affair, which you can do without my +help, for matters of this kind are far more in your way than in mine." + +"This is a villainous business, Ronald," Malcolm said when they were +alone; "and yet I am not surprised. Thirty thousand pounds would not +tempt a Highlander who has naught in the world save the plaid in which he +stands up; but these money grubbing citizens of Glasgow would sell their +souls for gain. And now what do you think had best be done in the matter, +so that the plot may be put a stop to, and that without suspicion falling +upon Andrew? It would be easy to have a dozen men hiding in the yard +behind the house and cut down the fellows as they enter." + +"I do not think that would do, Malcolm; it would cause a tumult, and the +fact could not be hidden. And besides, you know what these Highlanders +are; they already loathe and despise the citizens of Glasgow, and did +they know that there had been a plot on foot to capture and slay the +prince, nothing could prevent their laying the town in ashes." + +"That is true enough. What do you propose then, Ronald?" + +"I think it best that if there should be any fighting it should be on +board the ship, but possibly we may avoid even that. I should say that +with eight or ten men we can easily seize the vessel, and then when the +boat comes alongside capture the fellows as they step on to the deck +without trouble, and leave it to the prince to settle what is to be done +with them." + +"That is certainly the best plan, Ronald. I will get together tomorrow +half a dozen trusty lads who will ask no questions as to what I want them +to do, and will be silent about the matter afterwards. We must get from +Andrew tomorrow morning the name of the vessel, and see where she is +lying in the stream, and where the boat will be waiting for the prince." + +The next night Ronald and Malcolm with six men made their way one by one +through the streets so as not to attract the attention of the watch, and +assembled near the strand. Not until the clock struck twelve did they +approach the stairs at the foot of which the boat was lying. There were +two men in it. + +"You are earlier than we expected," one said as they descended the steps. +"The captain said a quarter past twelve." + +"Yes, we are a little early," Malcolm replied as he stepped into the +boat; "we are ready earlier than we expected." + +A moment later Malcolm suddenly seized one of the sailors by the throat +and dragged him down to the bottom of the boat, a handkerchief was +stuffed into his mouth, and his hands and feet tied. The other was at the +same time similarly secured. + +So suddenly and unexpected had been the attack that the sailors had had +no time to cry out or to offer any resistance, and their capture was +effected without the slightest sound being heard. The oars were at once +got out and the boat was rowed out towards the vessel lying out in the +middle of the stream with a light burning at her peak. As they approached +the side the captain appeared at the gangway. + +"All is well, I hope?" he asked. + +"Could not be better," Malcolm replied as he seized the rope and mounted +the gangway, the others closely following him. As he sprang upon the deck +he presented a pistol at the captain's head. + +"Speak a word and you die," he said sternly. + +Taken by surprise, the captain offered no resistance, but suffered +himself to be bound. Two or three sailors on deck were similarly seized +and secured, the hatchway was fastened to prevent the rest of the crew +from coming on deck, and the ship being thus in their possession two of +the men at once took their places in the boat and rowed back to the +stairs. + +A quarter of an hour later those on board heard a murmur of voices on +shore, and two or three minutes later the splash of oars as the boat +rowed back to the ship. Ronald put on the captain's cap and stood at the +gangway with a lantern. + +"All right, I hope?" he asked as the boat came alongside. + +"All right, captain! You can get up your anchor as soon as you like." + +Two men mounted on to the deck, and then four others carried up a figure +and were followed by the rest. As the last one touched the deck Ronald +lifted the lantern above his head, and, to the astonishment of the +newcomers, they saw themselves confronted by eight armed men. + +The six men of the watch, furious at the prospect of losing the reward +upon which they had reckoned, drew their swords and rushed forward; but +they were struck down with handspikes and swords, for Ronald had +impressed upon his men the importance of not using their pistols, save in +the last extremity. In two minutes the fight was over. The five citizens +had taken little part in it, save as the recipients of blows; for +Malcolm, furious at their treachery, had bade the men make no distinction +between them and the watch, and had himself dealt them one or two heavy +blows with his handspike after he had seen that the guard was +overpowered. + +The whole of them were then bound, and warned that their throats would be +cut if they made the least noise. The prince was released from his bonds, +and he was at once conducted by Malcolm and Ronald to the cabin, where a +light was burning. + +The prince was so much bewildered by the events that had occurred that he +did not yet understand the state of the case. He had. been awoke by a gag +being roughly forced into his mouth, while at the same moment his hands +were tightly bound. Then he was lifted from his bed, some clothes were +thrown on to him, a man took his place on either side, and, thrusting +their arms into his, threatened him with instant death if he did not come +along with them without resistance. Then he had been hurried down stairs +and along the streets, two men keeping a little ahead and others +following behind. He had been forced into a boat and rowed up to a ship, +and on reaching the deck a desperate combat had suddenly commenced all +round him. Then the gag had been removed and the bonds cut. Bewildered +and amazed he gazed at the two men who had accompanied him to the cabin. + +"Why, Captain Leslie!" he exclaimed. "Is it you? What means all this +scene through which I have passed?" + +"It means, your royal highness," Ronald said respectfully, "that I and my +friend Malcolm obtained information of a plot on the part of some of the +citizens to carry you off and sell you to the English. We could have +stopped it by attacking them as they entered the house to seize you; but +had we done so an alarm must have been raised, and we feared that the +Highlanders, when they knew of the treachery that had been attempted +against you, might have fallen upon the citizens, and that a terrible +uproar would have taken place. Therefore we carried out another plan. We +first of all obtained possession of the ship in which you were to have +been taken away, and then overcame your captors as they brought you on +board. All this has been done without any alarm having been given, and it +now rests with you to determine what shall be done with these wretches." + +"You have done well, indeed, Captain Leslie, and I thank you and your +friend not only for the great service you have rendered me, but for the +manner in which you have done it. I ought to have foreseen this. Did not +the Lowlanders sell King Charles to the English? I might have expected +that some at least would be tempted by the reward offered me. As for +punishment for these men, they are beneath me. And, moreover, if I can +trust my eyes and my ears, the knocks which you gave them will be +punishment enough even did I wish to punish them, which I do not. I could +not do so without the story of the attempt being known, and in that case +there would be no keeping my Highlanders within bounds. As it is they are +continually reproaching me with what they call my mistaken clemency, and +there would be no restraining them did they know of this. No, we had best +leave them to themselves. We will order the captain to put to sea with +them at once, and tell him he had best not return to Glasgow until I have +left it. They will have time to reflect there at leisure, and as, +doubtless, they have each of them given reasons at home for an absence of +some duration there will be no anxiety respecting them. And now, +gentlemen, will you fetch in those who have aided in my rescue. I would +thank every one of them for the service they have rendered, and impress +upon them my urgent desire that they should say nothing to anyone of this +night's work." + +While the prince was speaking to the men, Malcolm went out, and having +unbound the captain, ordered him to deliver up the sum which he had +received for the conveyance of the prince and his captors to England. + +The captain did as he was ordered. + +"How much is there here?" Malcolm asked. + +"Three hundred pounds." + +Malcolm counted out fifty of it and placed them in his pocket, saying to +Ronald: + +"There is no reason Andrew should be a loser by the transaction. That +will leave two hundred and fifty, which I will divide among our men when +we get ashore." + +Malcolm then gave the prince's orders to the captain; that he must, +immediately they left the ship, get up his anchor as before intended, and +make out to sea; and that under pain of being tried and executed for his +share in this treacherous business, he was not to return to Glasgow with +his eleven passengers for the space of a week. + +The prince and his rescuers then entered the boats and rowed to shore, +and the prince regained his apartment without anyone in the house being +aware that he had been absent from it. The next day the prince sent for +Ronald and Malcolm, and in a private interview again expressed to them +his gratitude for his rescue from the hands of his enemies. + +"I have none but empty honour to bestow now," he said; "but believe me, +if I ever mount the throne of England you shall see that Charles Edward +Stuart is not ungrateful." + +The incident was kept a close secret, only two or three of the prince's +most intimate advisers ever informed of it. These were unanimous in +urging that an absolute silence should be maintained on the subject, for +the fact that the attempt would have certainly been crowned with success +had it not been for the measures Ronald had taken, might encourage others +to attempt a repetition of it. + +Having rested his army by a stay of eight days at Glasgow, Prince Charles +set out on the 3rd of January, 1746, for Stirling, where he was joined by +Lords John Drummond, Lewis Gordon, and Strathallan, the first named of +whom had brought some battering guns and engineers from France. Their +following raised the force to nearly nine thousand men -- the largest +army that Charles mustered during the course of the campaign. The siege +of Stirling was at once commenced; but the castle was strong and well +defended, and the siege made but little progress. + +In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland had been recalled with the greater +part of his force to guard the southern coasts of England, which were +threatened by an invasion by a French force now assembled at Dunkirk, and +which, had it sailed before the Highlanders commenced their retreat from +Derby, might have altogether altered the situation of affairs. The +command of the English army in the north was handed by the duke to +General Hawley, a man after his own heart, violent in temper, brutal and +cruel in conduct. + +He collected at Edinburgh an army of nearly the same strength as that of +Prince Charles, and with these he matched out as far as Falkirk to raise +the siege of Stirling, and, as he confidently boasted, to drive the +rebels before him. Prince Charles, leaving a few hundred men to continue +the siege, matched out to Bannockburn. The English did not move out from +Falkirk, and the prince, after waiting for a day, determined to take the +initiative. + +Hawley himself was stopping at Callendar House at some distance from his +army and General Huske remained in command of the camp. To occupy his +attention the prince despatched Lord John Drummond, with all the cavalry, +by the straight road by Stirling to Falkirk, which ran north of the +English camp. They displayed, as they marched, the royal standard and +other colours, which had the desired effect of impressing Huske with the +idea that the prince with all his army was moving that way. In the +meantime Charles with his main force had crossed the river Carron to the +south and was only separated from the English by Falkirk Muir, a rugged +and rigid upland covered with heath. + +Just as the English were about to take their dinner some country people +brought in the news of the approach of the Highlanders. Huske at once got +his men under arms, but he had no authority, in the absence of Hawley, to +set them in motion. Messengers, however, were sent off on horseback at +once to Callendar House, and the general presently galloped up in +breathless haste, and putting himself at the head of his three regiments +of dragoons, started for Falkirk Muir, which he hoped to gain before the +Highlanders could take possession of it. He ordered the infantry to +follow as fast as possible. A storm of wind and rain beat in the face of +the soldiers, and before they could gain the crest of the muir the +Highlanders had obtained possession. The English then halted and drew up +on somewhat lower ground. + +Between them was a ravine which formed but a small depression opposite +the centre of the English line, but deepened towards the plain on their +right. The English artillery, in the hurry of their advance, had stuck +fast in a morass, but as the Highlanders had brought no guns with them +the forces were equal in this respect. Lord John Drummond had from a +distance been watching the movements of the English, and as soon as he +saw that they had taken the alarm and were advancing against the prince, +he made a detour, and, riding round the English, joined the Highland +infantry. The prince's army was divided into two lines: its right was +commanded by Lord George Murray, the left by Lord John Drummond; the +prince, as at Preston, took up his station in the centre of the second +line on a conspicuous mound, still known by the name of Charlie's Hill. + +The English infantry were also drawn up in two lines, with the Argyle +militia and the Glasgow regiment in reserve behind the second line. The +cavalry were in front under Colonel Ligonier, who, at the death of +Colonel Gardiner, had succeeded to the command of his regiment. General +Hawley commanded the centre and General Huske the right. + +The battle commenced by a charge of Ligonier with his cavalry upon the +Highland right. Here the Macdonald clansmen were posted, and these, at +Lord George Murray's order, reserved their fire until the dragoons were +within ten yards, and then poured in a scathing volley, under which +numbers of the horsemen went down. The two dragoon regiments, which had +fled so shamefully at Preston and Coltbridge, turned and galloped at once +from the field; but Cobham's regiment fought well, and when compelled to +retreat rallied behind the right of the line. + +Lord George Murray endeavoured to get the victorious Macdonalds into line +again; but these were beyond control and rushing forward fell upon the +flank of Hawley's two lines of foot, which were at the same moment +furiously assailed in front; the Highlanders, after pouring in their +fire, dropped their muskets and charged broadsword in hand. + +The English, nearly blinded by the wind and rain, were unable to +withstand this combined assault. General Hawley, who at least possessed +the virtue of courage, rode hither and thither in their front, trying to +encourage them, but in vain, the whole centre gave way and fled in +confusion. On the right, however, the English were defending themselves +successfully. The three regiments placed there, on the edge of the +ravine, maintained so steady a fire that the Highlanders were unable to +cross it, and Cobham's dragoons charged down upon the scattered and +victorious Highlanders in the centre and effectually checked their +pursuit. Prince Charles, seeing the danger, put himself at the head of +the second line and advanced against the three English regiments who +still stood firm. + +Unable to withstand so overwhelming a force these fell back from the +ground they had held, but did so in steady order, their drums beating, +and covering, in their retreat, the mingled mass of fugitives. Had the +Highlanders, at this critical moment, flung themselves with their whole +force upon these regiments the English army would have been wholly +destroyed; but night was already setting in, and the Scottish leaders +were ignorant how complete was their victory, and feared an ambuscade. +Lord John Drummond, a general officer in the French service, especially +opposed the pursuit, saying, "These men behaved admirably at Fontenoy; +surely this must be a feint." + +The Highlanders remained stationary on the field until some detachments, +sent forward by the prince, brought back word that the English had +already retreated from Falkirk. They left behind them on the field four +hundred dead or dying, with a large portion of officers, and a hundred +prisoners; all their artillery, ammunition, and baggage fell into the +hands of the Highlanders, whose total loss was only about a hundred. The +English, on their retreat, burned to the ground the royal palace at +Linlithgow. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII: Culloden. + + +The victory of Falkirk brought but little advantage to Prince Charles, +and dissensions arose among the officers; Lord George Murray being +furious with Lord John Drummond for preventing the complete destruction +of the English army, while Lord John Drummond severely criticised Lord +George for the confusion which had taken place among his troops after +their success. + +Great numbers of the Highlanders, who had spent the night after the +battle in plundering the English camp and stripping the slain, made off +with their booty to the mountains, and the number of desertions was +increased by the withdrawal of the greater part of Glengarry's clansmen. +On the day after the battle the musket of one of the Clanranald clansmen +went off by accident and killed the son of Glengarry. His clansmen loudly +demanded life for life, and Clanranald having reluctantly consented to +surrender his follower, the poor fellow was immediately led out and shot; +but even this savage act of vengeance was insufficient to satisfy the +Glengarry men, the greater part of whom at once left the army and +returned to their homes. + +After the battle the siege of Stirling was renewed; but owing to the +gross incompetence of a French engineer, who had come over with Lord +Drummond, the batteries were so badly placed that their fire was easily +silenced by that of the castle guns. The prince, in spite of the advice +of Lord George Murray and the other competent authorities, and listening +only to his favourite councillors, Secretary Murray and Sir Thomas +Sheridan, continued the siege, although on the 3Oth of January the Duke +of Cumberland arrived in Edinburgh and took the command of the army. + +Never had Scotland a more bitter enemy. Relentless and savage as General +Hawley had been, his deeds were more than rivalled by those of the Duke +of Cumberland, who was justly branded by contemporary historians with the +name of "the butcher." He was, however, an able general, of great +activity and high personal courage. + +After halting but one night in Edinburgh he set out at the head of his +army to meet the enemy; but these did not repeat their tactics at +Falkirk. Disgusted at the conduct of the prince in slighting their advice +and listening only to his unworthy counsellors, Lord George Murray with +all the principal military leaders held a consultation, and presented a +memorial to the prince. In this they stated that, seeing the great +numbers of Highlanders who had gone home, they were of opinion that +another battle could not be fought with a chance of success, and +therefore recommended that the army should at once retire to the +Highlands, where a sufficient number of men could be kept together to +defy the efforts of the enemy at such a season of the year, and that in +the spring ten thousand Highlanders could be got together to go +wheresoever the prince might lead them. Prince Charles was struck with +grief and dismay at this decision, but as all the military leaders had +signed it he was forced to give way. + +The army at once blew up its magazines, spiked its guns, and marched for +the north in two divisions with much confusion and loss of order. The +Duke of Cumberland pursued, but was unable to come up to them, and halted +at Perth. + +Ronald, who had, from the time he returned to the army, again taken up +his former appointment of aide de camp to Lord George Murray, had during +this time tried his best to reconcile the differences which were +constantly breaking out between that general, the prince, and the clique +who surrounded him. It was a difficult task, for Lord George's +impetuosity and outspoken brusqueness, and his unconcealed contempt for +Secretary Murray and Sheridan, reopened the breach as fast as it was +closed. + +Since the day when he had saved the prince from being carried off at +Glasgow the latter had shown a marked partiality for Ronald's society, +and the latter had therefore many opportunities of intervening to prevent +open quarrels from breaking out. The prince himself was frequently +greatly depressed in spirits, and the light hearted gaiety which had +distinguished him on the first landing was now fitful and short lived. +His disappointment at the failure of a campaign in which he had won every +battle was deep and bitter. He had relied upon the aid of France, but no +aid had come. He had been grossly misinformed as to the willingness of +the Jacobites of England to take up arms in his favour; and although a +portion of the Highlanders of Scotland had warmly embraced his cause, yet +many on whom he had relied stood aloof or were in arms against him, while +in the Lowlands he had found but few adherents. + +So far from gaining ground, he was losing it. Numbers of the Highlanders +had gone off to their homes. The retreat from Derby had completely +chilled the enthusiasm of his adherents, while the waverers and time +servers had been induced thereby to declare against him. The Duke of +Cumberland's army steadily increased, and even had the advice of the +Highland chiefs been followed and the army dispersed to reassemble in the +spring, the chances of success would have been no more favourable than at +present, for now that the first surprise and panic were past England +would put forth her whole strength, and would by the spring have an army +assembled in Scotland against which the Highland clans, even if +unanimous, could not hope to cope. + +Ronald was perfectly alive to the hopelessness of final success. He had +seen the British infantry at Dettingen and Fontenoy, and felt sure that +although the wild Highland rush had at first proved irresistible, this +could nor continue, and that discipline and training must eventually +triumph over mere valour. When he and Malcolm talked the matter over +together they agreed that there could be but one issue to the struggle, +and that ruin and disaster must fall upon all who had taken part in the +enterprise. + +"I feel thankful indeed," Ronald said one day, "that I am here only as a +private gentleman risking my own life. I do not know what my feelings +would be, if, like these Highland chiefs, I had brought all my kinsmen +and followers with me into the field. The thought of the ruin and misery +which would fall upon them would be dreadful. I fear that the vengeance +which will be taken after this is over will be far greater and more +widespread than that which followed '15. All say that the Duke of +Cumberland is brutal and pitiless, and the fact that we were nearly +successful will naturally add to the severity with which the English +government will treat us if we fall into their power. Had the enterprise +been defeated at its commencement they could have afforded to be lenient. +As it is, I fear that they will determine to teach the Highlands such a +lesson as will ensure their never again venturing to rise in arms against +the house of Hanover." + +"And I don't know that they are altogether to be blamed," Malcolm said. +"I am not so young as I was, Ronald, and I see now that I was wrong in +teaching you to be a Jacobite. It is all very well for men like +Tullibardine, who knew the Stuarts on the throne, to fight to put them +back again; but to your generation, Ronald, the Stuarts are after all +only a tradition, and it is a sort of generous madness for you to risk +your life to set them again on the throne of England. It cannot matter a +brass pin to you whether James or George rules at St. James's. It is not, +as in the case of the Royalists in England in Charles's time or of the +Covenanters of Scotland, that a great principle is involved -- a +principle for which men may well risk their lives and all they hold dear. +It is a question of persons only, and although I may hold that by right +of descent Charles Edward is Prince of Wales and rightful heir to the +throne of England, that is no reason why I should risk my life to place +him there; and after all it seems to me that if the majority in these +islands determine that they will be ruled by the house of Hanover instead +of the house of Stuart they have some right to make their own choice." + +"You argue like a philosopher, Malcolm," Ronald said laughing, "and do +not remind me in the slightest degree of the Malcolm who used to chat +with me in Glasgow." + +"You are right there, lad. You see I was brought up a Jacobite, and I +have been a soldier all my life, accustomed to charge when I was told to +charge and to kill those I was told to kill; but I own that since I have +been out now I have got to look at matters differently. The sight of all +these poor Highland bodies blindly following their chiefs and risking +life and all for a cause in which they have no shadow of interest has +made me think. A soldier is a soldier, and if he were to sit down to +argue about the justice of every cause in which he is ordered to fight +there would be an end to all discipline. But these poor fellows are not +soldiers, and so I say to myself, What concern have they in this matter? +Their chiefs would gain honours and rewards, patents of high nobility, +and additions to their estates if the Stuarts conquered, but their +followers would gain nothing whatever. No, lad, if we get over this +scrape I have done with fighting; and I hope that no Stuart will ever +again succeed in getting Scotland to take up his cause. I shall go on +fighting for Prince Charles as long as there is a man left with him; but +after that there is an end of it as far as I am concerned, and I hope as +far as Scotland is concerned." + +"I hope so too, Malcolm. When Scotland is herself divided, Ireland +passive, and all England hostile, success is hopeless. The Stuarts will +never get such another chance again as they had on the day when we turned +our backs on London at Derby, and I hope that they will not again make +the attempt, especially as it is manifest now that France has only used +them as tools against England, and has no idea of giving them any +effectual aid." + +Charles on approaching Inverness found it toughly fortified and held by +Lord Loudon with a force of two thousand men. The prince halted ten miles +from the town at Moy Castle, where he was entertained by Lady M'Intosh, +whose husband was serving with Lord Loudon, but who had raised the clan +for Prince Charles. The prince had but a few personal attendants with +him, the army having been halted at some distance from the castle. + +One evening Ronald had ridden over to Moy Castle with some despatches +from Lord George Murray to the prince, and had remained there to dine +with him. It was late before he mounted his horse. He was, as usual, +accompanied by Malcolm. They had ridden but a short distance through the +wood which surrounded the castle when a shot was fired, and almost +immediately afterwards four or five men came running through the trees. + +"What is the matter?" Malcolm shouted. + +"The English army are upon us!" one of the M'Intoshes -- for they were +clansmen who had been sleeping in the wood -- answered. + +"They must intend to seize the prince," Ronald said, "and will already +have sent round a body of horse to cut off his retreat. Scatter through +the wood, men, and do each of you raise the war cry of one of the clans +as if the whole army were here. This may cause a delay and enable the +prince to ride off. Malcolm, do you ride back with all speed to the +castle and warn the prince of Loudon's approach." + +The Highlanders at once obeyed Ronald's orders, and in a minute or two +the war cries of half a dozen of the principal clans in Prince Charles's +army rang through the woods, while at the same time the Highlanders +discharged their muskets. Ronald also shouted orders, as to a large body +of men. + +The English, who had made sure of effecting a successful surprise, +hesitated as they heard the war cries of the clans ringing through the +woods, and believing that the whole of Prince Charles's army were at hand +and they were about to be attacked in overwhelming numbers, they +retreated hastily to Inverness. No sooner had Ronald discovered that they +had fallen back than he rode off to inform the prince that the danger was +over. + +He found Prince Charles mounted, with Lady M'Intosh on horseback by his +side, and the retainers in the castle gathered round, broadsword in hand, +in readiness to cut their way through any body of the enemy's horse who +might intercept their retreat. Charles laughed heartily when he heard of +the strategy which Ronald had employed to arrest the advance of the +enemy, and thanked him for again having saved him from falling into the +hands of the enemy. + +The English made their retreat to Inverness in such confusion and dismay +that the affair became known in history as the "rout of Moy." + +The next morning, the 17th of February, the prince called up his army, +and the next day advanced against Inverness. Lord Loudon did not await +his coming. The panic of his soldiers two days before showed him that no +reliance could be placed upon them, and embarking with them in boats he +crossed the Moray Frith to Cromarty, where the troops shortly afterwards +disbanded upon hearing that the Earl of Cromarty was marching against +them with some Highland regiments. + +The town of Inverness was occupied at once, and the citadel surrendered +in a few days. The army, now in a barren and mountainous region, were +deprived of all resources. Many ships with supplies were sent off from +France, but few of them reached their destination; several being captured +by British cruisers, and others compelled to go back to French ports. + +The supply of money in the treasury was reduced to the lowest ebb, and +Charles was obliged to pay his troops in meal, and even this was +frequently deficient, and the men suffered severely from hunger. Many +deserted, and others scattered over the country in search of subsistence. + +In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland's army was receiving powerful +reinforcements. In February Prince Frederick of Hesse Cassel, with five +thousand of his troops, who had been hired by the British government, +landed at Leith. These troops were placed in garrison in all the towns in +the south of Scotland, thus enabling the Duke of Cumberland to draw +together the whole of the English forces for his advance into the +Highlands. + +On the 8th of April he set out from Aberdeen with eight thousand foot and +nine hundred horse. He marched along the coast accompanied by the fleet, +which landed supplies as needed. At the Spey, Lord John Drummond had +prepared to defend the fords, and some works had been thrown up to +protect them; but the English cannon were brought up in such numbers that +Lord John, considering the position untenable, retired to Inverness, +while the English army forded the Spey, and on the 14th entered Nairn, +where some skirmishing took place between their advance guard and the +Highland rear. + +Prince Charles and his principal officers rested that night at Culloden +House and the troops lay upon the adjacent moor. On the morning of the +15th they drew up in order of battle. The English, however, rested for +the day at Nairn, and there celebrated the Duke of Cumberland's birthday +with much feasting, abundant supplies being landed from the fleet. + +The Highlanders, on the other hand, fasted, only one biscuit per man +being issued during the day. Consequently many straggled away to +Inverness and other places in search of food. Lord Cromarty, with the +regiments under his command, were absent, so that barely five thousand +men were mustered in the ranks. At a council of war Lord George Murray +suggested that a night surprise should be made on the duke's camp at +Nairn, and as this was the prince's own plan it was unanimously agreed +to. + +Before, however, the straggling troops could be collected it was eight +o'clock at night. Nairn was twelve miles distant, and the men, weakened +by privation and hunger, marched so slowly across the marshy ground that +it was two o'clock in the morning before the head of the columns arrived +within four miles of the British camp, while the rear was still far away, +and many had dropped out of the ranks from fatigue. + +It was now too late to hope that a surprise could be effected before +daylight, and the army retraced its steps to Culloden Moor. Worn out and +exhausted as they were, and wholly without supplies of provisions, Lord +George Murray and the other military officers felt that the troops could +not hope to contend successfully against a vastly superior army, fresh, +well fed, and supported by a strong force of artillery, on the open +ground, and he proposed that the army should retire beyond the river +Bairn, and take up a position there on broken ground inaccessible to +cavalry. + +The prince, however, supported by Sir Thomas Sheridan and his other evil +advisers, overruled the opinion of the military leaders, and decided to +fight on level ground. The Highlanders were now drawn up in order of +battle in two lines. On the right were the Athole brigade, the Camerons, +the Stuarts, and some other clans under Lord George Murray; on the left +the Macdonald regiments under Lord John Drummond. This arrangement, +unfortunately, caused great discontent among the Macdonalds, just as +their being given the post of honour at Falkirk had given umbrage to the +other clans. + +At eleven o'clock the English army was seen approaching. It was formed in +three lines, with cavalry on each wing, and two pieces of cannon between +every two regiments of the first line. The battle began with an artillery +duel, but in this the advantage was all on the side of the English, the +number of their pieces and the skill of their gunners being greatly +superior. + +Prince Charles rode along the front line to animate his men, and as he +did so several of his escort were killed by the English cannonade. A +storm of snow and hail had set in, blowing full in the face of the +Highlanders. At length Lord George Murray, finding that he was suffering +heavily from the enemy's artillery fire, while his own guns inflicted but +little damage upon them, sent to Prince Charles for permission to charge. + +On receiving it he placed himself at the head of his men, and with the +whole of the right wing and centre charged the enemy. They were received +with a tremendous musketry fire, while the English artillery swept the +ranks with grape; but so furious was their onslaught that they broke +through Munro and Burrel's regiments in the first line and captured two +pieces of cannon. But behind were the second line drawn up three deep, +with the front rank kneeling, and these, reserving their fire until the +Highlanders were close at hand, opened a rolling fire so sustained and +heavy that the Highlanders were thrown into complete disorder. + +Before they could recover themselves they were charged by horse and foot +on both flanks, and driven together till they became a confused mass. In +vain did their chiefs attempt to rally them. Exhausted and weakened in +body, swept by the continuous fire of the English, they could do no more, +and at last broke and fled. In the meantime the Macdonalds on the left +remained inactive. In vain Lord John Drummond and the Duke of Perth +called upon them to charge, in vain their chief, Keppoch, rushed forward +with a few of his clansmen and died in front of them. Nothing would +induce them to fight, and when the right and centre were defeated they +fell back in good order, and, joining the remnants of the second line, +retired from the field unbroken. + +Charles, from the heights on which he stood with a squadron of horse, +could scarce believe the evidence of his eyes when he saw the hitherto +victorious Highlanders broken and defeated, and would have ridden down +himself to share their fate had not O'Sullivan and Sheridan seized his +horse by the bridle and forced him from the field. Being pressed by the +English, the retreating force broke into two divisions. The smaller +retreated to Inverness, where they next day laid down their arms to the +Duke of Cumberland; the other, still preserving some sort of order, +marched by way of Ruthven to Badenoch. + +Fourteen colours, two thousand three hundred muskets, and all their +cannon fell into the hands of the English. The loss of the victors in +killed and wounded amounted to three hundred and ten men, that of the +Highlanders to a thousand. No quarter was given to the stragglers and +fugitives who fell into the hands of the English. Their wounded were left +on the ground till the following day without care or food, and the +greater portion of them were then put to death in cold blood, with a +cruelty such as never before or since disgraced an English army. + +Some were beaten to death by the soldiers with the stocks of their +muskets, some were dragged out from the thicket or caverns to which they +had crawled and shot, while one farm building, in which some twenty +wounded men had taken refuge, was deliberately set on fire and burned +with them to the ground. In any case such conduct as this would have +inflicted eternal discredit upon those who perpetrated it; but it was all +the more unjustifiable and abominable after the extreme clemency and +kindness with which Prince Charles had, throughout the campaign, treated +all prisoners who fell into his hands. + +Ronald had ridden close beside Lord George Murray as he led the +Highlanders to the charge; but he had, as they approached the first +English line, received a ball in the shoulder, while almost at the same +instant Malcolm's horse was shot under him. Ronald reeled in the saddle, +and would have fallen had not Malcolm extricated himself from his fallen +horse and run up to him. + +"Where are you hit, lad?" he asked in extreme anxiety. + +"In the shoulder, Malcolm. Help me off my horse, and do you take it and +go on with the troops." + +"I shall do nothing of the kind," Malcolm said. "One man will make no +difference to them, and I am going to look after you." + +So saying he sprang up behind Ronald, and placing one arm round him to +support him, took the reins in the other and rode to the rear. He halted +on rising ground, and for a short time watched the conflict. + +"The battle is lost," he said at last. "Lord George's troops are in utter +confusion. The Macdonalds show no signs of moving, though I can see their +officers are urging them to charge. Now, Ronald, the first thing is to +get you out of this, and beyond the reach of pursuit." + +So saying he turned the horse and rode away from the field of battle. + +"Does your shoulder hurt much?" he asked after they had gone a short +distance. + +"It does hurt abominably," Ronald said faintly, for he was feeling almost +sick from the agony he was suffering from the motion of the horse. + +"I am a fool," Malcolm said, "not to have seen to it before we started. I +can't do much now; but at least I can fasten it so as to hurt you as +little as possible." + +He took off his scarf, and, telling Ronald to place his arm in the +position which was most comfortable to him, he bound it tightly against +his body. + +"That is better, is it not?" he asked as he again set the horse in +motion. + +"Much better, Malcolm. I feel that I can go on now, whereas before I +could not have gone much further if all Cumberland's cavalry had been +close behind. How far are you thinking of going? I don't think my horse +can carry double much further. Poor beast, he has had as short rations as +his master, and was on the move all last night." + +"No. But we shall not have to make a very long journey. The English +marched twelve miles before they attacked us, and I do not think they are +likely to closely pursue far tonight; besides, I have no intention of +riding now that there is no fear of immediate pursuit. I think that in +another two miles we shall be safe from any fear of the English cavalry +overtaking us, for we shall then reach a forest. Once in that we shall be +safe from pursuit, and shall soon be in the heart of the hills." + +On reaching the forest Malcolm dismounted, and leading the horse turned +off from the road. Following a little trodden path they were soon in the +heart of the forest, and after keeping on for two hours, and crossing +several hills, he stopped by the side of a stream. + +"We are perfectly safe here," he said, "and can sleep as securely as if +we were in a palace." + +The saddle was taken off and the horse turned loose to graze. Malcolm +then removed Ronald's coat and shirt, bathed the wound for some time with +water, cut some pieces of wood to act as splints, and tearing some strips +off his sash bound these tightly. + +"The ball has regularly smashed the bone, Ronald, and we must be careful +to keep the shoulder in its proper position or you will never look square +again." + +"That does not seem very important to me just at present, Malcolm." + +"No. Just at present the most important question is that of getting +something to eat. We have had nothing today and not much yesterday, and +now that we are no longer in danger of pursuit one begins to feel one is +hungry. You stay here while I go and forage. There ought to be a village +somewhere among the hills nor far away." + +"Do you know the country, Malcolm?" + +"I never came by this path, lad; but I have travelled pretty well all +over the Highlands, and, just as you found to be the case in Lancashire, +there are few villages I do not know. I will first pull you a couch of +this dead bracken, and then be off; an hour's sleep will do you almost as +much good as a meal." + +Ronald lay down on the soft couch Malcolm prepared for him, and before he +had been alone for a minute he was fast asleep. + +The sun was setting when he awoke. Malcolm stood beside him. + +"Here is supper, lad. Not a very grand one, but there's enough of it, +which is more than has been the case for some weeks." + +So saying he laid down by Ronald's side a large loaf of black bread, a +cheese made of sheep's milk, and a bottle of spirits. + +"The village is five miles away, which is farther than I expected. +However, I came back quicker than I went, for I had had a bowl of milk +and as much bread as I could eat. I found the place in a state of wild +excitement, for two or three of the men had just come in from the +battlefield, and brought the news with them. They are all for the Stuarts +there, and you would be well entertained, but there is sure to be a +search high and low, and you would not be safe in any village. However, a +lad has promised to be here in the morning, and he will guide us to a +lonely hut in the heart of the hills, used by the shepherds in summer. +You will be perfectly safe there." + +"It is about three miles from the village, he said. So I can go down two +or three times a week and get food, and learn how things are going on. +The Highlanders may rally again and make another fight of it; but I +hardly expect they will. They are not like regular troops, whose home is +naturally with their colours, and who, after the first rout, try to +rejoin their regiments. There is no discipline among these Highlanders. +Each man does as he likes, and their first impulse after a battle is to +make for their homes -- if it is a victory, to carry home their spoil; if +they are defeated, for rest and shelter. At any rate, whether they gather +again or not, you will have to keep perfectly quiet for a time. When your +shoulder is perfectly healed we can act according to circumstances, and +make for the army if there be an army, or for the seacoast if there is +not." + +Although he had eaten but a short time before, Malcolm was quite ready +for another meal, and sitting down beside Ronald he joined him in his +assault upon the black bread and cheese. Then he collected some more of +the bracken, mixed himself a strong horn of whiskey and water, and a much +weaker one for Ronald, after which the two lay down and were fast asleep. + +They were awake at sunrise, and shortly afterwards the lad whom Malcolm +had engaged to act as guide made his appearance. The horse was saddled, +Ronald mounted, and they started at once for their destination among the +hills. They followed the path which Malcolm had taken the afternoon +before for some three miles, and then struck off to the left. Half an +hour took them out of the forest, and they journeyed for an hour along +the bare hillsides, until, lying in a sheltered hollow, they saw the hut +which was their destination. + +"They are not likely to find us here," Malcolm said cheerfully, "even +were they to scour the mountains. They might ride within fifty yards of +this hollow without suspecting its existence. Where are we to get water?" +he asked the lad in Gaelic. + +"A quarter of a mile away over that brow is the head of a stream," the +lad replied. "You cannot well miss it." + +"That is all right," Malcolm said. "I don't mind carrying up provisions +or a bottle of spirits now and then; but to drag all the water we want +three miles would be serious." + +The door of the hut was only fastened by a latch, and they entered +without ceremony. It consisted of but a single room. There were two or +three rough wooden stools, and a heap of bracken in one corner. Nor a +large amount of furniture, but, in the opinion of a Highlander, amply +sufficient. + +"We shall do here capitally," Malcolm said. "Now, what do you think about +the horse, Ronald?" + +"Of course he might be useful if we were obliged to move suddenly; but we +have no food to give him, and if we let him shift for himself he will +wander about, and might easily be seen by anyone crossing these hills. A +horse is always a prize, and it might bring troops out into our +neighbourhood who would otherwise not have a thought about coming in this +direction." + +"I quite agree with you, Ronald. The lad had better take him down to the +village, and give him to the head man there. He can sell him, or keep +him, or get rid of him as he likes. At any rate he will be off our +hands." + + + +CHAPTER XIX: Fugitives. + + +For three weeks Ronald and Malcolm remained in hiding in the hut among +the hills. Every two or three days Malcolm went down to the village and +brought back food. He learned that the remains of the army at Ruthven had +entirely dispersed, the prince himself seeing the hopelessness of any +longer continuing the struggle. Terrible tales of slaughter and +devastation by Cumberland's troops circulated through the hills. The duke +had fixed his headquarters at Fort Augustus, and thence his troops +ravaged the whole country of the clans lately in insurrection. Villages +were burned, cattle slaughtered, women subjected to the grossest insult +and ill treatment, and often wantonly slain, and the fugitives among the +mountains hunted like wild beasts, and slain as pitilessly whenever +overtaken. + +Ronald's arm was healing fast. Youth and a good constitution, and the +care and attention of Malcolm, aided perhaps by the pure mountain air, +did wonders for him. The splints had proved efficacious, and although +they had not yet been taken off, Malcolm was confident that the injury +would be completely repaired. One morning Malcolm had left but half an +hour for the village when he returned. + +"The enemy are in the village," he said. "I can see clouds of smoke +rising in that direction. We had better be off at once. They will be +scouring all the hills here, as they have done elsewhere, and we had +better get out of the neighbourhood." + +There was no packing to be done, and taking with them what remained of +the food Malcolm had last brought, they started on their way. They made +first for the spring from which they had drawn their water, and then +followed the little stream on its way down the hill, as it flowed in the +opposite direction to the village. An hour's walking took them into the +forest. + +"Before we go further let us have a consultation," Malcolm said. "We are +safe now from pursuit, and had better settle upon what course we intend +to adopt. Shall we make for Glasgow, and lie hid there until things blow +over a little; or make for the isles, and stay there until we get a +chance of being taken off by some French ship? That is what they say the +prince has done; and indeed as there would be no chance of his getting a +ship on the east coast, and all the Lowlands are against them, he is +certain to have made for the isles. The Clanranalds and most of the other +islemen are loyal to him, and would receive and shelter him. Skye is +hostile, but elsewhere he will be safe, and would move from island to +island or get across to the mainland by night if the pursuit became too +hot. What do you say, Ronald?" + +"I would not try Glasgow unless as a last resource, Malcolm; you are +known to many there, and as I was there as one of the prince's officers +on two occasions I might easily be recognized. You may be sure that there +is a very strict lookout for fugitives, and every stranger who enters a +town will be closely examined. After some time, when Prince Charles and +the principal chiefs and the leaders will either have escaped across the +water or been hunted down, things will calm down; but at present we must +not try to pass through the Lowlands." + +"At any rate we cannot try to do so till your shoulder is completely +healed, and you can use your arm naturally; but I do not think that we +had better try and cross to the isles just at present. If Prince Charles +is there, or is believed by the English to be there, the search will be +so keen that every stranger would be hunted down; and although the +Highlanders might risk imprisonment and death for the prince himself, +they could not be expected to run the same risk for anyone else. If the +prince escapes it will be because the whole population are with him, and +every man, woman, and child is trying to throw the pursuers off the +scent. No, I think we should be safer in Edinburgh itself than in the +isles. We will make a shift to live as we can for a month or so; by that +time I hope you will be able to use one arm as well as the other, and we +will then boldly go down into the Lowlands in our old characters as two +drovers." + +"That will be the best plan, no doubt," Ronald agreed; "the difficulty +will be the getting over the next month." + +"We shall manage that," Malcolm said; "fortunately you have still got +some money left." + +"Yes, I have over fifty pounds; it was lucky I was able to draw it, as we +returned north, from the man I left it with at Carlisle." + +"Yes, and you wanted to give it back to the treasury," Malcolm said, "and +would have done it if I had not almost quarrelled with you about it, +saying that it had been given you for a certain purpose, that you had +carried out that purpose, and had, therefore, a right to it, and that you +would be only looked upon as a fool if you offered to pay it back. +However, there it is now, and lucky it is you have got it. However hard +the times, however great the danger, a man will hardly starve in Scotland +with fifty pounds in his pocket; so now we will turn our faces west, and +make for the head of one of the lochs; there are plenty of fish to be had +for catching, and with them and a little oatmeal and a bottle or two of +whiskey we can live like lords." + +They walked for some hours, and stopped for the night in the hut of a +shepherd, who received them hospitably, but could give them but little +food, his scanty supplies being almost exhausted, for, as he told them, +"the hills are full of fugitives, and those who come all cry for meal; as +for meat, there is no want of it. Men won't starve as long as there are +sheep and cattle to be had for lifting them, and at present there are +more of these than usual in the hills, for they have all been driven up +from the villages lest they should fall into the hands of the troopers; +but meal is scarce, for men dare not go down to the villages to buy, and +we only get it when the women bring it up as they have a chance." + +In the morning the shepherd gave them directions as to the way they +should take, and a few hours later they came down upon the head of one of +the many deep inlets on the western coast. A small fishing boat stood on +the shore, but they dared not descend into this, but made their way to +the point where, as the shepherd had told them, a stream which flowed +from a mountain tarn some miles inland made its way down into the sea. + +The banks were thickly wooded for some two miles from its outlet; beyond +that was a moorland covered with heather. They determined to encamp near +the upper edge of the wood, and at once set to with their swords to cut +down branches and construct a hut. This was completed before dusk, and +Malcolm then started for the village on the seashore. Ronald besought him +to be most careful. + +"There is likely," he said, "to be a party of soldiers in every village +round the coast, for they will know that all the chiefs and officers +would be making for the sea. The clansmen have only to remain in the +hills until this persecution dies out, and then go quietly home again; +but for the leaders the only hope is escape by sea." + +"I will be careful, lad," Malcolm said. "I shall not enter the village, +but will hang about in its outskirts until I come across someone, and +with plenty of money in my pocket it is hard if I cannot manage to get a +bag of meal and a net, even if the place is full of English soldiers." + +Three hours later Malcolm returned laden with a sack containing forty +pounds of meal, a jar with two gallons of whiskey, and a net. + +"There," he said as he entered; "we can do for a month now, if needs be. +There is a party of militia in the village, and I hear the whole coast is +closely watched, and there are a number of English cruisers among the +islands." + +"How did you get the things?" + +"I waited till a woman came down with a bundle of faggots, and told her +what I wanted. She said at first it was impossible; but when I said I was +prepared to pay well she altered her tone, and said she would send her +husband out to me. He soon came, and after some bargaining he agreed to +bring me out the things I wanted for three pounds, and here they are. I +see you have got a fire alight, so we will make some cakes at once. I +have brought a griddle and two horns with me." + +The next morning they set to work to fish. The net was stretched across +the lower end of a pool, and they then stripped and waded in, splashing +and throwing stones as they went. It was just up to their necks in the +deepest parts, shallowing to two feet below. When they reached the net +they found two fine salmon caught there, and carrying these ashore they +split one and placed it above the fire. The net was then removed, and in +half an hour they were sitting down to a breakfast of grilled salmon and +hot oatmeal cakes, which Ronald thought the most delicious repast he had +ever tasted. + +For three weeks they remained at this spot. They were not always alone, +being sometimes joined for a day or two by other fugitives, who, like +themselves, were wandering near the sea coast seeking escape. These +seldom stayed long, for it was felt unsafe to keep in parties of more +than two or three at the utmost. Some of the fugitives were in wretched +condition, having been wandering among the moors and forests for weeks, +and as the fishing was very successful, Ronald and Malcolm were able to +give them at parting a good supply of smoked salmon, and a portion of +meal, of which Malcolm from time to time brought a fresh supply up from +the village. + +The people there knew little of what was passing in the outer world; but +from the conversation of the soldiers they were sure that Prince Charles +had so far escaped capture, and an opinion began to prevail that he had +succeeded in making his escape by sea, in spite of the vigilance of the +English cruisers. + +By the end of the three weeks even Malcolm admitted that Ronald's wound +was completely cured. Two large blue scars showed where the bullet had +passed through, and beneath this could be felt a lump where the broken +bone had knitted together, and this would in time become as strong as the +rest of the shoulder. Malcolm's splints had done their duty, and the eye +could detect no difference between the level or width of the two +shoulders. Ronald could move his arm freely in all directions, and, +except that he could not at present venture to put any strain upon the +arm, he might be considered as perfectly cured. They determined, +therefore, to continue their way. In the first place, however, it was +necessary to procure other clothes, for Ronald was still in uniform, and +although Malcolm's attire was not wholly military, it yet differed +materially from that of a countryman. + +"We shall have to get other clothes when we get south," Malcolm said; +"for a Highlander's dress would be looked upon with as much suspicion in +Glasgow as would that uniform of yours. But until we get down to the +Lowlands the native garb will be the best." + +Accordingly he paid another visit to the village, and with the utmost +difficulty persuaded the man he had before dealt with to bring him two +suits of clothes, such as were worn by the fishermen there. In these, +although Malcolm's small stock of Gaelic would betray them at once for +other than they seemed to the first clansman who might address them, they +could pass muster with any body of English troops they might meet by the +way. + +Before starting they caught and smoked as many salmon as they could +carry, as the fishermen of the coast were in the habit of exchanging fish +for sheep with their inland neighbours. They cut each a short pole, and +slung some fish at each end, and then placing it on their shoulder, +started on their way. They kept along the hillside until they struck the +track -- for it could scarcely be called a road -- leading from the +village into the interior, and then boldly followed this; for the +difficulty of travelling across the hilly and broken country was so great +that they preferred to run the slight extra risk of keeping to the road, +feeling certain that for the first day's march at least their appearance +and the fish they carried would answer for themselves with any body of +troops they might meet. + +Of this, however, they did not think there was much chance. The +authorities would have long since learned the futility of hunting the +fugitives among the hills, and would be confining their efforts to the +sea coast. They were now at a considerable distance from the scene of the +bloody persecutions of Cumberland and Hawley, and although in other parts +of Scotland severe measures might be adopted against known adherents of +the Stuarts, it was among the Highland clans only that savage and +wholesale massacres were being carried into effect. + +Occasionally in the course of the day's walk they met with clansmen +passing along the road. These generally passed with a brief word of +greeting in Gaelic. One or two who stopped to speak recognized at once by +Malcolm's accent that the wayfarers were not what they pretended to be; +but they asked no questions, and with a significant smile and an +expression of good wishes went on their way. + +At the village where they stopped, after a long day's journey, the same +line of conduct was observed towards them. The inhabitants guessed at +once that they were in disguise; but the edicts against those who +assisted fugitive insurgents were so severe that none made any open sign +of their recognition. They paid for their night's lodging and food with a +portion of their fish, which they were indeed glad to get rid of. + +The next day they resumed their journey, and towards sunset arrived at a +village where they saw a party of English cavalry, who had apparently but +just arrived. The men were cleaning their horses, and an officer was +sitting on a bench in front of the principal house in the village; for he +had already made a close inspection of every house in the village, and +the angry faces of the women and the sullen looks of a few men there were +about showed how they resented the disturbance of their households. + +It was too late to retreat, and Malcolm and Ronald walked boldly to the +public house in the centre of the village. The officer at once rose and +walked across to him. + +"Who are you?" he asked; "and where do you come from?" + +Malcolm shook his head and said in Gaelic: + +"I do not understand English." + +"What fools these people are!" the officer exclaimed. "Ho, within there!" + +The landlady came to the door. + +"Do you speak English?" + +"I speak a little," the woman said. + +"Just ask these men who they are and where they come from." + +The woman asked the question in Gaelic, and Malcolm replied: + +"We are, as you see, fishermen, and we come from Huish." + +As he spoke there was a slight change in the woman's face; but it passed +away, and she translated Malcolm's answer to the officer. + +"But that is forty miles away," the officer said. "What do they do with +their fish at this distance from their home?" + +The question being put in Gaelic by the woman, Malcolm replied that owing +to the boats being seized by the soldiers, and trade being at a +standstill, they could no longer make a living at home, and were +therefore on their way to Glasgow to ship as sailors. They were carrying +their fish with them to pay for their food and lodging on the way. + +The story was probable enough, and the officer's suspicion was allayed. + +"They are fine looking fellows, both of them," he said to himself as he +returned to his bench. "Father and son, I suppose. The young one would +make a strapping soldier. Like enough he was at Culloden. However, thank +goodness, I have no grounds for suspecting or detaining them. I am sick +of this brutal business of fugitive hunting. We are officers and not +butchers, and this slaying of brave men who have met us fairly in battle +is a disgrace to the British name." + +Ronald and Malcolm followed the woman into the house. + +"I am ready to buy some of your fish," she said in a loud tone of voice +in Gaelic, "for there will be many to feed this evening; as my house is +full of soldiers I cannot take you in, but if you like you can sleep in +that shed over there. I can cook one of your fish for you, and let you +have some black bread; but that is all I can do. Now, how much do you +want for the fish?" + +Malcolm named a low price, and the woman took three or four of the +largest. For these she offered him the price he had asked. He glanced +round, and seeing that they were not overlooked, he shook his head. + +"We don't want money," he said. "We are well provided. Many thanks for +keeping our secret." + +The woman nodded, and without another word the two went out and sat down +on a stone bench outside until the landlady brought out a platter with a +fish and some black bread. This they ate where they sat. Malcolm then +went in to get some tobacco, and returned with his pipe alight, and sat +with Ronald watching with apparent interest the operations of the +soldiers until night closed in. Then they retired to the shed the +landlady had pointed out, and found that a large bundle of freshly +gathered rushes had been shaken out to form a bed. Carrying in their +poles with their now diminished load of fish, they closed the door and +threw themselves down upon the rushes. + +"That has passed off well," Malcolm said. "Tomorrow we will only go a +mile or so out of the village, and stop in the first wood we come to, and +go on at night. Thirty miles will take us close down to Dumbarton, and +there we must manage to get some fresh clothes." + +"We shall be able to leave our poles behind us," Ronald said, "and that +will be a comfort. Although my load of fish was not nearly as heavy as +yours, still carrying it on one shoulder was no joke, and I shall be +heartily glad to get rid of it." + +"I shall not be sorry myself," Malcolm said; "but there will be no +occasion to waste the fish. We shall be up and away long before the +soldiers are stirring, and we may as well hand them over as a present to +the landlady." + +This was done, and at an early hour in the morning they were upon the +road again. After an hour's walking they stopped in a wood till evening +and then continued on their way until they reached Dumbarton, where they +threw themselves down beside some boats drawn up upon the shore, and +slept till the morning. + +They then boldly entered the town, and as their garb was similar to that +of the men who brought down the fish caught at the villages on the coast, +no attention whatever was paid to them. They had no difficulty in +purchasing the clothes they required, and carrying them out of the town +they changed in the first retired spot they reached, and, as two Lowland +drovers, tramped on to Glasgow. With their bonnets pulled well down over +their eyes they entered the town. They had little fear of discovery, for +none would be likely to recognize in Ronald the gaily dressed young +officer of Prince Charles. + +As to Malcolm, he felt safe from molestation. He was, of course, known to +many drovers and others, but they would not concern themselves with what +he had been doing since they last saw him, and even had they noticed him +when he was there with Ronald, would not denounce an old comrade. He +went, therefore, boldly to the little inn where he had been in the habit +of staying when in the city. + +"Ah, Malcolm, is that you, man?" the landlord said as he entered. "I +didna think o' seeing you again. I thought it likely ye were laying stiff +and stark somewhere out on the muirs. Eh, man, you are a foolish fellow +to be mixing yourself up in the affairs of ithers." + +"I have done with it now, Jock, for good and all," Malcolm said, "and am +going back to my old trade again." + +"I think you are a fule to come back here so soon. There's mony a one +marked ye as ye rode in behind that young officer of the prince's, and if +they denounce you now they would soon clap you in between four walls." + +"Hoots, man!" Malcolm laughed; "who would trouble themselves about a body +like me!" + +"There are bleudy doings up i' the Highlands," the landlord said gravely, +"if a' they say is true." + +"It is true, Jock, more shame to them; but they wouldn't do in Glasgow +what they are doing there. They are hunting down the clansmen like wild +beasts; but here in the Lowlands they will not trouble themselves to ask +who was for King George and who was against him, except among those who +have got estates they can confiscate." + +"May be no," the landlord replied. "Still, Malcolm, if you will take my +advice you won't show yourself much in the streets, nor your friend +either," he added significantly. "You may be safe, but the citizens are +smarting yet over the requisitions that were made upon them, and your +friend had best keep in his room as long as ye stay here." + +Malcolm nodded. + +"He will be careful, Jock, never fear. We shall be off again as soon as +we get a chance. I will leave him here while I go down the town and find +whether there is a herd starting for England. If there is we will go with +it; if not, I shall try and get a passage by sea." + +Malcolm could not hear of any drove of cattle going south. The troubles +had, for the time, entirely put a stop to the trade. After it was dark he +went to Andrew's. His brother's face expressed both pleasure and dismay +at seeing him. + +"Right glad I am to see you have got safely through it all, Malcolm, but +you must be mad to show yourself here again at present. But how is the +boy? We have troubled sorely over him. I trust that he too has come +safely through it?" + +"Safe and sound, Andrew, save that he had a bullet through his shoulder +at Culloden; but he is tight enough again now." + +"And what have you been doing ever since?" + +"Curing his shoulder and fishing;" Malcolm briefly related their +adventures since Culloden. + +"And is he with you here in Glasgow, Malcolm? Surely you are not mad +enough to bring him here, where he is known to scores of people as one of +the rebel officers!" + +"He is here, sure enough," Malcolm said, "and safer than he has been for +some time. It is nearly two months since Culloden, and people are +beginning to think of other things, except in the Highlands, where those +fiends Cumberland and Hawley are burning and slaying. Ronald is dressed +like a drover, and no one is likely to recognize him. However, he will +remain within doors. And now, brother, I want you to take us a passage in +the next vessel sailing for London. If I go to a shipper he may ask +questions, and like enough it may be necessary to get passes signed +before we can go on board." + +"Certainly it is," Andrew said. "A strict lookout is kept to prevent the +rebel leaders from escaping, and no captain of a ship is permitted to +take a passenger unless he is provided with a pass, signed by a +magistrate, saying that he is a peaceable and well known person." + +"But just at present we are both peaceable persons, Andrew, and we can +certainly claim to be well known citizens." + +"It is no joking matter, Malcolm, I can tell you," Andrew said irritably; +"but of course I will see what I can do. And now I will put on my bonnet +and come with you and have a chat with Ronald. It will not do to bring +him here tonight, but we must arrange for him to come and see Janet +before he sails. I shall not tell her anything about it till he is ready +to start, for you know she is very particular, and I am afraid I shall +have to say what is not quite true to get the order. I can sign it +myself, but it must have the signature of the provost too." + +So saying he took his cap and accompanied Malcolm to the lodging. + +"Stay here a moment, Andrew," Malcolm said when he arrived within a few +yards of the little inn. "I will see that there is no one drinking +within. It wouldna look well to see a decent bailie of the city going +into a liquor shop after dark. It will be best for me to fetch him out +here, for I doubt there's any room where you could talk without fear of +being overheard." + +Ronald, who was sitting with his cap pulled down over his eyes as if +asleep, in a corner of the room, where three or four drovers were smoking +and talking, was called out by Malcolm. + +"I am right glad to see you again," Andrew Anderson said heartily. "Janet +and I have passed an ill time since the battle was fought. Elspeth has +kept up our hopes all along. She said she was sure that you were alive, +quite downright sure; and though neither Janet nor I have much faith in +superstitions, the old woman's assertions that she should assuredly know +it if you were dead did somehow keep up our spirits. Besides, I had faith +in Malcolm's knowledge of the country, and knew you were both famous for +getting into scrapes and out of them, so I thought that if neither bullet +nor sabre had stretched you on the moor of Culloden you would manage to +win your way out of the trouble somehow. However, I think you are pretty +safe here. The bloody doings of Cumberland have shocked every Scotchman, +and even those who were strongest against the Stuarts now cry shame, and +so strong is the feeling that were the prince to appear now with a +handful of followers I believe the whole country would rise in his +favour. So deep is the wrath and grief at the red slaughter among the +Highlands there would not be many Scotchmen found who would betray a +fellow Scot into the hands of these butchers. I will make inquiry +tomorrow as to what ships are sailing, and will get you a passage in the +first. There may be some difficulty about the permit; but if I can't get +over it we must smuggle you on board as sailors. However, I don't think +the provost will ask me any questions when I lay the permit before him +for his signature. He is heart and soul for the king, but, like us all, +he is sick at heart at the news from the North, and would, I think, shut +an eye if he saw a Jacobite making his escape. And now, lad, I must be +going back, for the hour is getting late and Janet does not know why I am +away. Come to us tomorrow evening as soon as the shop closes. Janet and +Elspeth will be delighted to see you, and we will have a long talk over +all that you have gone through." + +On the following evening Ronald and Malcolm presented themselves at +Andrew's and were received with delight by Elspeth and Mrs. Anderson. The +latter had, while the rebellion appeared to have a chance of success, +been its bitter opponent, and had spoken often and wrathfully against her +husband's brother and Ronald embarking in such an enterprise; but with +its overthrow all her enmity had expired, and she would have been ready +to give assistance not only to them, but to any other fugitive trying to +escape. + +"I have good news for you," Andrew said, when the first greetings were +over. "A vessel sails in the morning, and I have taken passages for you +in it; and what is more, have brought your permits. I went to the provost +and said to him, 'Provost, I want you to sign these permits for two +friends of mine who are wanting to go up to London.' + +"'Who are they?' said he. + +"'They are just two drover bodies,' I said. He looked at me hard. + +"'One question, Andrew. I know how you feel just at present. You are a +loyal man like myself, but we all feel the same. I will sign your permit +for any save one. Give me your word that neither of these men is Charles +Stuart. I care not who they may be beside, but as a loyal subject of King +George I cannot aid his arch enemy to escape.' + +"'I give you my word, provost,' I said. 'One is --' + +"'I don't want to know who they are,' he interrupted. 'I had rather not +know. It is enough for me that you give me your word that neither of them +is Charles Stuart,' and he took the pen and signed the permit. 'Between +ourselves,' he went on, 'I shall be glad to hear that the misguided young +man is safe across the water, but as Provost of Glasgow I could lend him +no help to go.' + +"'They say he has got safe away already,' I said. + +"'I think not, Andrew; the coast has been too closely watched for that. +The young man is hiding somewhere among the isles, among the Clanranalds +or Macdonalds. I fear they will have him yet. I dread every day to get +the news; but I hope beyond all things, that if they do lay hands on him +it will be through the treachery of no Scot.' + +"'I hope not, provost,' I said. 'They haven't got over throwing it in our +teeth that we sold King Charles to Cromwell.' So we just shook hands and +said goodbye, and here is the permit." + +They spent a long evening talking over the past. + +"I wonder if I shall ever see you again, Ronald!" Mrs. Anderson said, +with tears in her eyes, as they rose to say goodbye. + +"You need nor fear about that, Janet, woman," her husband said. "Ronald +and Malcolm aye fall on their legs, and we shall see them back again like +two bad pennies. Besides," he went on more seriously, "there will be an +end of these savage doings in the north before long. Loyal men in +Scotland are crying out everywhere against them, and the feeling in +England will be just as strong when the truth is known there, and you +will see that before long there will be a general pardon granted to all +except the leaders. Fortunately Ronald and Malcolm are not likely to be +in the list of exceptions, and before a year is up they will be able to +come back if they will without fear of being tapped on the shoulder by a +king's officer." + +"I shall come back again if I can, you may be sure," Ronald said. "Of +course I do not know yet what my father and mother's plans may be; but +for myself I shall always look upon Scotland as my home, and come back to +it as soon as I have an opportunity." + +"You do not intend to stay in the French army?" + +"Certainly not. After the treatment my father has received I have no +inclination to serve France. The chief reason why Scotchmen have entered +her service has been that they were driven from home, and that they +looked to France for aid to place the Stuarts on the throne again. Now +that the time has come, France has done nothing to aid, and has seen the +Stuart cause go down without striking a blow to assist it. I consider +that cause is lost for ever, and shall never again draw my sword against +the House of Hanover. Nor have I had any reason for loving France. After +living in a free country like Scotland, who could wish to live in a +country where one man's will is all powerful -- where the people are +still no better than serfs -- where the nobles treat the law as made only +for them -- where, as in my father's case, a man may not even marry +according to his own will without incurring the risk of a life's +imprisonment? No, I have had enough of France; and if ever I get the +opportunity I shall return to Scotland to live." + +The next morning early Ronald and Malcolm embarked on board a ship. Their +permits were closely scrutinized before the vessel started, and a +thorough search was made before she was allowed to sail. When the +officers were satisfied that no fugitives were concealed on board they +returned to shore, and the vessel started on her voyage for London. + + + +CHAPTER XX: Happy Days. + + +On arriving in London, after ten days' voyage, Ronald and Malcolm +obtained garments of the ordinary cut. The one attired himself as an +English gentleman, the other in a garb suitable to a confidential +attendant or steward, and after a stay of two or three days they made +their way by coach down to Southampton. + +Here they remained for a week, and then effected a bargain with the +captain of a fishing lugger to set them on shore in France. As the two +countries were at war this could only be done by landing them at night at +some quiet spot on the French coast. The lugger cruised about a couple of +days, and then, choosing a quiet night when there was a mist on the +water, she ran in as closely as she dared, then the boat was lowered, and +Malcolm and Ronald were rowed to shore and landed a few miles south of +Boulogne. + +When it was light they made their way to a village; here but few +questions were asked them, for many refugees from Scotland and England +were crossing to France. As they had been well provided with funds by +Andrew they posted to Paris, and on arriving there put up at the inn +where they had stopped on the occasion of their first visit. + +"We must be careful," Malcolm said, "how we stir out until we know how +things stand. The first thing to do is to find out whether the regiment +is still in Paris." + +This they were not long in doing, as their host was able to inform them +at once that it had left the capital several months before, and on +comparing dates they found that its departure had followed within a day +or two that of their own flight from Paris. + +"It was no doubt meant as a punishment," Ronald said, "on Colonel Hume +for acting as my second in that affair with the duke. I hope that no +further ill befell him." + +His mind was set easy on this score by the news that Colonel Hume had +accompanied his regiment. On asking after Marshal Saxe they learned that +he was away on the frontier, where he had been carrying on the war with +great success, Antwerp, Mons, Namur, and Charleroi all having been +captured. + +The king was in person with the army. This being the case Ronald saw that +it was of no use remaining in Paris, as he was without friend or +protector there, and he dared not rejoin his regiment until he learned +whether the king's anger was as hot as ever. He therefore started at once +with Malcolm and travelled down to La Grenouille. + +It was a joyful meeting between him and his parents, who were in the +greatest anxiety respecting him, for although he had written several +times, communication was uncertain owing to the war, the only chance of +sending letters being by such French vessels as arrived at Scottish ports +after running the gauntlet with English cruisers. Some of these had been +captured on the way back, and only two of Ronald's letters had arrived +safely. The last of these had been written a few days after the battle of +Falkirk, and Ronald had then stated that he no longer had any hope of the +final success of the expedition. They had received the news of the defeat +at Culloden, and had since passed nearly three months of painful +suspense, relieved only by the arrival of Ronald himself. He found his +mother looking well and happy; his father had somewhat recovered from his +rheumatism, and looked a younger man by some years than when he saw him +last. + +"He will recover fast now," the countess said; "but he has worried about +you night and day, Ronald. I hope that you will stay with us for a time. +We have seen so little of you yet." + +Ronald learned that a few days after his flight an officer had appeared +at the chateau with the royal order for his arrest, and it was from him +that his parents had first learned the news of his duel with the Duke of +Chateaurouge and its result. + +"I could hardly believe my ears, Ronald," his father said; "to think that +my son, scarce a man yet, should have killed in fair fight one of the +first duellists in France. It seemed almost incredible. Malcolm told me +that you were a first rate swordsman, but this seemed extraordinary +indeed. The officer remained here for three days, and then, convinced +that you had not made in this direction, left us. A day or two afterwards +we received the letter you wrote us from Nantes, saying that you were +starting for Scotland with the prince. I grumbled sorely over my +rheumatism, I can tell you, which prevented my drawing my sword once more +for the Stuarts; but it was no use my thinking of it." + +"No, indeed," the countess said; "and I can tell you, Ronald, that had he +been ever so well I should not have let him go. After being separated +from one's husband for sixteen years one is not going to let him run off +to figure as a knight errant at his pleasure." + +"Your friend Colonel Hume wrote to us," the colonel said with a smile at +his wife's word, "giving us details of the duel, and speaking of your +conduct in the highest terms. He said that at present the king was +furious; but that he hoped in time he would get over it. Colonel Hume had +seen Marshal Saxe, who had promised on the first opportunity to speak to +the king, and to open his eyes to the character of his late favourite, +and to tell him of the attempts which the duke had made to prevent the +royal orders for our release being carried out, and to remove you by +assassination. Two months ago he wrote again to us from Antwerp, which +had just fallen, saying that Marshal Saxe had bid him tell us that the +king was in a much more favourable disposition, and that he had taken the +opportunity when his majesty was in a good humour to tell him the whole +circumstances of your journey with the orders for our release, and that +in consequence the king had made other inquiries respecting the late +duke, and had acknowledged that he had been greatly deceived as to his +character. At the same time, as your name had been by the king's order +removed from the list of officers of the Scottish Dragoons immediately +after the duel, he recommended that should you return to France you +should not put yourself in the king's way or appear at all in public for +the present. + +"'The marshal,' Colonel Hume wrote, 'has made your affair a personal +matter, and he, as is his habit in war, will persevere until he succeeds. +His reputation and influence are higher than ever, and are daily rising; +be assured that when the campaign is over, and he reaps all the honours +to which he is entitled, he will push your claim as before.'" + +In the first week in October the suspense from which they had suffered as +to the fate of Prince Charles was relieved by the news that on the 29th +of September he had safely landed at the little port of Roscoff near +Morlaix. He made his way to Paris, and Ronald, accompanied by Malcolm, +took horse at once and rode there to pay his respects to the prince, and +congratulate him on his escape. The prince received him with great warmth +and cordiality, and from his own lips Ronald learned the story of his +adventures. + +He had, eight days after Culloden, embarked for the cluster of islets to +which the common name of Long Island is applied. After wandering from +place to place and suffering greatly from hunger, he gained South Uist, +where his wants were relieved by Clanranald. The English, suspecting or +learning that he was there, landed two thousand men on the island, and +commenced an active search for him. He must have been detected had not +Flora Macdonald -- stepdaughter of a captain in a militia regiment which +formed part of the troops who had landed -- upon being appealed to by +Lady Clanranald, nobly undertaken to save him. + +She obtained from her stepfather a passport to proceed to Skye with a +manservant and a maid. Charles was dressed in female clothes, and passed +as Betty Bourk, while a faithful Highlander, Neil M'Eachan, acted as her +servant. They started at night in an open boat, and disembarked in Skye. +Skye was ever a hostile country, as its chief, Sir Alexander Macdonald, +who had at first wavered, was now a warm supporter of the Hanoverians, +and was with the Duke of Cumberland. Nevertheless Flora appealed to his +wife, Lady Margaret, a daughter of the Earl of Eglinton, and informed her +that her attendant was Prince Charles in disguise. Lady Margaret nobly +responded to her appeal. Her own house was full of militia officers, and +she intrusted Charles to the charge of Macdonald of Kingsburgh, her +husband's kinsman and factor, who took the party to his house. + +The next day Charles took leave of Flora Macdonald with warm expressions +of gratitude, and passed over to the Isle of Rasay, in the disguise of a +male servant. Thence he made his way to the mainland, where on landing he +was compelled to lie in concealment for two days cooped up within a line +of sentries. After many dangers he took refuge in a mountain cave +inhabited by seven robbers, who treated him with the greatest kindness, +and supplied his wants for the three weeks he remained with them. After +many other adventures he joined his faithful adherents Cluny and Locheil, +who were in hiding in a retreat on the side of Mount Benalder, and here +he lived in comparative comfort until he heard that two French vessels +under the direction of Colonel Warren of Dillon's regiment had anchored +in Lochnanuagh. + +Travelling by night he made his way to that place, and embarked on the +20th of September, attended by Locheil, Colonel Roy Stuart, and about a +hundred other fugitives who had learned of the arrival of the French +vessels. It was almost precisely the spot at which he had disembarked +fourteen months before. A fog concealed the vessel as she passed through +the British fleet lying to intercept her, and they reached Roscoff after +a nine days' voyage. + +Such was the tale which Prince Charles told to Ronald. He had after +Culloden entirely recovered his high spirits, and had borne all his +fatigues and hardships with the greatest cheerfulness and good humour, +making light of hunger, fatigue, and danger. Ronald only remained two +days in Paris, and then returned home. + +In October the campaign of Flanders ended with the complete defeat of +Prince Charles of Lorraine at Rancaux, and Marshal Saxe returned to +Paris, where he was received with enthusiasm by the population. The royal +residence of Chambord was granted him for life, and he was proclaimed +marshal general of the king's armies. A fortnight later Colonel Leslie +received a letter from him, saying that he had received his majesty's +command that he with the countess and his son should present themselves +in Paris, and that he was happy to say that the king's disposition was +most favourable. They set off at once. On their arrival there they called +upon Marshal Saxe, who greeted the colonel as an old friend, and refused +to listen to the warm expression of gratitude of Leslie and the countess. + +"Say nothing about it, madam," he exclaimed. "Your son won my heart, and +I was only too glad to be of service to him and my old comrade here. What +is the use of a man winning victories if he cannot lend a helping hand to +his friends!" + +The next day they went down to Versailles, where Marshal Saxe presented +them to the king in a private audience. Louis received them graciously. + +"I fear, countess, that you and your husband have been treated with some +harshness; but our royal ear was deceived by one in whom we had +confidence. Your husband and yourself were wrong in marrying without the +consent and against the will of your father, and such marriages cannot be +permitted; but at the request of Marshal Saxe, who has done so much for +France that I cannot refuse anything he asks, I have now consented to +pardon and overlook the past, and have ordered my chancellor to prepare +an order reinstating you in all the possessions and estates of the +countess, your mother. I hope that I shall often see you together with +your husband and son, both of whom have done good service as soldiers of +France, at my court; and now that I see you," he said with a gracious +smile, "I cannot but feel how great a loss our court has suffered by your +long absence from it." + +Upon leaving the king's private chamber and entering the great audience +hall Colonel Hume came up and grasped the hand of his old friend, and was +introduced by him to his wife; while many of the courtiers, who were +either connections or friends of the family of the countess, also +gathered round them, for the news that she was restored to royal favour +had spread quickly. The countess knew how small was the real value of +such advances, but she felt that it was best for her husband and son's +sake to receive them amicably. For a few weeks they remained in Paris, +taking part in the brilliant fetes which celebrated the success of the +French arms, and they then retired to the handsome chateau which was now +the property of the countess. + +Here they lived quietly for two years, making occasional visits to Paris. +At the end of that time Ronald received a letter from Andrew Anderson, to +whom he had written several times since his return to France. He told him +that he had just heard that Glenlyon and the rest of the property which +had been confiscated after the rising of 1715 was for sale. It had been +bestowed upon a neighbouring chief, who had been active in the Hanoverian +cause. He was now dead without leaving issue, and his wife, an English +lady, was anxious to dispose of the property and return to England. + +"I do not know whether your father is disposed to buy back his estates," +Andrew wrote, "but I hear that a general amnesty will very shortly be +issued to all who took part in the insurrection, saving only certain +notorious persons. The public are sick of bloodshed. There have been +upwards of eighty trials and executions, besides the hundreds who were +slaughtered in the Highlands. Besides this, thousands have been +transported. But public opinion is now so strong, and persons of all +shades of politics are so disgusted with the brutal ferocity which has +been shown, that it is certain government will ere long be compelled to +pass an act of amnesty. In the meantime, if it should be your father's +wish to purchase the property, I can buy it in my name. The priced asked +is very low. The income arising from it is stated to be about four +hundred a year, and four thousand pounds will be accepted for it. I +understand that as the late owner took no part in the insurrection, and +joined the Duke of Cumberland when he came north, the property is in good +condition and the clansmen have escaped the harrying which befell all +those who sided with Charles Stuart." + +Ronald at once laid the letter before his father, who, after reading it +through, passed it, without a word, to the countess. + +"You would like to return to Scotland?" she asked quietly, when she read +it. "Do not hesitate to tell me, dear, if you would. It is no matter to +me whether we live there or here, so long as I have you and Ronald with +me." + +Colonel Leslie was silent. + +"For Ronald's sake," she went on, "perhaps it would be better so. You are +both of opinion that the cause of the Stuarts is lost for ever, and he is +determined that he will never again take part in any rising. He does not +care again to enter the French army, nor, indeed, is there any reason why +Scotchmen should do so, now that they no longer look for the aid of the +King of France to set the Stuarts on the English throne. I myself have no +ties here. My fifteen years of seclusion have separated me altogether +from my family, and although they are willing enough to be civil now, I +cannot forget that all those years they did nothing towards procuring our +liberty. The king has so far given way that he has restored me my +mother's estates, but it was only because he could not refuse Marshal +Saxe, and he does not like French lands to be held by strangers; +therefore I feel sure, that were I to ask his permission to sell my +estates and to retire with you to Scotland he would at once grant my +request." + +"No, Amelie, it would not be fair to accept your generous offer." + +"But it would be no sacrifice," she urged. "I have little reason to love +France, and I can assure you I should be just as happy in your country as +in my own." + +"But it would be exile," the colonel said. + +"No more exile than you and Ronald are suffering here. Besides, I suppose +we should get as many comforts in Scotland as here in France. Of course +our estates here will fetch a sum many times larger than that which would +purchase Glenlyon, and we need not live all our time among the mountains +you tell me of, but can go sometimes to Edinburgh or even to London. Even +if you did not wish it, I should say it would be far better to do so for +Ronald's sake. You have lived so long in France that you may have become +a Frenchman; but it is not so with Ronald." + +It was not until two or three days later that the discussion came to an +end and the countess had her way. Colonel Leslie had resisted stoutly, +but his heart beat at the thought of returning to the home of his youth +and ending his days among the clansmen who had followed him and his +fathers before him. Ronald had taken no part whatever in the debate, but +his mother read in his eyes the delight which the thought of returning to +Scotland occasioned him. As soon as this was settled they went to Paris, +and as the countess had foreseen, the king was pleased at once to give +his consent to her disposing of her lands on his approval of the +purchaser. + +No difficulty was experienced on this score, as a noble whose lands +adjoined her own offered at once to purchase them. As soon as this was +arranged instructions were sent to Andrew to purchase not only the +Glenlyon property, but the other estates of its late owner. + +In due time a letter was received from Andrew saying that he had arranged +for the purchase of the whole for the sum of thirteen thousand pounds, +and the money was at once sent over through a Dutch banking house. Very +shortly afterwards, at the end of 1747, the act of general amnesty was +passed, and as Ronald's name was not among those excluded from its +benefits they at once prepared to return to Scotland. The journey was +facilitated by the fact that shortly after the passing of the act, peace +was concluded between England and France. + +Accompanied by Malcolm, Colonel Leslie, the countess, and Ronald sailed +for Scotland. The colonel and his wife remained in Edinburgh while Ronald +and Malcolm went to Glasgow, where Andrew had in readiness all the papers +transferring the estates purchased in his name to Colonel Leslie, who +shortly afterwards journeyed north with his wife and son and took +possession of his ancestral home amid the enthusiastic delight of the +clansmen, who had never ceased to regret the absence of him whom they +considered as their rightful chief. + +There is little more to tell. Colonel Leslie lived but a few years after +returning home, and Ronald then succeeded him as Leslie of Glenlyon. He +had before this married the daughter of a neighbouring gentleman, and +passed his time between Glenlyon and Edinburgh, varied by an occasional +visit to London. + +The countess never regretted her native land, but, happy in the affection +of her son and daughter in law and their children, lived happily with +them until nearly the end of the century. Malcolm remained the faithful +and trusty friend of the family; and his brother and his wife were +occasionally persuaded to pay a visit to Glenlyon, where their kindness +to Ronald as a child was never forgotten. Happily the rising of '45 was +the last effort on behalf of the Stuarts. Scotland accepted the decision +as final, and the union between the two countries became close and +complete. Henceforth Scotchmen went no longer to fight in the armies of +France, but took service in that of their own country, and more than one +of Ronald's grandsons fought stoutly in Spain under Wellington. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bonnie Prince Charlie, by G. A. 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Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Bonnie Prince Charlie + A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden + +Author: G. A. Henty + +Release Date: December, 2004 [EBook #7006] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 21, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE *** + + + + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<center> +<h1>Bonnie Prince Charlie</h1><br><br> +<h2>A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden</h2><br><br> +<h3>by G. A. Henty</h3><br><br> +</center> + +<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote> +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_I_The_Return_of_a_Prodigal_">CHAPTER I: The +Return of a Prodigal.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_II_The_Jacobite_Agent_">CHAPTER II: The +Jacobite Agent.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_III_Free_">CHAPTER III: Free.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IV_In_France_">CHAPTER IV: In +France.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_V_Dettingen_">CHAPTER V: +Dettingen.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VI_The_Convent_of_Our_Lady_">CHAPTER VI: +The Convent of Our Lady.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VII_Mother_">CHAPTER VII: Mother!</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII_Hidden_Foes_">CHAPTER VIII: Hidden +Foes.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_IX_Fontenoy_">CHAPTER IX: +Fontenoy.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_X_A_Perilous_Journey_">CHAPTER X: A +Perilous Journey.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XI_Free_">CHAPTER XI: Free.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XII_The_End_of_the_Quarrel_">CHAPTER XII: +The End of the Quarrel.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII_Prince_Charles_">CHAPTER XIII: Prince +Charles.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV_Prestonpans_">CHAPTER XIV: +Prestonpans.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XV_A_Mission_">CHAPTER XV: A +Mission.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI_The_March_to_Derby_">CHAPTER XVI: The +March to Derby.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII_A_Baffled_Plot_">CHAPTER XVII: A +Baffled Plot.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII_Culloden_">CHAPTER XVIII: +Culloden.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX_Fugitives_">CHAPTER XIX: +Fugitives.</a></h3> + +<h3><a href="#CHAPTER_XX_Happy_Days_">CHAPTER XX: Happy +Days.</a></h3> + +</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_I_The_Return_of_a_Prodigal_"></a>CHAPTER I: The Return +of a Prodigal.</h1> + +<p>It was a dull evening in the month of September, 1728. The +apprentices had closed and barred the shutters and the day's work +was over. Supper was laid in the long room over the shop, the +viands were on the table, and round it were standing Bailie +Anderson and his wife, his foreman John Gillespie, and his two +apprentices. The latter were furtively eying the eatables, and +wondering how much longer the grace which their master was +delivering would be. Suddenly there was a knock at the door +below. No one stirred until the bailie had finished his grace, +before which time the knock had been twice repeated.</p> + +<p>"Elspeth, woman," the bailie said when he had brought the +grace to an end, "go down below and see who knocks so +impatiently; look through the grille before you open the door; +these are nor times when one opens to the first stranger who +knocks."</p> + +<p>The old servant, who had been standing behind her mistress, +went downstairs. The door was opened, and they heard an +exclamation of surprise at the answer to her question, "Who is it +that's knocking as if the house belonged to him?"</p> + +<p>Those gathered up stairs heard the bolts withdrawn. There was +a confused sound of talking and then a heavy step was heard +ascending the stairs, and without introduction a tall man, +wrapped in a cloak and carrying a child of some two years old, +strode into the room. He threw his hat on to a settle and +advanced straight towards the bailie, who looked in surprise at +this unceremonious entry.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know me, Andrew?"</p> + +<p>"Heaven preserve us," the bailie exclaimed, "why it's +Malcolm!"</p> + +<p>"Malcolm himself," the visitor repeated, "sound in wind and +limb."</p> + +<p>"The Lord be praised!" the bailie exclaimed as he grasped the +other's hand and wrung it warmly. "I had thought you dead years +and years ago. Janet, this is my brother Malcolm of whom you have +often heard me speak."</p> + +<p>"And of whom you can have heard little good, mistress, if my +brother has spoken the truth concerning me. I was ever a ne'er do +well, while Andrew struck hard and fast to our father's +trade."</p> + +<p>"My husband has ever spoken with affection of you," Janet +Anderson said. "The bailie is not given to speak ill of any, much +less of his own flesh and blood."</p> + +<p>"And now sit down, Malcolm. Supper is waiting, and you are, I +doubt not, ready for it. It is ill talking to a fasting man. When +you have done you shall tell me what you have been doing for the +last fifteen years, and how it comes that you thus suddenly come +back among us with your boy."</p> + +<p>"He is no boy of mine," Malcolm said; "but I will tell you all +about it presently. First let me lay him down on that settle, for +the poor little chap is fast asleep and dead tired out. Elspeth, +roll up my cloak and make a pillow for him. That's right, he will +do nicely now. You are changed less than any of us, Elspeth. Just +as hard to look at, and, I doubt not, just as soft at heart as +you used to be when you tried to shield me when I got into +scrapes. And now to supper."</p> + +<p>Little was said during the meal; fortunately the table was +bounteously spread, for the newcomer's appetite was prodigious; +but at last he was satisfied, and after a long drink at the horn +beside him, which Elspeth had kept filled with ale, he said:</p> + +<p>"There's nothing like a Scottish meal after all, Andrew. +French living is well enough for a time, but one tires of it; and +many a time when I have been lying down supperless on the sod, +after marching and fighting the whole day, I have longed for a +bowl of porridge and a platter well filled with oatmeal +cakes."</p> + +<p>Supper over, John and the apprentices retired. Elspeth went +off to prepare the guest's chamber and to make up a little bed +for the child.</p> + +<p>"Now, brother, let us hear your story; but, first of all, +perhaps you want to light your pipe?"</p> + +<p>"That do I," Malcolm replied, "if Mistress Janet has no +objection thereto."</p> + +<p>"She is accustomed to it," the bailie said, answering for her. +"I smoke myself; I deem that tobacco, like other things, was +given for our use, and methinks that with a pipe between the lips +men's brains work more easily and that it leadeth to pleasant +converse."</p> + +<p>Janet went to a cupboard, brought out two long pipes and a jar +of tobacco, placed two tumblers, a flat bottle, and a jug of +water on the table.</p> + +<p>"That is right," the bailie said. "I do not often touch strong +waters. The habit, as I see too plainly, is a harmful one, and in +this good city of Glasgow there are many, even of those so placed +that they should be an example to their fellows, who are given +nightly to drink more than is good for them; but on an occasion +like the present I deem it no harm to take a glass."</p> + +<p>"I should think not," Malcolm said heartily; "it is long since +I tasted a glass of real Scotch spirit, and I never need an +excuse for taking a glass of whatever it be that comes in my way. +Not, Mistress Janet, that I am a toper. I don't say that at the +sack of a town, or at times when liquor is running, so to speak, +to waste, I am more backward than the rest; but my hand wouldn't +be as steady as it is if I had been one of those who are never so +happy as when they are filling themselves with liquor. And now, +Andrew, to my story. You know that when I saw you last -- just +when the troubles in `15 began -- in spite of all your warnings +to the contrary, I must needs throw myself into the thick of +them. You, like a wise man, stuck to your shop, and here you are +now a bailie of Glasgow; while I, who have been wandering over +the face of the earth fighting for the cause of France and +risking my life a thousand times in a matter which concerned me +in no way, have returned just as penniless as I set out."</p> + +<p>"It is said, brother Malcolm," Janet said mildly, "that a +rolling stone gathers no moss."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," Malcolm assented; "and yet do you know +there are few rolling stones who, if their time were to come over +again, would remain fixed in their bed. Of course we have not the +pleasures of home, of wives and children; but the life of +adventure has its own joys, which I, for one, would not change +for the others. However, brother, as you know, I threw myself +heart and soul into that business.</p> + +<p>"The last time I saw you was just as I was starting with a +score of others to make our way to join the Earl of Mar's army at +Perth. I have seen many an army since, but never did I see +sixteen thousand finer fighting men than were there assembled. +The Laird of Mackintosh brought five hundred clansmen from +Inverness shire, the Marquis of Huntly had five hundred horse and +two thousand foot, and the Earl Marischal had a thousand men. The +Laird of Glenlyon brought five hundred Campbells, and the Marquis +of Tullibardine fourteen hundred, and a score of other chiefs of +less power were there with their clansmen. There were enough men +there to have done anything had they been properly armed and led; +but though arms and ammunition had been promised from France, +none came, and the Earl of Mar had so little decision that he +would have wrecked the finest army that ever marched.</p> + +<p>"The army lay doing nothing for weeks, and just before we were +expecting a movement, the company I belonged to was sent with a +force of Highlanders under Mackintosh to join the army under the +Lords Derwentwater, Kenmure, and Nithsdale. Lord Derwentwater had +risen with a number of other gentlemen, and with their attendants +and friends had marched against Newcastle. They had done nothing +there but remained idle near Hexham till, joined by a force +raised in the Lowlands of Scotland by the Earls of Nithsdale, +Carnwath, and Wintoun, the united army marched north again to +Kelso, where we joined them.</p> + +<p>"We Scots soon saw that we had gained nothing by the change of +commanders. Lord Derwentwater was ignorant of military affairs, +and he was greatly swayed by a Mr. Forster, who was somehow at +the head of the business, and who was not only incompetent, but +proved to be a coward, if not, as most folks believed, a traitor. +So dissension soon broke out, and four hundred Highlanders +marched away north. After a long delay it was resolved to move +south, where, it was said, we should be joined by great numbers +in Lancashire; but by this time all had greatly lost spirit and +hope in the enterprise. We crossed the border and marched down +through Penrith, Appleby, and Kendal to Lancaster, and then on to +Preston.</p> + +<p>"I was little more than a lad, Andrew, but even to me it +seemed madness thus to march into England with only two thousand +men. Of these twelve hundred were foot, commanded by Brigadier +Mackintosh; the others were horse. There were two troops of +Stanhope's dragoons quartered in Preston, but these retired when +we neared the town, and we entered without opposition. Next day, +which was, I remember, the 10th of November, the Chevalier was +proclaimed king, and some country gentlemen with their tenants +came in and joined us.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it would have come to the same thing in the end, +but never were things so badly managed as they were by Mr. +Forster.</p> + +<p>"Preston was a strong natural position; an enemy coming from +the south could only reach it by crossing a narrow bridge over +the river Ribble a mile and a half away, and this could have been +held by a company against an army. From the bridge to the town +the road was so narrow that in several places two men could not +ride abreast. It ran between two high and steep banks, and it was +here that Cromwell was nearly killed when he attacked Charles's +troops.</p> + +<p>"Well, all these places, where we might certainly have +defended ourselves, were neglected, and we were all kept in the +town, where we formed four main posts. One was in the churchyard, +and this was commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh. In support of +this was the volunteer horse under Derwentwater and the three +other lords. Lord Charles Murray was in command at a barricade at +a little distance from the churchyard. Colonel Mackintosh had +charge of a post at a windmill; and the fourth was in the centre +of the town.</p> + +<p>"Lord Derwentwater was a poor general, but he was a brave man. +He and his two brothers, the Ratcliffs, rode about everywhere, +setting an example of coolness, animating the soldiers, and +seeing to the work on the barriers. Two days after we reached the +town we heard that General Wilde was approaching. Colonel +Farquharson was sent forward with a portion of Mackintosh's +battalion to hold the bridge and the pass; but Mr. Forster, who +went out on horseback, no sooner saw the enemy approaching than +he gave orders to Farquharson and his men to retreat to the town. +If I had been in Farquharson's place I would have put a bullet +through the coward's head, and would have defended the bridge +till the last.</p> + +<p>"After that everything was confusion; the Highlanders came +back into the town furious and disheartened. The garrison +prepared to receive the enemy. Mr. Forster was seen no more, and +in fact he went straight back to the house where he was lodging +and took his bed, where he remained till all was over. The enemy +came on slowly. They could not understand why strong posts should +be left undefended, and feared falling in an ambuscade. I was at +the post commanded by Brigadier Mackintosh. I had joined a +company commanded by Leslie of Glenlyon, who had brought with him +some twenty men, and had made up his company with men who, like +myself, came up without a leader. His company was attached to +Mackintosh's regiment.</p> + +<p>"Presently the English came in sight, and as soon as they +ascertained that we were still there, which they had begun to +doubt, they attacked us. We beat them back handsomely, and +Derwentwater with his cavalry charged their dragoons so fiercely +that he drove them out of the town. It was late in the afternoon +when the fight began, and all night the struggle went on. At each +of our posts we beat them back over and over again. The town was +on fire in half a dozen places, but luckily the night was still +and the flames did not spread. We knew that it was a hopeless +fight we were making; for, from some prisoners, we learned that +three regiments of dragoons were also coming up against us, and +had already arrived at Clitheroe. From some inhabitants, I +suppose, the enemy learned that the street leading to Wigan had +nor been barricaded, and Lord Forrester brought up Preston's +regiment by this way, and suddenly fell on the flank of our +barrier. It was a tough fight, but we held our own till the news +came that Forster had agreed to capitulate.</p> + +<p>"I don't say that our case wasn't hopeless. We were +outnumbered and had no leader; sooner or later we must have been +overpowered. Still, no capitulation should have been made except +on the terms of mercy to all concerned. But Forster no doubt felt +safe about himself, and that was all he cared for; and the end +showed that he knew what he was about, for while all the brave +young noblemen, and numbers of others, were either executed or +punished in other ways, Forster, who had been the leading spirit +who had persuaded them to rise, and led them into this strait, +was after a short imprisonment suffered to go free. I tell you, +brother Andrew, if I were to meet him now, even if it were in a +church, I would drive my dagger into his heart.</p> + +<p>"However, there we were. So furious were we that it was with +difficulty the officers could prevent us from sallying out sword +in hand and trying to cut our way through the enemy. As to +Forster, if he had appeared in the streets he would have been +hewn to pieces. However, it was useless to resist now; the +English troops marched in and we laid down our arms, and our +battalions marched into a church and were guarded as prisoners. +It was not a great army they had taken, for there were but one +thousand four hundred and ninety captured, including noblemen, +gentlemen, and officers.</p> + +<p>"Many of us were wounded more or less. I had got a slice on +the shoulder from a dragoon's sword. This I gained when rushing +out to rescue Leslie, who had been knocked down, and would have +been slain by three dragoons had I not stood over him till some +of our men rushed out and carried him in. He was not badly hurt, +the sword having turned as it cut through his bonnet. My action +won his regard, and from that time until a month since we have +never been separated. Under a strong escort of soldiers we were +marched south. In most places the country people mocked us as we +passed; but here and there we saw among the crowds who gathered +in the streets of the towns through which we passed, faces which +we passed, faces which expressed pity and sympathy</p> + +<p>"We were not badly treated on the march by our guard, and had +little to complain of. When we reached Barnet we fell out as +usual when the march was over, and I went up to the door of a +house and asked a woman, who looked pityingly at us, for a drink +of water. She brought me some, and while I drank she said:</p> + +<p>"'We are Catholics and well wishers of the Chevalier; if you +can manage to slip in here after it is dark we will furnish you +with a disguise, and will direct you to friends who will pass you +on until you can escape.</p> + +<p>"'Can you give me disguises for two?' I asked. `I will not go +without my captain.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' she said, `for two, but no more.'</p> + +<p>"`I will steal away after dark,' I said as I gave her back the +jug.</p> + +<p>"I told Leslie what had happened, and he agreed to join me in +time to escape, for there was no saying what fate might befall us +in London; and, indeed, the very next morning severities +commenced, the whole of the troops being obliged to suffer the +indignity of having their arms tied behind them, and so being +marched into London.</p> + +<p>"After it was dark Leslie and I managed to steal away from our +guards, who were not very watchful, for our uniform would at once +have betrayed us, and the country people would have seized and +handed us over. The woman was on the watch, and as soon as we +neared the door she opened it. Her husband was with her and +received us kindly. He at once furnished us with the attire of +two countrymen, and, letting us out by a back way, started with +us across the country.</p> + +<p>"After walking twenty miles he brought us to the house of +another adherent of the Chevalier, where we remained all day. So +we were passed on until we reached the coast, where we lay hid +for some days until an arrangement was made with the captain of a +fishing boat to take us to sea, and either to land us at Calais +or to put us on board a French fishing boat. So we got over +without trouble.</p> + +<p>"Long before that, as you know, the business had virtually +come to an end here. The Earl of Mar's army lay week after week +at Perth, till at last it met the enemy under Argyle at +Sheriffmuir.</p> + +<p>"You know how that went. The Highland clans in the right and +centre carried all before them, and drove the enemy from the +field, but on the left they beat us badly. So both parties +claimed the victory. But, victory or defeat, it was fatal to the +cause of the Chevalier. Half the Highland clans went off to their +homes that night, and Mar had to fall back to Perth.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was really the end of it. The Chevalier landed, +and for a while our hopes rose. He did nothing, and our hopes +fell. At last he took ship and went away, and the affair was +over, except for the hangings and slaughterings.</p> + +<p>"Leslie, like most of the Scottish gentlemen who succeeded in +reaching France, took service with the French king, and, of +course, I did the same. It would have done your heart good to see +how the Scottish regiments fought on many a field; the very best +troops of France were never before us, and many a tough field was +decided by our charge. Leslie was a cornet. He was about my age; +and you know I was but twenty when Sheriffmuir was fought. He +rose to be a colonel, and would have given me a pair of colours +over and over again if I would have taken them; but I felt more +comfortable among our troopers than I should have done among the +officers, who were almost all men of good Highland family; so I +remained Leslie's right hand.</p> + +<p>"A braver soldier never swung a leg over saddle; but he was +always in some love affair or another. Why he didn't marry I +couldn't make out. I suppose he could never stick long enough to +one woman. However, some four years ago he got into an affair +more serious than any he had been in before, and this time he +stuck to it in right earnest. Of course she was precisely one of +the women he oughtn't to have fallen in love with, though I for +one couldn't blame him, for a prettier creature wasn't to be +found in France. Unfortunately she was the only daughter of the +Marquis de Recambours, one of the wealthiest and most powerful of +French nobles, and there was no more chance of his giving his +consent to her throwing herself away upon a Scottish soldier of +fortune than to her going into a nunnery; less, in fact. However, +she was as much in love with Leslie as he was with her, and so +they got secretly married. Two years ago this child was born, but +she managed somehow to keep it from her father, who was all this +time urging her to marry the Duke de Chateaurouge.</p> + +<p>"At last, as ill luck would have it, he shut her up in a +convent just a week before she had arranged to fly with Leslie to +Germany, where he intended to take service until her father came +round. Leslie would have got her out somehow; but his regiment +was ordered to the frontier, and it was eighteen months before we +returned to Paris, where the child had been in keeping with some +people with whom he had placed it. The very evening of his return +I was cleaning his arms when he rushed into the room.</p> + +<p>"'All is discovered,' he said; 'here is my signet ring, go at +once and get the child, and make your way with it to Scotland; +take all the money in the escritoire, quick!'</p> + +<p>"I heard feet approaching, and dashed to the bureau, and +transferred the bag of louis there to my pocket. An official with +two followers entered.</p> + +<p>"'Colonel Leslie,' he said, 'it is my duty to arrest you by +order of his gracious majesty;' and he held out an order signed +by the king.</p> + +<p>"'I am unconscious of having done any wrong, sir, to his +majesty, whom I have served for the last sixteen years. However, +it is not for me to dispute his orders;' thereupon he unbuckled +his sword and handed it to the officers. 'You will look after the +things till I return, Malcolm. As I am sure I can clear myself of +any charge that may be brought against me, I trust to be speedily +back again.</p> + +<p>"'Your trooper need not trouble himself,' the officer said; +`the official with me will take charge of everything, and will at +once affix my seal to all your effects.'</p> + +<p>"I went down stairs and saw the colonel enter a carriage with +the two officials, then I went straight to the major. 'Colonel +Leslie has been arrested, sir, on what charge I know not. He has +intrusted a commission to me. Therefore, if you find I am absent +from parade in the morning you will understand I am carrying out +his orders.'</p> + +<p>"The major was thunderstruck at the news, but told me to do as +the colonel had ordered me, whatever it might be. I mounted the +colonel's horse at once and rode to the house where the child was +in keeping. The people knew me well, as I had often been there +with messages from the colonel. When I showed them the signet +ring, and told them that I had orders to take the child to his +father, they made no opposition. I said I would return for him as +soon as it was dusk. I then went and purchased a suit of civilian +clothes, and returning to the house attired myself in these, and +taking the child on the saddle before me, rode for the +frontier.</p> + +<p>"Following unfrequented roads, travelling only at night, and +passing a day in a wood, I passed the frontier unmolested, and +made my way to Ostend, where I sold the horse and took passage in +the first ship sailing for Leith. I arrived there two days ago, +and have walked here, with an occasional lift in a cart; and here +I am, brother Andrew, to ask you for hospitality for a while for +myself and Leslie's boy. I have a hundred louis, but these, of +course, belong to the child. As for myself, I confess I have +nothing; saving has never been in my line."</p> + +<p>"You are heartily welcome, Malcolm, as long as you choose to +stop; but I trust that ere long you will hear of Colonel +Leslie."</p> + +<p>"I trust so," Malcolm said; "but if you knew the court of +France as well as I do you would not feel very sanguine about it. +It is easier to get into a prison than out of one."</p> + +<p>"But the colonel has committed no crime!" the bailie said.</p> + +<p>"His chance would be a great deal better if he had," Malcolm +laughed. "A colonel of one of his majesty's Scottish regiments +can do a good deal in the way of crime without much harm +befalling him; but when it comes to marrying the daughter of a +nobleman who is a great personage at court, without his consent, +it is a different affair altogether, I can tell you. Leslie has +powerful friends, and his brother officers will do what they can +for him; but I can tell you services at the court of France go +for very little. Influence is everything, and as the nobleman the +marquis intended to be the husband of his daughter is also a +great personage at court and a friend of Louis's, there is no +saying how serious a matter they may make of it. Men have been +kept prisoners for life for a far less serious business than +this."</p> + +<p>"But supposing he is released, does he know where to +communicate with you?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid he doesn't," Malcolm said ruefully. "He knows +that I come from Glasgow, but that is all. Still, when he is +freed, no doubt he will come over himself to look for his son, +and I am sure to hear of his being here."</p> + +<p>"You might do, and you might not," the bailie said. "Still, we +must hope for the best, Malcolm. At any rate I am in no haste for +the colonel to come. Now I have got you home again after all +these years, I do not wish to lose you again in a hurry."</p> + +<p>Malcolm only remained for a few weeks at his brother's house. +The restraint of life at the bailie's was too much for him. +Andrew's was a well ordered household. The bailie was methodical +and regular, a leading figure in the kirk, far stricter than were +most men of his time as to undue consumption of liquor, strong in +exhortation in season and out of season. His wife was kindly but +precise, and as outspoken as Andrew himself. For the first day or +two the real affection which Andrew had for his younger brother, +and the pleasure he felt at his return, shielded Malcolm from +comment or rebuke; but after the very first day the bailie's wife +had declared to herself that it was impossible that Malcolm could +long remain an inmate of the house. She was not inhospitable, and +would have made great sacrifices in some directions for the long +missing brother of her husband; but his conduct outraged all the +best feelings of a good Scotch housewife.</p> + +<p>Even on that first day he did not come punctually to his +meals. He was away about the town looking up old acquaintance, +came in at dinner and again at supper after the meal had already +begun, and dropped into his place and began to eat without saying +a word of grace. He stamped about the house as if he had cavalry +spurs still on his heels; talked in a voice that could be heard +from attic to basement; used French and Flemish oaths which +horrified the good lady, although she did not understand them; +smoked at all hours of the day, whereas Andrew always confined +himself to his after supper pipe, and, in spite of his assertions +on the previous evening, consumed an amount of liquor which +horrified the good woman.</p> + +<p>At his meals he talked loudly, kept the two apprentices in a +titter with his stories of campaigning, spoke slightingly of the +city authorities, and joked the bailie with a freedom and +roughness which scandalized her. Andrew was slow to notice the +incongruity of his brother's demeanour and bearing with the +atmosphere of the house, although he soon became dimly conscious +that there was a jarring element in the air. At the end of a week +Malcolm broached the subject to him.</p> + +<p>"Andrew," he said, "you are a good fellow, though you are a +bailie and an elder of the kirk, and I thank you for the hearty +welcome you have given me, and for your invitation to stay for a +long time with you; but it will not do. Janet is a good woman and +a kindly, but I can see that I keep her perpetually on thorns. In +good truth, fifteen years of campaigning are but an indifferent +preparation for a man as an inmate of a respectable household. I +did not quite know myself how thoroughly I had become a devil may +care trooper until I came back to my old life here. The ways of +your house would soon be as intolerable to me as my ways are to +your good wife, and therefore it is better by far that before any +words have passed between you and me, and while we are as good +friends as on the evening when I returned, I should get out of +this. I met an old friend today, one of the lads who went with me +from Glasgow to join the Earl of Mar at Perth. He is well to do +now, and trades in cattle, taking them in droves down into +England. For the sake of old times he has offered me employment, +and methinks it will suit me as well as any other."</p> + +<p>"But you cannot surely be going as a drover, Malcolm!"</p> + +<p>"Why not? The life is as good as any other. I would not sit +down, after these years of roving, to an indoor life. I must +either do that or cross the water again and take service abroad. +I am only six and thirty yet, and am good for another fifteen +years of soldiering, and right gladly would I go back if Leslie +were again at the head of his regiment, but I have been spoiled +by him. He ever treated me as a companion and as a friend rather +than as a trooper in his regiment, and I should miss him sorely +did I enter any other service. Then, too, I would fain be here to +be ready to join him again if he sends for me or comes, and I +should wish to keep an eye always on his boy. You will continue +to take charge of him, won't you, Andrew? He is still a little +strange, but he takes to Elspeth, and will give little trouble +when he once learns the language."</p> + +<p>"I don't like it at all, Malcolm," the bailie said.</p> + +<p>"No, Andrew, but you must feel it is best. I doubt not that +ere this your wife has told you her troubles concerning me."</p> + +<p>As the bailie on the preceding night had listened to a long +string of complaints and remonstrances on the part of his wife as +to his brother's general conduct he could not deny the truth of +Malcolm's supposition.</p> + +<p>"Just so, Andrew," Malcolm went on; "I knew that it must be +so. Mistress Janet has kept her lips closed firm to me, but I +could see how difficult it was for her sometimes to do so. It +could not be otherwise. I am as much out of place here as a wolf +in a sheepfold. As to the droving, I shall not mention to all I +meet that I am brother to one of the bailies of Glasgow. I shall +like the life. The rough pony I shall ride will differ in his +paces from my old charger, but at least it will be life in the +saddle. I shall be earning an honest living; if I take more than +is good for me I may get a broken head and none be the wiser, +whereas if I remain here and fall foul of the city watch it would +be grief and pain for you."</p> + +<p>The bailie was silenced. He had already begun to perceive that +Malcolm's ways and manners were incompatible with the peace and +quiet of a respectable household, and that Janet's complaints +were not altogether unreasonable. He had seen many of his +acquaintances lift their eyebrows in disapprobation at the +roystering talk of his brother, and had foreseen that it was +probable trouble would come.</p> + +<p>At the same rime he felt a repugnance to the thought that +after so many years of absence his brother should so soon quit +his house. It seemed a reflection alike on his affection and +hospitality.</p> + +<p>"You will take charge of the child, won't you?" Malcolm +pleaded. "There is a purse of a hundred louis, which will, I +should say, pay for any expense to which he may put you for some +years."</p> + +<p>"As if I would take the bairn's money!" Andrew exclaimed +angrily. "What do you take me for, Malcolm? Assuredly I will take +the child. Janet and I have no bairn of our own, and it's good +for a house to have a child in it. I look upon it as if it were +yours, for it is like enough you will never hear of its father +again. It will have a hearty welcome. It is a bright little +fellow, and in time I doubt not that Janet will take greatly to +it. The charge of a child is a serious matter, and we cannot hope +that we shall not have trouble with it, but there is trouble in +all things. At any rate, Malcolm, we will do our best, and if at +the end of a year I find that Janet has not taken to it we will +see about some other arrangement. And, Malcolm, I do trust that +you will stay with us for another week or two. It would seem to +me as if I had turned you out of my house were you to leave me so +soon."</p> + +<p>So Malcolm made a three weeks' stay at his brother's, and then +started upon his new occupation of driving Highland cattle down +into Lancashire. Once every two or three months he came to +Glasgow for a week or two between his trips. In spite of Andrew's +entreaties he refused on these occasions to take up his abode +with him, but took a lodging not far off, coming in the evening +for an hour to smoke a pipe with his brother, and never failing +of a morning to come in and take the child for a long walk with +him, carrying him upon his shoulder, and keeping up a steady talk +with him in his native French, which he was anxious that the boy +should nor forget, as at some time or other he might again return +to France.</p> + +<p>Some weeks after Malcolm's return to Scotland, he wrote to +Colonel Leslie, briefly giving his address at Glasgow; but making +no allusion to the child, as, if the colonel were still in +prison, the letter would be sure to be opened by the authorities. +He also wrote to the major, giving him his address, and begging +him to communicate it to Colonel Leslie whenever he should see +him; that done, there was nothing for it but to wait quietly. The +post was so uncertain in those days that he had but slight hope +that either of his letters would ever reach their destination. No +answer came to either of his letters.</p> + +<p>Four years later Malcolm went over to Paris, and cautiously +made inquiries; but no one had heard anything of Colonel Leslie +from the day he had been arrested. The regiment was away fighting +in the Low Countries, and the only thing Malcolm could do was to +call upon the people who had had charge of the child, to give +them his address in case the colonel should ever appear to +inquire of them. He found, however, the house tenanted by other +people. He learned that the last occupants had left years before. +The neighbors remembered that one morning early some officers of +the law had come to the house, and the man had been seized and +carried away. He had been released some months later, only to +find that his wife had died of grief and anxiety, and he had then +sold off his goods and gone no one knew whither. Malcolm, +therefore, returned to Glasgow, with the feeling that he had +gained nothing by his journey.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_II_The_Jacobite_Agent_"></a>CHAPTER II: The Jacobite +Agent.</h1> + +<p>So twelve years passed. Ronald Leslie grew up a sturdy lad, +full of fun and mischief in spite of the sober atmosphere of the +bailie's house; and neither flogging at school nor lecturing at +home appeared to have the slightest effect in reducing him to +that state of sober tranquillity which was in Mrs. Anderson's +eyes the thing to be most desired in boys. Andrew was less deeply +shocked than his wife at the discovery of Ronald's various +delinquencies, but his sense of order and punctuality was +constantly outraged. He was, however, really fond of the lad; and +even Mrs. Anderson, greatly as the boy's ways constantly +disturbed and ruffled her, was at heart as fond of him as was her +husband. She considered, and not altogether wrongly, that his +wilderness, as she called it, was in no slight degree due to his +association with her husband's brother.</p> + +<p>Ronald looked forward to the periodical visits of the drover +with intense longing. He was sure of a sympathetic listener in +Malcolm, who listened with approval to the tales of the various +scrapes into which he had got since his last visit; of how, +instead of going to school, he had played truant and with another +boy his own age had embarked in a fisherman's boat and gone down +the river and had not been able to get back until next day; how +he had played tricks upon his dominie, and had conquered in +single combat the son of Councillor Duff, the butcher, who had +spoken scoffing words at the Stuarts. Malcolm was, in fact, +delighted to find, that in spite of repression and lectures his +young charge was growing up a lad of spirit. He still hoped that +some day Leslie might return, and he knew how horrified he would +be were he to find that his son was becoming a smug and well +conducted citizen. No small portion of his time on each of his +visits to Glasgow Malcolm spent in training the boy in the use of +arms.</p> + +<p>"Your father was a gentleman," he would say to him, "and it is +fitting that you should know how to handle a gentleman's arms. +Clubs are well enough for citizens' apprentices, but I would have +you handle rapier and broadsword as well as any of the young +lairds. When you get old enough, Ronald, you and I will cross the +seas, and together we will try and get to the bottom of the +mystery of your father's fate, and if we find that the worst has +come to the worst, we will seek our your mother. She will most +likely have married again. They will be sure to have forced her +into it; but even if she dare not acknowledge you as her son, her +influence may obtain for you a commission in one of the king's +regiments, and even if they think I'm too old for a trooper I +will go as your follower. There are plenty of occasions at the +court of France when a sharp sword and a stout arm, even if it be +somewhat stiffened by age, can do good service."</p> + +<p>The lessons began as soon as Ronald was old enough to hold a +light blade, and as between the pauses of exercise Malcolm was +always ready to tell stories of his adventures in the wars of +France, the days were full of delight to Ronald. When the latter +reached the age of fourteen Malcolm was not satisfied with the +amount of proficiency which the lad was able to gain during his +occasional visits, and therefore took him for further instruction +to a comrade who had, like himself, served in France, and had +returned and settled down in Glasgow, where he opened a fencing +school, having been a maitre d'armes among the Scotch +regiments.</p> + +<p>The arrangement was, however, kept a profound secret from +Andrew and his wife; but on half holidays, and on any other days +when he could manage to slip away for an hour, Ronald went to his +instructor and worked hard and steadily with the rapier. Had Mrs. +Anderson had an idea of the manner in which he spent his time she +would have been horrified, and would certainly have spared her +encomiums on his improved conduct and the absence of the +unsatisfactory reports which had before been so common.</p> + +<p>The cloud of uncertainty which hung over his father's fate +could not but have an influence upon the boy's character, and the +happy carelessness and gaiety which were its natural +characteristics were modified by the thought that his father +might be languishing in a dungeon. Sometimes he would refuse to +accompany his school fellows on their rambles or fishing +expeditions, and would sit for hours thinking over all sorts of +wild plans by which he might penetrate to him and aid him to +escape. He was never tired of questioning Malcolm Anderson as to +the prisons in which, if still alive, his father would be likely +to be confined. He would ask as to their appearance, the height +of their walls, whether they were moated or not, and whether +other houses abutted closely upon them. One day Malcolm asked him +the reason of these questions, and he replied, "Of course I want +to see how it will be possible to get my father out." And +although Malcolm tried to impress upon him that it would be an +almost impossible task even to discover in which prison his +father was kept, he would not allow himself to be +discouraged.</p> + +<p>"There must be some way of finding out, Malcolm. You tell me +that prisoners are not even known by their name to the warders, +but only under a number. Still someone must know -- there must be +lists kept of those in prison, and I shall trust to my mother to +find out for me. A great lady as she is must be able to get at +people if she sets about it, and as certainly she must have loved +my father very very much, or she never would have married him +secretly, and got into such trouble for it. I am sure she will do +her best when she finds that you and I have come over to get him +out. When we know that, I think we ought to be able to manage. +You could get employment as a warder, or I could go disguised as +a woman, or as a priest, or somehow. I feel sure we shall succeed +if we do but find out that he is alive and where he is."</p> + +<p>Malcolm knew too much about the strong and well guarded +prisons of France to share in the boy's sanguine hopes, but he +did not try to discourage him. He thought that with such an +object in life before him the boy would devote himself all the +more eagerly to exercises which would strengthen his arm, +increase his skill with weapons, and render him a brave and +gallant officer, and in this he was right. As the time went on +Ronald became more and more serious. He took no part whatever in +the school boy games and frolics in which he had been once a +leader. He worked hard at his school tasks the sooner to be done +with them, and above all devoted himself to acquiring a mastery +of the sword with a perseverance and enthusiasm which quite +surprised his instructor.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Malcolm, man," he said one day to his old +comrade, after Ronald had been for upwards of two years his +pupil, "if I had known, when you first asked me to teach the lad +to handle a sword, how much of my time he was going to occupy, I +should have laughed in your face, for ten times the sum you +agreed to pay me would not have been enough; but, having begun it +for your sake, I have gone on for the lad's. It has been a +pleasure to teach him, so eager was he to learn -- so ready to +work heart and soul to improve. The boy's wrist is as strong as +mine and his eye as quick. I have long since taught him all I +know, and it is practice now, and not teaching, that we have +every day. I tell you I have work to hold my own with him; he +knows every trick and turn as well as I do, and is quicker with +his lunge and riposte. Were it not that I have my extra length of +arm in my favour I could not hold my own. As you know, I have +many of the officers of the garrison among my pupils, and some of +them have learned in good schools, but there is not one of them +could defend himself for a minute against that boy. If it were +not that the matter has to be kept secret I would set him in +front of some of them, and you would see what short work he would +make of them. Have you heard the rumours, Malcolm, that the young +Chevalier is likely to follow the example of his father, thirty +years back, and to make a landing in Scotland?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard some such rumours," Malcolm replied, "though +whether there be aught in them I know not. I hope that if he does +so he will at any rate follow the example of his father no +further. As you know, I hold to the Stuarts, but I must own they +are but poor hands at fighting. Charles the First ruined his +cause; James the Second threw away the crown of Ireland by +galloping away from the battle of the Boyne; the Chevalier showed +here in `15 that he was no leader of men; and unless this lad is +made of very different stuff to his forefathers he had best stay +in France."</p> + +<p>"But if he should come, Malcolm, I suppose you will join him? +I am afraid I shall be fool enough to do so, even with my fifty +years on my head. And you?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I shall be a fool too," Malcolm said. "The Stuarts +are Scotch, you see, and with all their faults I would rather a +thousand times have a Scottish king than these Germans who govern +us from London. If the English like them let them keep them, and +let us have a king of our own. However, nought may come of it; it +may be but a rumour. It is a card which Louis has threatened to +play a score of times, whenever he wishes to annoy England. It is +more than likely that it will come to nought, as it has so often +done before."</p> + +<p>"But they tell me that there are agents travelling about among +the Highland clans, and that this time something is really to be +done."</p> + +<p>"They have said so over and over again, and nothing has come +of it. For my part, I don't care which way it goes. After the +muddle that was made of it thirty years ago it does not seem to +me more likely that we shall get rid of the Hanoverians now. +Besides, the hangings and slaughterings then, would, I should +think, make the nobles and the heads of clans think twice ere +they risked everything again."</p> + +<p>"That is true, but when men's blood is up they do not count +the cost; besides, the Highland clans are always ready to fight. +If Prince Charles comes you will see there will not be much +hanging back whatever the consequences may be. Well, you and I +have not much to lose, except our lives."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough, old friend; and I would rather die that +way than any other. Still, to tell you the truth, I would rather +keep my head on my shoulders for a few years if I can."</p> + +<p>"Well, nothing may come of it; but if it does I shall strike a +blow again for the old cause."</p> + +<p>At home Ronald heard nothing but expressions of loyalty to the +crown. The mere fact that the Highlanders espoused the cause of +the Stuarts was sufficient in itself to make the Lowlanders take +the opposite side. The religious feeling, which had always +counted for so much in the Lowlands, and had caused Scotland to +side with the Parliament against King Charles, had not lost its +force. The leanings of the Stuarts were, it was known, still +strongly in favour of the Catholic religion, and although Prince +Charles Edward was reported to be more Protestant in feelings +than the rest of his race, this was not sufficient to +counterbalance the effect of the hereditary Catholic tendency. +Otherwise there was no feeling of active loyalty towards the +reigning king in Scotland. The first and second Georges had none +of the attributes which attract loyal affection. The first could +with difficulty speak the language of the people over whom he +ruled. Their feelings and sympathies were Hanoverian rather than +English, and all court favours were bestowed as fast as possible +upon their countrymen. They had neither the bearing nor manner +which men associate with royalty, nor the graces and power of +attraction which distinguished the Stuarts. Commonplace and +homely in manner, in figure, and in bearing, they were not men +whom their fellows could look up to or respect; their very vices +were coarse, and the Hanoverian men and women they gathered round +them were hated by the English people.</p> + +<p>Thus neither in England nor Scotland was there any warm +feeling of loyalty for the reigning house; and though it was +possible that but few would adventure life and property in the +cause of the Stuarts, it was equally certain that outside the +army there were still fewer who would draw sword for the +Hanoverian king. Among the people of the Lowland cities of +Scotland the loyalty which existed was religious rather than +civil, and rested upon the fact that their forefathers had fought +against the Stuarts, while the Highlanders had always supported +their cause. Thus, although in the household and in kirk Ronald +had heard King George prayed for regularly, he had heard no word +concerning him calculated to waken a boyish feeling of loyalty, +still less of enthusiasm. Upon the other hand he knew that his +father had fought and suffered for the Stuarts and was an exile +in their cause, and that Hanoverians had handed over the estate +of which he himself would now be the heir to one of their +adherents.</p> + +<p>"It is no use talking of these matters to Andrew," Malcolm +impressed upon him; "it would do no good. When he was a young man +he took the side of the Hanoverians, and he won't change now; +while, did Mistress Janet guess that your heart was with the +Stuarts, she would say that I was ruining you, and should bring +you to a gallows. She is not fond of me now, though she does her +best to be civil to her husband's brother; but did she know that +you had become a Jacobite, like enough she would move Andrew to +put a stop to your being with me, and there would be all sorts of +trouble."</p> + +<p>"But they could nor prevent my being with you," Ronald said +indignantly. "My father gave me into your charge, not into +theirs."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough, laddie; but it is they who have cared for +you and brought you up. When you are a man you can no doubt go +which way it pleases you; but till then you owe your duty and +respect to them, and not to me, who have done nought for you but +just carry you over here in my cloak."</p> + +<p>"I know they have done everything for me," Ronald said +penitently. "They have been very good and kind, and I love them +both; but for all that it is only natural that my father should +be first, and that my heart should be in the cause that he fought +for."</p> + +<p>"That is right enough, Ronald, and I would not have it +otherwise, and I have striven to do my best to make you as he +would like to see you. Did he never come back again I should be +sorry indeed to see Colonel Leslie's son growing up a Glasgow +tradesman, as my brother no doubt intends you to be, for I know +he has long since given up any thought of hearing from your +father; but in that you and I will have a say when the time +comes. Until then you must treat Andrew as your natural guardian, +and there is no need to anger him by letting him know that your +heart is with the king over the water, any more than that you can +wield a sword like a gentleman. Let us have peace as long as we +can. You are getting on for sixteen now; another two years and we +will think about going to Paris together. I am off again +tomorrow, Ronald; it will not be a long trip this time, but maybe +before I get back we shall have news from France which will set +the land on fire."</p> + +<p>A short time after this conversation, as Ronald on his return +from college (for he was now entered at the university) passed +through the shop, the bailie was in conversation with one of the +city magistrates, and Ronald caught the words:</p> + +<p>"He is somewhere in the city. He came down from the Highlands, +where he has been going to and fro, two days since. I have a +warrant out against him, and the constables are on the lookout. I +hope to have him in jail before tonight. These pestilent rogues +are a curse to the land, though I cannot think the clans would be +fools enough to rise again, even though Charles Stuart did +come."</p> + +<p>Ronald went straight up to his room, and for a few minutes sat +in thought. The man of whom they spoke was doubtless an emissary +of Prince Charles, and his arrest might have serious +consequences, perhaps bring ruin on all with whom he had been in +communication. Who he was or what he was like Ronald knew not; +but he determined at any rate to endeavour to defeat the +intentions of the magistrate to lay hands on him. Accordingly a +few minutes later, while the magistrate was still talking with +Andrew, he again went out.</p> + +<p>Ronald waited about outside the door till he left, and then +followed him at a short distance. The magistrate spoke to several +acquaintances on the way, and then went to the council chamber. +Waiting outside, Ronald saw two or three of the magistrates +enter. An hour later the magistrate he was watching came out; but +he had gone but a few paces when a man hurrying up approached +him. They talked earnestly for a minute or two. The magistrate +then re-entered the building, remained there a few minutes, and +then joined the man who was waiting outside. Ronald had stolen up +and taken his stand close by.</p> + +<p>"It is all arranged," the magistrate said; "as soon as night +has fallen a party will go down, surround the house, and arrest +him. It is better not to do it in daylight. I shall lead the +party, which will come round to my house, so if the men you have +left on watch bring you news that he has changed his hiding +place, let me know at once.</p> + +<p>The magistrate walked on. Ronald stood irresolute. He had +obtained no clue as to the residence of the person of whom they +were in search, and after a moment's thought he determined to +keep an eye upon the constable, who would most likely join his +comrade on the watch. This, however, he did not do immediately. +He had probably been for some time at work, and now took the +opportunity of going home for a meal, for he at once made his way +to a quiet part of the city, and entered a small house.</p> + +<p>It was half an hour before he came out again, and Ronald +fidgeted with impatience, for it was already growing dusk. When +he issued out Ronald saw that he was armed with a heavy cudgel. +He walked quickly now, and Ronald, following at a distance, +passed nearly across the town, and down a quiet street which +terminated against the old wall running from the Castle Port to a +small tower. When he got near the bottom of the street a man came +out from an archway, and the two spoke together. From their +gestures Ronald felt sure that it was the last house on the left +hand side of the street that was being watched. He had not +ventured to follow far down the street, for as there was no +thoroughfare he would at once be regarded with suspicion. The +question now was how to warn the man of his danger. He knew +several men were on the watch, and as only one was in the street, +doubtless the others were behind the house. If anything was to be +done there was no time to be lost, for the darkness was fast +closing in.</p> + +<p>After a minute's thought he went quickly up the street, and +then started at a run, and then came down upon a place where he +could ascend the wall, which was at many points in bad repair. +With some difficulty he climbed up, and found that he was exactly +opposite the house he wished to reach. It was dark now. Even in +the principal streets the town was only lit by oil lamps here and +there, and there was no attempt at illumination in the quiet +quarters, persons who went abroad after nightfall always carrying +a lantern with them. There was still sufficient light to show +Ronald that the house stood at a distance of some fourteen feet +from the wall. The roof sloped too steeply for him to maintain +his holding upon it; but halfway along the house was a dormer +window about three feet above the gutter. It was unglazed, and +doubtless gave light to a granary or store room.</p> + +<p>Ronald saw that his only chance was to alight on the roof +close enough to this window to be able to grasp the woodwork. At +any other moment he would have hesitated before attempting such a +leap. The wall was only a few feet wide, and he could therefore +get but little run for a spring. His blood was, however, up, and +having taken his resolution he did not hesitate. Drawing back as +far as he could he took three steps, and then sprang for the +window. Its sill was some three feet higher than the edge of the +wall from which he sprang.</p> + +<p>The leap was successful; his feet struck just upon the gutter, +and the impetus threw forward his body, and his hands grasped the +woodwork of the window. In a moment he had dragged himself +inside. It was quite dark within the room. He moved carefully, +for the floor was piled with disused furniture, boxes, sacking, +and rubbish. He was some time finding the door, but although he +moved as carefully as he could he knocked over a heavy chest +which was placed on a rickety chair, the two falling with a crash +on the floor. At last he found the door and opened it. As he did +so a light met his eyes, and he saw ascending the staircase a man +with a drawn sword, and a woman holding a light above her head +following closely. The man uttered an exclamation on seeing +Ronald appear.</p> + +<p>"A thief!" he said. "Surrender, or I will run you through at +once."</p> + +<p>"I am no thief," Ronald replied. "My name is Ronald Leslie, +and I am a student at the university. I have come here to warn +someone, whom I know not, in this house that it is watched, and +that in a few minutes at the outside a band of the city watch +will be here to capture him."</p> + +<p>The man dropped the point of his sword, and taking the light +from the woman held it closer to Ronald's face.</p> + +<p>"How came you here?" he asked. "How did you learn this +news?"</p> + +<p>"The house is watched both sides below," Ronald said, "and I +leapt from the wall through the dormer window. I heard a +magistrate arranging with one of the constables for a capture, +and gathered that he of whom they were in search was a Jacobite, +and as I come of a stock which has always been faithful to the +Stuarts, I hastened to warn him."</p> + +<p>The woman uttered a cry of alarm.</p> + +<p>"I thank you with all my heart, young sir. I am he for whom +they are in search, and if I get free you will render a service +indeed to our cause; but there is no time to talk now, if what +you tell me be true. You say the house is watched from both +sides?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; there are two men in the lane below, one or more, I know +not how many, behind."</p> + +<p>"There is no escape behind," the man said; "the walls are +high, and other houses abut upon them. I will sally out and fight +through the men in front."</p> + +<p>"I can handle the sword," Ronald put in; "and if you will +provide me with a weapon I will do my best by your side."</p> + +<p>"You are a brave lad," the man said, "and I accept your +aid."</p> + +<p>He led the way down stairs and entered a room, took down a +sword from over the fireplace, and gave it to Ronald.</p> + +<p>As he took it in his hand there was a loud knocking at the +door.</p> + +<p>"Too late!" the man exclaimed. "Quick, the light, Mary! At any +rate I must burn my papers."</p> + +<p>He drew some letters from his pocket, lit them at the lamp, +and threw them on the hearth; then opening a cabinet he drew +forth a number of other papers and crumpling them up added them +to the blaze.</p> + +<p>"Thank God that is safe!" he said; "the worst evil is +averted."</p> + +<p>"Can you not escape by the way by which I came hither?" Ronald +said. "The distance is too great to leap; but if you have got a +plank, or can pull up a board from the floor, you could put it +across to the wall and make your escape that way. I will try to +hold the stairs till you are away."</p> + +<p>"I will try at least," the man said. "Mary, bring the light, +and aid me while our brave friend does his best to give us +time."</p> + +<p>So saying he sprang upstairs, while Ronald made his way down +to the door.</p> + +<p>"Who is making such a noise at the door of a quiet house at +this time of night?" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Open in the king's name," was the reply; "we have a warrant +to arrest one who is concealed here."</p> + +<p>"There is no one concealed here," Ronald replied, "and I doubt +that you are, as you say, officers of the peace; but if so, pass +your warrant through the grill, and if it be signed and in due +form I will open to you."</p> + +<p>"I will show my warrant when need be," the voice answered. +"Once more, open the door or we will break it in."</p> + +<p>"Do it at your peril," Ronald replied. "How can I tell you are +not thieves who seek to ransack the house, and that your warrant +is a pretence? I warn you that the first who enters I will run +him through the body."</p> + +<p>The reply was a shower of blows on the door, and a similar +attack was begun by a party behind the house. The door was +strong, and after a minute or two the hammering ceased, and then +there was a creaking, straining noise, and Ronald knew they were +applying a crowbar to force it open. He retreated to a landing +halfway up the stairs, placed a lamp behind him so that it would +show its light full on the faces of those ascending the stairs, +and waited. A minute later there was a crash; the lock had +yielded, but the bar still held the door in its place. Then the +blows redoubled, mingled with the crashing of wood; then there +was the sound of a heavy fall, and a body of men burst in.</p> + +<p>There was a rush at the stairs, but the foremost halted at the +sight of Ronald with his drawn sword.</p> + +<p>"Keep back," he shouted, "or beware! The watch will be here in +a few minutes, and then you will all be laid by the heels."</p> + +<p>"Fools! We are the watch," one of the men exclaimed, and, +dashing up the stairs, aimed a blow at Ronald. He guarded it and +ran the man through the shoulder. He dropped his sword and fell +back with a curse.</p> + +<p>At this moment the woman ran down stairs from above and nodded +to Ronald to signify that the fugitive had escaped.</p> + +<p>"You see I hold to my word," Ronald said in a loud voice. "If +ye be the watch, which I doubt, show me the warrant, or if ye +have one in authority with you let him proclaim himself."</p> + +<p>"Here is the warrant, and here am I, James M'Whirtle, a +magistrate of this city."</p> + +<p>"Why did you not say so before?" Ronald exclaimed, lowering +his sword. "If it be truly the worshipful Mr. M'Whirtle let him +show himself, for surely I know him well, having seen him often +in the house of my guardian, Bailie Anderson."</p> + +<p>Mr. M'Whirtle, who had been keeping well in the rear, now came +forward.</p> + +<p>"It is himself." Ronald said. "Why did you not say you were +here at once, Mr. M'Whirtle, instead of setting your men to break +down the door, as if they were Highland caterans on a foray?"</p> + +<p>"We bade you open in the king's name," the magistrate said, +"and you withstood us, and it will be hanging matter for you, for +you have aided the king's enemies."</p> + +<p>"The king's enemies!" Ronald said in a tone of surprise. "How +can there be any enemies of the king here, seeing there are only +myself and the good woman up stairs? You will find no +others."</p> + +<p>"Search the house," the magistrate said furiously, "and take +this malapert lad into custody on the charge of assisting the +king's enemies, of impeding the course of justice, of +withstanding by force of arms the issue of a lawful writ, and +with grievously wounding one of the city watch."</p> + +<p>Ronald laughed.</p> + +<p>"It is a grievous list, worshipful sir; but mark you, as soon +as you showed your warrant and declared yourself I gave way to +you. I only resisted so long as it seemed to me you were +evildoers breaking into a peaceful house."</p> + +<p>Two of the watch remained as guard over Ronald; one of the +others searched the house from top to bottom. No signs of the +fugitive were discovered.</p> + +<p>"He must be here somewhere," the magistrate said, "since he +was seen to enter, and the house has been closely watched ever +since. See, there are a pile of ashes on the hearth as if papers +had been recently burned. Sound the floors and the walls."</p> + +<p>The investigation was particularly sharp in the attic, for a +board was here found to be loose, and there were signs of its +being recently wrenched out of its place, but as the room below +was unceiled this discovery led to nothing. At last the +magistrate was convinced that the fugitive was not concealed in +the house, and, after placing his seals on the doors of all the +rooms and leaving four men in charge, he left the place, Ronald, +under the charge of four men, accompanying him.</p> + +<p>On the arrival at the city Tolbooth Ronald was thrust into a +cell and there left until morning. He was then brought before Mr. +M'Whirtle and two other of the city magistrates. Andrew Anderson +was in attendance, having been notified the night before of what +had befallen Ronald. The bailie and his wife had at first been +unable to credit the news, and were convinced that some mistake +had been made. Andrew had tried to obtain his release on his +promise to bring him up in the morning, but Mr. M'Whirtle and his +colleagues, who had been hastily summoned together, would not +hear of it.</p> + +<p>"It's a case of treason, man. Treason against his gracious +majesty; aiding and abetting one of the king's enemies, to say +nought of brawling and assaulting the city watch."</p> + +<p>The woman found in the house had also been brought up, but no +precise charge was made against her. The court was crowded, for +Andrew, in his wrath at being unable to obtain Ronald's release, +had not been backward in publishing his grievance, and many of +his neighbours were present to hear this strange charge against +Ronald Leslie.</p> + +<p>The wounded constable and another first gave their +evidence.</p> + +<p>"I myself can confirm what has been said," Mr. M'Whirtle +remarked, "seeing that I was present with the watch to see the +arrest of a person against whom a warrant had been issued."</p> + +<p>"Who is that person?" Ronald asked. "Seeing that I am charged +with aiding and abetting his escape it seems to me that I have a +right to know who he is."</p> + +<p>The magistrates looked astounded at the effrontery of the +question, but after a moment's consultation together Mr. +M'Whirtle said that in the interest of justice it was unadvisable +at the present moment to state the name of the person +concerned.</p> + +<p>"What have you to say, prisoner, to the charge made against +you? In consideration of our good friend Bailie Anderson, known +to be a worthy citizen and loyal subject of his majesty, we would +be glad to hear what you have to say anent this charge."</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to say," Ronald replied quietly. "Being in the +house when it was attacked, with as much noise as if a band of +Border ruffians were at the gate, I stood on the defence. I +demanded to see what warrant they had for forcing an entry, and +as they would show me none, I did my best to protect the house; +but the moment Mr. M'Whirtle proclaimed who he was I lowered my +sword and gave them passage."</p> + +<p>There was a smile in the court at the boy's coolness.</p> + +<p>"But how came ye there, young sir? How came ye to be in the +house at all, if ye were there for a good motive?"</p> + +<p>"That I decline to say," Ronald answered. "It seems to me that +any one may be in a house by the consent of its owners, without +having to give his reasons therefor."</p> + +<p>"It will be the worse for you if you defy the court. I ask you +again how came you there?"</p> + +<p>"I have no objection to tell you how I came there," Ronald +said. "I was walking on the old wall, which, as you know, runs +close by the house, when I saw an ill looking loon hiding himself +as if watching the house, looking behind I saw another ruffianly +looking man there." Two gasps of indignation were heard from the +porch at the back of the court. "Thinking that there was mischief +on hand I leapt from the wall to the dormer window to warn the +people of the house that there were ill doers who had designs +upon the place, and then remained to see what came of it. That is +the simple fact."</p> + +<p>There was an exclamation of incredulity from the +magistrates.</p> + +<p>"If you doubt me," Ronald said, "you can send a man to the +wall. I felt my feet loosen a tile and it slid down into the +gutter."</p> + +<p>One of the magistrates gave an order, and two of the watch +left the court.</p> + +<p>"And who did you find in the house?"</p> + +<p>"I found this good woman, and sorely frightened she was when I +told her what kind of folk were lurking outside."</p> + +<p>"And was there anyone else there?"</p> + +<p>"There was a man there," Ronald said quietly, "and he seemed +alarmed too."</p> + +<p>"What became of him?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot say for certain," Ronald replied; "but if you ask my +opinion I should say, that having no stomach for meeting people +outside, he just went out the way I came in, especially as I +heard the worshipful magistrate say that a board in the attic had +been lifted."</p> + +<p>The magistrates looked at each other in astonishment; the mode +of escape had not occurred to any, and the disappearance of the +fugitive was now explained.</p> + +<p>"I never heard such a tale," one of the magistrates said after +a pause. "It passes belief that a lad, belonging to the family of +a worthy and respectable citizen, a bailie of the city and one +who stands well with his fellow townsmen, should take a desperate +leap from the wall through a window of a house where a traitor +was in hiding, warn him that the house was watched, and give him +time to escape while he defended the stairs. Such a tale, sure, +was never told in a court. What say you, bailie?"</p> + +<p>"I can say nought," Andrew said. "The boy is a good boy and a +quiet one; given to mischief like other boys of his age, +doubtless, but always amenable. What can have possessed him to +behave in such a wild manner I cannot conceive, but it seems to +me that it was but a boy's freak."</p> + +<p>"It was no freak when he ran his sword through Peter Muir's +shoulder," Mr. M'Whirtle said. "Ye will allow that, neighbour +Anderson."</p> + +<p>"The man must have run against the sword," the bailie said, +"seeing the boy scarce knows one end of a weapon from +another."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong there, bailie," one of the constables said; +"for I have seen him many a time going into the school of James +Macklewain, and I have heard a comrade say, who knows James, that +the lad can handle a sword with the best of them."</p> + +<p>"I will admit at once," Ronald said, "that I have gone to +Macklewain's school and learned fencing of him. My father, +Colonel Leslie of Glenlyon, was a gentleman, and it was right +that I should wield a sword, and James Macklewain, who had fought +in the French wars and knew my father, was good enough to teach +me. I may say that my guardian knew nothing of this."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," Andrew said. "I never so much as dreamt of it. +If I had done so he and I would have talked together to a +purpose."</p> + +<p>"Leslie of Glenlyon was concerned in the '15, was he not?" Mr. +M'Whirtle said; "and had to fly the country; and his son seems to +be treading in his steps, bailie. I doubt ye have been nourishing +a viper in your bosom."</p> + +<p>At this moment the two constables returned, and reported that +certainly a tile was loose as the prisoner had described, and +there were scratches as if of the feet of someone entering the +window, but the leap was one that very few men would +undertake.</p> + +<p>"Your story is so far confirmed, prisoner; but it does not +seem to us that even had you seen two men watching a house it +would be reasonable that you would risk your neck in this way +without cause. Clearly you have aided and abetted a traitor to +escape justice, and you will be remanded. I hope, before you are +brought before us again, you will make up your mind to make a +clean breast of it, and throw yourself on the king's mercy."</p> + +<p>Ronald was accordingly led back to the cell, the bailie being +too much overwhelmed with surprise at what he had heard to utter +any remonstrance.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_III_Free_"></a>CHAPTER III: +Free.</h1> + +<p>After Ronald had been removed from the court the woman was +questioned. She asserted that her master was away, and was, she +believed, in France, and that in his absence she often let +lodgings to strangers. That two days before, a man whom she knew +not came and hired a room for a few days. That on the evening +before, hearing a noise in the attic, she went up with him, and +met Ronald coming down stairs. That when Ronald said there were +strange men outside the house, and when immediately afterwards +there was a great knocking at the door, the man drew his sword +and ordered her to come up stairs with him. That he then made her +assist him to pull up a plank, and thrust it from the attic to +the wall, and ordered her to replace it when he had gone. She +supposed he was a thief flying from justice, but was afraid to +refuse to do his bidding.</p> + +<p>"And why did you not tell us all this, woman, when we came +in?" Mr. M'Whirtle asked sternly. "Had ye told us we might have +overtaken him."</p> + +<p>"I was too much frightened," the woman answered. "There were +swords out and blood running, and men using words contrary both +to the law and Scripture. I was frighted enough before, and I +just put my apron over my head and sat down till the hubbub was +over. And then as no one asked me any questions, and I feared I +might have done wrong in aiding a thief to escape, I just held my +tongue."</p> + +<p>No cross questioning could elicit anything further from the +woman, who indeed seemed frightened almost out of her senses, and +the magistrate at last ordered her to return to the house and +remain there under the supervision of the constable until again +sent for.</p> + +<p>Andrew Anderson returned home sorely disturbed in his mind. +Hitherto he had told none, even of his intimates, that the boy +living in his house was the son of Colonel Leslie, but had spoken +of him as the child of an old acquaintance who had left him to +his care. The open announcement of Ronald that he was the son of +one of the leaders in the last rebellion, coming just as it did +when the air was thick with rumours of another rising, troubled +him greatly; and there was the fact that the boy had, unknown to +him, been learning fencing; and lastly this interference, which +had enabled a notorious emissary of the Pretender to escape +arrest.</p> + +<p>"The boy's story may be true as far as it goes," he said to +his wife when relating to her the circumstances, "for I have +never known him to tell a lie; but I cannot think it was all the +truth. A boy does not take such a dreadful leap as that, and risk +breaking his neck, simply because he sees two men near the house. +He must somehow have known that man was there, and went to give +him warning. Now I think of it, he passed through the shop when +Peter M'Whirtle was talking to me about it, though, indeed, he +did not know then where the loon was in hiding. The boy went out +soon afterwards, and must somehow have learned, if indeed he did +not know before. Janet, I fear that you and I have been like two +blind owls with regard to the boy, and I dread sorely that my +brother Malcolm is at the bottom of all this mischief."</p> + +<p>This Mrs. Anderson was ready enough to credit, but she was too +much bewildered and horrified to do more than to shake her head +and weep.</p> + +<p>"Will they cut off his head, Andrew?" she asked at last.</p> + +<p>"No, there's no fear of that; but they may imprison him for a +bit, and perhaps give him a good flogging -- the young rascal. +But there, don't fret over it, Janet. I will do all I can for +him. And in truth I think Malcolm is more to blame than he is; +and we have been to blame too for letting the lad be so much with +him, seeing that we might be sure he would put all sorts of +notions in the boy's head."</p> + +<p>"But what is to be done, Andrew? We cannot let the poor lad +remain in prison."</p> + +<p>"We have no choice in the matter, Janet. In prison he is, and +in prison he has to remain until he is let out, and I see no +chance of that. If it had only been a brawl with the watch it +could have been got over easily enough; but this is an affair of +high treason -- aiding and abetting the king's enemies, and the +rest of it. If it were in the old times they would put the thumb +screws on him to find out all he knew about it, for they will +never believe he risked his life in the plot; and the fact that +his father before him was in arms for the Chevalier tells that +way. I should not be surprised if an order comes for him to be +sent to London to be examined by the king's councillors; but I +will go round now and ask the justices what they think of the +matter."</p> + +<p>His tidings when he returned were not encouraging; the general +opinion of the magistrates being that Ronald was certainly mixed +up in the Jacobite plot, that the matter was altogether too +serious to be disposed of by them, being of the nature of high +treason, and that nothing could be done until instructions were +received from London. No clue had been obtained as to the +whereabouts of the man who had escaped, and it was thought +probable that he had at once dropped beyond the walls and made +for the west.</p> + +<p>Malcolm arrived ten days later from a journey in Lancashire, +and there was a serious quarrel between him and Andrew on his +presenting himself at the house.</p> + +<p>"It is not only that you led the lad into mischief, Malcolm, +but that you taught him to do it behind my back."</p> + +<p>"You may look at it in that way if you will, Andrew, and it's +natural enough from your point of view; but I take no blame to +myself You treated the boy as if he had been your son, and I +thank you with all my heart for your kindness to him; but I could +not forget Leslie of Glenlyon, and I do not blame myself that I +have kept the same alive in his mind also. It was my duty to see +that the young eagle was not turned into a barn door fowl; but I +never thought he was going to use his beak and his claws so +soon."</p> + +<p>"A nice thing you will have to tell his father, that owing to +your teachings his son is a prisoner in the Tower, maybe for +life. But there -- there's no fear of that. You will never have +to render that account, for there's no more chance of your ever +hearing more of him than there is of my becoming king of +Scotland. It's bad enough that you have always been a ne'er do +well yourself without training that unfortunate boy to his +ruin."</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Andrew, I will not argue with you, and I don't +blame you at being sore and angry over the matter; nor do I deny +what you have said about myself; it's true enough, and you might +say worse things against me without my quarreling with ye over +it. However, the less said the better. I will take myself off and +think over what's to be done."</p> + +<p>"You had better come up and have your supper with us," Andrew +said, mollified by his brother's humility.</p> + +<p>"Not for twenty golden guineas, Andrew, would I face Mistress +Janet. She has borne with me well, though I know in her heart she +disapproves of me altogether; but after this scrape into which I +have got the boy I daren't face her. She might not say much, but +to eat with her eye upon me would choke me."</p> + +<p>Malcolm proceeded at once to the establishment of his friend +Macklewain.</p> + +<p>"This is a nice kettle of fish, Malcolm, about young Leslie. I +have had the justices down here, asking me all sorts of +questions, and they have got into their minds that I taught him +not only swordplay but treason, and they have been threatening to +put me in the stocks as a vagabond; but I snapped my fingers in +their faces, saying I earned my money as honestly as they did, +and that I concern myself in no way in politics, but teach +English officers and the sons of Glasgow tradesmen as well as +those of Highland gentlemen. They were nicely put out, I can tell +you; but I didn't care for that, for I knew I was in the right of +it. But what on earth made the young cock meddle in this matter? +How came he to be mixed up in a Jacobite plot? Have you got your +finger in it?"</p> + +<p>"Not I, James; and how it happens that he is concerned in it +is more than I can guess. I know, of course, his heart is with +the king over the water; but how he came to get his hand into the +pie is altogether beyond me."</p> + +<p>"The people here are well nigh mad about it. I know not who +the gallant who has escaped is; but it is certain that his +capture was considered a very important one, and that the +justices here expected to have gained no small credit by his +arrest, whereas now they will be regarded as fools for letting +him slip through their fingers."</p> + +<p>"I cannot for the life of me make out how he came to be mixed +up in such a matter. No one but you and I could have known that +he was a lad of mettle, who might be trusted in such a business. +It can hardly be that they would have confided any secrets to +him; still, the fact that he was in the house with the man they +are in search of, and that he drew and risked his life and +certain imprisonment to secure his escape, shows that he must +have been heart and soul in the plot."</p> + +<p>"And what do you think of doing, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I shall get him out somehow. I can lay hands on a score or +two or more of our old comrades here in Glasgow, and I doubt not +that they will all strike a blow with me for Leslie's son, to say +nothing of his being a follower of the Stuarts."</p> + +<p>"You are not thinking, man, of attacking the jail! That would +be a serious matter. The doors are strong, and you would have the +soldiers, to say nought of the town guard and the citizens, upon +you before you had reached him."</p> + +<p>"No, no, James, I am thinking of no such foolishness. I guess +that they will not be trying him for withstanding the watch, +that's but a small matter; they will be sending him south for the +king's ministers to get out of him what he knows about the +Jacobite plot and the names of all concerned, and it's upon the +road that we must get him out of their hands. Like enough they +will only send four troopers with him, and we can easily master +them somewhere in the dales."</p> + +<p>"It's more like, Malcolm, they will send him by ship. They +will know well enough that if the lad knows aught there will be +plenty whose interest it is to get him out of their hands. I +think they will take the safer way of putting him on board +ship."</p> + +<p>"Like enough they will," Malcolm agreed, "and in that case it +will be a harder job than I deemed it. But at any rate I mean to +try. Ronald's not the lad to turn traitor; he will say nothing +whatever they do to him, you may be sure, and he may lie for +years in an English prison if we do not get him out of their +hands before he gets there. At any rate what we have got to do +now is to mark every ship in the port sailing for London, and to +find out whether passages are taken for a prisoner and his guard +in any of them. I will make that my business, and between times +get a score of trusty fellows together in readiness to start if +they should send him by land; but I doubt not that you are right, +and that he will be taken off by ship."</p> + +<p>The days of waiting passed slowly to Ronald, and Andrew +Anderson once or twice obtained permission to see him. The bailie +wisely abstained from any reproaches, and sought only to persuade +him to make a clean breast of the business, and to tell all he +knew about a plot which could but end in failure and ruin to all +concerned. Although his belief in Ronald's truthfulness was great +he could not credit that the story which he had told contained +all the facts of the matter. To the bailie it seemed incredible +that merely from an abstract feeling in favour of the Stuarts +Ronald would have risked his life and liberty in aiding the +escape of a Jacobite agent, unless he was in some way deeply +involved in the plot; and he regarded Ronald's assurances to the +contrary as the outcome of what he considered an entirely +mistaken sense of loyalty to the Stuart cause.</p> + +<p>"It's all very well, Ronald," he said, shaking his head sadly; +"but when they get you to London they will find means to make you +open your mouth. They have done away with the thumb screws and +the rack, but there are other ways of making a prisoner speak, +and it would be far better for you to make a clean breast of it +at once. Janet is grieving for you as if you were her own son, +and I cannot myself attend to my business. Who would have thought +that so young a lad should have got himself mixed up in such sair +trouble!"</p> + +<p>"I have really told you all, bailie, though you will not +believe me, and I am sorry indeed for the trouble I have brought +upon you and my aunt" -- for Ronald had from the first been +taught to address the bailie and his wife as if Malcolm Anderson +had been his real father; "anyhow I wish they would settle it. I +would rather know the worst than go on from day to day expecting +something that never happens."</p> + +<p>"You have to wait, Ronald, till word comes from London. If +they write from there that your case can be dealt with merely for +the assault upon the watch I can promise you that a few weeks in +jail are all that you are like to have; but I fear that there is +little chance of that. They are sure to send for you to London, +and whether you will ever come back alive the gude Lord only +knows. We know what came of treason thirty years ago, and like +enough they will be even more severe now, seeing that they will +hold that folks have all the less right to try and disturb +matters so long settled."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen Malcolm?" Ronald asked, to change the +conversation.</p> + +<p>"Ay, lad, I have seen him, and the meeting was not altogether +a pleasant one for either of us."</p> + +<p>"I hope you have not quarrelled with him on my account!" +Ronald said eagerly.</p> + +<p>"We have not exactly quarrelled, but we have had words. I +could not but tell him my opinion as to his learning you to take +such courses, but we parted friends; but I doubt it will be long +before Janet can see him with patience."</p> + +<p>The jailer, who was present at the interview, here notified +that the bailie's time was up.</p> + +<p>"I shall see you again, Ronald, before they take you south. I +would that I could do more to help you besides just coming to see +you."</p> + +<p>"I know you cannot, uncle. I have got into the scrape and must +take the consequences; but if I were placed in the same position +I should do it again."</p> + +<p>A few days afterwards, as he was eating his ration of prison +bread, Ronald found in it a small pellet of paper, and on opening +it read the words: "Keep up your courage, friends are at work for +you. You will hear more yet of M. A."</p> + +<p>Ronald was glad to know that his old friend was thinking of +him, but, knowing how strong was the prison, he had little hopes +that Malcolm would be able to effect anything to help him. Still +the note gave him comfort.</p> + +<p>Three days later Andrew called again to bid him goodbye, +telling him that orders had been received from London that he was +to be sent thither by ship.</p> + +<p>"I should like to have seen Malcolm before I went, if I +could," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"I have not seen him for several days," the bailie said. "I +have sent down several times to the house where he lodges, but he +is always away; but, whether or no, there would be no chance of +your seeing him. I myself had difficulty in getting leave to see +you, though a bailie and known to be a loyal citizen. But Malcolm +knows that there would be no chance of one with such a character +as his getting to see you, and that it would draw attention to +him even to ask such a thing, which, if he has a hand in this mad +brain plot, he would not wish."</p> + +<p>"Malcolm would not mind a straw whether they kept a watch on +him or not," Ronald said. "Will you tell him, when you see him +next, that I got his message?"</p> + +<p>"What message? I have given you no message that I know +of."</p> + +<p>"He will know what I mean. Tell him, whether aught comes of it +or not I thank him, and for all his kindness to me, as I do you +and Aunt Janet."</p> + +<p>At the same time with the order that Ronald should be sent to +London the authorities of Glasgow received an intimation that the +ministers felt great surprise at the lukewarmness which had been +shown in allowing so notorious and important an enemy of his +majesty to escape, and that the king himself had expressed marked +displeasure at the conduct of the city authorities in the matter. +Greatly mortified at the upshot of an affair from which they had +hoped to obtain much credit from government, and believing it +certain that there were many greatly interested in getting Ronald +out of the hands of his captors, the authorities took every +precaution to prevent it. He was taken down to the river side +under a strong escort, and in addition to the four warders who +were to be in charge of the prisoner as far as London, they put +on board twelve men of the city guard. These were to remain with +the ship until she was well out at sea, and then to return in a +boat which the vessel was to row behind her.</p> + +<p>Ronald could not but smile when he saw all these formidable +preparations for his safety. At the same time he felt that any +hope he had entertained that Malcolm might, as the message +hinted, make an attempt at rescue were blighted. The vessel +dropped down with the tide. The orders of the justices had been +so strict and urgent that the whole of the men placed on board +kept a vigilant watch.</p> + +<p>Just as they were abreast of Dumbarton the sound of oars was +heard, and presently a boat was seen approaching. As it got +nearer two men were seen to be rowing, and two others seated in +the stern; but as the craft was a large one there was room for +others to be lying in the bottom. The constable in charge shouted +to the boat to keep them off.</p> + +<p>"Stop rowing," he cried, "and come no nearer. If you do we +fire, and as I don't want to shed your blood I warn you that I +have sixteen armed men here."</p> + +<p>As his words were emphasized by the row of men, who with +levelled muskets ranged themselves along at the side of the ship, +the boat ceased rowing.</p> + +<p>"What are you afraid of?" one of the men in the stern shouted. +"Cannot a fisherman's boat row out without being threatened with +shooting? What are you and your sixteen armed men doing on board? +Are you expecting a French fleet off the coast? And do you think +you will beat them off if they board you? How long have the +Glasgow traders taken to man their ships with fighting men?"</p> + +<p>Ronald was in the cabin under the poop; it opened on to the +waist, and received its light from an opening in the door, at +which two armed men had stationed themselves when the boat was +heard approaching. Had the cabin possessed a porthole through +which he could have squeezed himself he would long before have +jumped overboard and tried to make his escape by swimming under +cover of the darkness. He now strove to force the door open, for +he recognized Malcolm's voice, and doubted not that his friend +had spoken in order to let him know that he was there, that he +might if possible leap over and swim to the boat; but it was +fastened strongly without, and the guards outside shouted that +they would fire unless he remained quiet.</p> + +<p>No reply was made to the taunts of the man in the boat, and +slowly, for the wind was but just filling her sails, the vessel +dropped down the river, and the boat was presently lost sight +of.</p> + +<p>In the morning the breeze freshened. It was not till the ship +was eight miles beyond the mouth of the river that the boat was +pulled up alongside, and the guard, taking their places on board, +hoisted sail and started on their return to Glasgow.</p> + +<p>Once fairly at sea Ronald was allowed to leave his cabin. Now +that he was enjoying the fresh air his spirits soon recovered the +tone which they had lost somewhat during his three weeks' +confinement in prison, and he thoroughly enjoyed his voyage. The +man who was in charge of the guard had at first wished to place +some restriction on his going about on board as he chose; but the +crew sided with the young prisoner, and threw such ridicule on +the idea that four warders and a head constable were afraid, even +for a moment, to lose sight of a boy on board a ship at sea, that +he gave way, and allowed Ronald free liberty of action, although +he warned his subordinates that they must nor relax their caution +for a moment.</p> + +<p>"The crew are all with him. They think it a shame that a lad +like this should be hauled to London as a prisoner charged with +treasonable practices; and sailors, when they once get an idea +into their head, are as obstinate as Highland cattle. I have told +them that he drew a sword and held the staircase against us all +while a noted traitor made his escape, and that he ran one of us +through the shoulder, and they only shouted with laughter, and +said he was a brave young cock. Like as not, if they had a +chance, these men would aid him to escape, and then we should +have to answer for it, and heavily too; loss of place and +imprisonment would be the least of what we might expect; so +though, while at sea and in full daylight he can do as he +pleases, we must be doubly vigilant at night, or in port if the +vessel should have to put in."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, to the great disgust of the sailors the watch by +turns stood sentry outside Ronald's door at night, thereby +defeating a plan which the sailors had formed of lowering a boat +the first night they passed near land, and letting Ronald make +his escape to shore.</p> + +<p>The wind was favourable until the vessel rounded the Land's +End. After that it became baffling and fickle, and it was more +than three weeks after the date of her sailing from Glasgow that +the vessel entered the mouth of the Thames. By this time Ronald's +boyish spirits had allayed all suspicion on the part of his +guards. He joked with the sailors, climbed about the rigging like +a cat, and was so little affected by his position that the guards +were convinced that he was free from the burden of any state +secret, and that no apprehension of any serious consequence to +himself was weighing upon him.</p> + +<p>"Poor lad!" the head warder said; "he will need all his +spirits. He will have hard work to make the king's council +believe that he interfered in such a matter as this from pure +love of adventure. He will have many a weary month to pass in +prison before they free him, I reckon. It goes against my heart +to hand over such a mere laddie as a prisoner; still it is no +matter of mine. I have my duty to do, and it's not for me to +question the orders I have received, or to argue whether a +prisoner is innocent or guilty."</p> + +<p>As the vessel anchored off Gravesend to wait for the turn of +the tide to take her up, a boat rowed by a waterman, and with a +man sitting in the stern, passed close by the ship. The head +warder had now redoubled his vigilance, and one of the guards +with loaded musket was standing on the deck not far from Ronald, +who was standing on the taffrail. As the boat passed some twenty +yards astern of the ship the man who was not rowing turned round +for a moment and looked up at Ronald. It was but a momentary +glance that the lad caught of his face, and he suppressed with +difficulty a cry of surprise, for he recognized Malcolm Anderson. +The rower continued steadily to ply his oars, and continued his +course towards another ship anchored lower down the river. Ronald +stood watching the boat, and saw that after making a wide sweep +it was rowed back again to Gravesend.</p> + +<p>Ronald had no doubt that Malcolm had come south in hopes of +effecting his escape, and guessed that he had taken up his post +at Gravesend with the intention of examining every ship as she +passed up until the one in which he knew he had sailed made its +appearance. What his next step would be he could not tell; but he +determined to keep a vigilant lookout, and to avail himself +instantly of any opportunity which might offer.</p> + +<p>As the captain did nor care about proceeding up the river +after dark it was not until the tide turned, just as morning +broke, that the anchor was weighed. There was a light breeze +which just sufficed to give the vessel steerage way, and a mist +hung on the water. Ronald took his favourite seat on the +taffrail, and kept a vigilant watch upon every craft which seemed +likely to come near the vessel.</p> + +<p>Greenwich was passed, and the vessel presently approached the +crowded part of the Pool. It was near high tide now, and the +captain was congratulating himself that he should just reach a +berth opposite the Tower before it turned. Presently a boat with +two rowers shot out from behind a tier of vessels and passed +close under the stern of the Glasgow Lass. A man was steering +whom Ronald instantly recognized.</p> + +<p>"Jump!" he cried, and Ronald without a moment's hesitation +leaped from the taffrail.</p> + +<p>He came up close to the boat, and was instantly hauled on +board by Malcolm. Just at that moment the guard, who had stood +stupefied by Ronald's sudden action, gave a shout of alarm and +discharged his piece. The ball struck the boat close to Ronald. +It was already in motion; the men bent to their oars, and the +boat glided towards the Surrey side of the river. Loud shouts +arose from on board the vessel, and four bullets cut the water +round the boar; but before the muskets could be reloaded Malcolm +had steered the boat through a tier of vessels, whose crews, +attracted by the firing, cheered the fugitives lustily.</p> + +<p>A minute later they had reached some landing steps. Malcolm +tossed some money to the rowers, and then sprang ashore with +Ronald, and handed the latter a long coat which would reach to +his heels and conceal the drenched state of his clothing from +notice.</p> + +<p>"We have tricked them nicely, dear boy," he said; "we are safe +now. Long before they can lower a boat and get here we shall be +safe in shelter, and our five Glasgow bodies will have something +to do to look for us here."</p> + +<p>Moderating his pace so as to avoid attracting attention, +Malcolm proceeded along several streets and lanes, and presently +stopped at the door of a little shop.</p> + +<p>"I am lodging here," he said, "and have told the people of the +house that I am expecting a nephew back from a cruise in the +Mediterranean."</p> + +<p>As he passed through the shop he said to the woman behind the +counter:</p> + +<p>"Here he is safe and sound. He's been some days longer than I +expected, but I was nor so very far wrong in my calculations. The +young scamp has had enough of the sea, and has agreed to go back +again with me to his own people."</p> + +<p>"That's right," the woman said. "My own boy ran away two years +ago, and I hope he will have come to his senses by the time he +gets back again."</p> + +<p>When they were together in their room up stairs Malcolm threw +his arms round Ronald's neck.</p> + +<p>"Thank God, my dear boy, I have got you our of the clutches of +the law! You do not know how I have been fretting since I heard +you were caught, and thought that if ill came to you it would be +all my fault. And now tell me how you got into this scrape, for +it has been puzzling me ever since I heard it. Surely when I saw +you last you knew nothing about any Jacobite goings on?"</p> + +<p>Ronald related the whole particulars of his adventure, and +said that even now he was absolutely ignorant who was the man +whom he had aided to escape.</p> + +<p>"I know no more than you do, Ronald, but they must have +thought his capture an important one by the fuss they made over +his escape. And now, to think that you have slipped out of their +hands too!" and Malcolm broke into a loud laugh. "I would give a +month's earnings to see the faces of the guard as they make their +report that they have arrived empty handed. I was right glad when +I saw you. I was afraid you might have given them the slip on the +way, and then there would have been no saying when we might have +found each other again."</p> + +<p>"The sailors would have lowered a boat at night and let me +make for the land," Ronald said, "but there was a good guard kept +over me. The door was locked and a sentry always on watch, and I +had quite given up all hope until I saw you at Gravesend. And +now, what do you intend to do? Make our way back to +Scotland?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, lad, that would never do. There will be a hue and cry +after you, and all the northern routes will be watched. No, I +shall make a bargain with some Dutch skipper to take us across +the water, and then we will make our way to Paris."</p> + +<p>"But have you got money, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I have got your purse, lad. I went to Andrew and said that I +wanted it for you, but that he was to ask no questions, so that +whatever came of it he could say that he knew nothing. He gave it +me at once, saying only:</p> + +<p>"'Remember, Malcolm, you have done the boy some harm already +with your teaching, see that you do him no further harm. I guess +you are bent on some hare brained plan, but whatever it be I wish +you success.'"</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_IV_In_France_"></a>CHAPTER +IV: In France.</h1> + +<p>The next day Malcolm went out alone, and on his return told +Ronald that there were placards on the walls offering a reward of +a hundred pounds for his apprehension.</p> + +<p>"You don't think the people below have any suspicion, +Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Not they," Malcolm replied. "I was telling them last night +after you had gone to bed all about the places you have been +voyaging to, and how anxious your father, a snug farmer near +Newcastle, was to have you back again. I had spoken to them +before so as to prepare them for your coming, and the old woman +takes quite an interest in you, because her son at sea is a lad +just about your age. I have brought you in a suit of sailor +clothes; we will go down and have a chat with them after the shop +is closed of a night. You will remember Newcastle and the farm, +and can tell them of your escape from Greek pirates, and how +nearly you were taken by a French frigate near the straits."</p> + +<p>The consternation of the watch at Ronald's escape was extreme. +The shot which the man on guard had fired was their first +intimation of the event, and seizing their muskets they had +hastily discharged them in the direction of the fugitive, and had +then shouted for a boat to be lowered. But never was a boat +longer getting into the water than was that of the Glasgow Lass +upon this occasion. The captain gave his orders in a leisurely +way, and the crew were even slower in executing them. Then +somehow the fall stuck and the boat wouldn't lower. When at last +she was in the water it was found that the thole pins were +missing; these being found she was rowed across the river, the +five constables undergoing a running fire of jokes and hilarity +from the sailors of the ships they passed near. In answer to +their inquiries where the fugitives landed, some of the sailors +shouted that she had pulled up the river behind the tier of +vessels, others insisted that she had sunk with all hands close +by.</p> + +<p>Completely bewildered, the chief of the party told the sailors +to put them ashore at the first landing. When the party gained +the streets they inquired eagerly of all they met whether they +had seen aught of the fugitives. Few of those they questioned +understood the broad Scotch in which the question was asked, +others laughed in their faces and asked how they were to know the +man and boy they wanted from any others; and after vainly looking +about for some time they returned to the stairs, only to find +that the boat had returned to the ship.</p> + +<p>A waterman's boat was now hired, and the rower, who had heard +what had happened, demanded a sum for putting them on board which +horrified them; but at last, after much bargaining, they were +conveyed back to the ship. An hour later the chief of the party +went ashore, and repairing to the Tower, where he had been +ordered to conduct the prisoner, reported his escape. He was at +once taken into custody on the charge of permitting the escape of +his prisoner, and it was not until three days later, upon the +evidence of his men and of the captain and officers of the ship, +that he was released.</p> + +<p>His four men were put on board a ship returning to Glasgow +next day, while he himself was kept to identify the fugitive +should he be caught.</p> + +<p>A week later Malcolm told Ronald that he had made arrangements +with the captain of a Dutch vessel to take them over to +Holland.</p> + +<p>"We are to go on board at Gravesend," he said, "for they are +searching all ships bound for foreign ports. It is not for you +especially, but there are supposed to be many Jacobites going to +and fro, and they will lay hands on anyone who cannot give a +satisfactory account of himself. So it is just as well for us to +avoid questioning."</p> + +<p>Accordingly the next day they walked down to Gravesend, and +taking boat there boarded the Dutch vessel when she came along on +the following day. The Dutch captain received them civilly; he +had been told by Malcolm that they wished to leave the country +privately, and guessed that they were in some way fugitives from +the law, but as he was to be well paid this gave him no concern. +There were no other passengers, and a roomy cabin was placed at +their disposal. They passed down the river without impediment, +and anchored that night off Sheerness.</p> + +<p>"These Dutch traders are but slow craft," Malcolm said as he +walked impatiently up and down the deck next morning, watching +the slow progress which they made past the shore. "I wish we +could have got a passage direct to France, but of course that is +impossible now the two nations are at war."</p> + +<p>"What is the war about, Malcolm? I heard at home that they +were fighting, but yet that somehow the two countries were not at +war."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't know how that comes about," Malcolm said. +"England has a minister still at Paris; but for all that King +George is at the head of a number of British troops in Germany +fighting against the French there."</p> + +<p>"But what is it about, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it is a matter which concerns Hanover more than +England; in fact England has no interest in the matter at all as +far as I can see, except that as France takes one side she takes +the other, because she is afraid of France getting too strong. +However, it is a German business, and England is mixed up in it +only because her present king is a Hanoverian and not an +Englishman. This is the matter as far as I can make it out. +Charles VI., Emperor of Germany, died in October, 1740. It had +been arranged by a sort of general agreement called the Pragmatic +Sanction --"</p> + +<p>"What an extraordinary name, Malcolm! What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"I have not the least idea in the world, lad. However, that is +what it is called. It was signed by a lot of powers, of whom +England was one, and by it all parties agreed that Charles's +daughter Maria Theresa was to become Empress of Austria. However, +when the emperor was dead the Elector of Bavaria claimed to be +emperor, and he was supported by France, by Spain, and by +Frederick of Prussia, and they marched to Vienna, enthroned the +elector as Duke of Austria, and drove Maria Theresa to take +refuge in Hungary, where she was warmly supported.</p> + +<p>"The English parliament voted a large sum to enable the +empress to carry on the war, and last year sixteen thousand men +under the Earl of Stair crossed the seas to cooperate with the +Dutch, who were warm supporters of the empress, and were joined +by six thousand Hessians and sixteen thousand Hanoverians in +British pay; but after all nothing was done last year, for as in +the last war the Dutch were not ready to begin, and the English +army were in consequence kept idle."</p> + +<p>"Then it seems that everyone was against the empress except +England and these three little states."</p> + +<p>"That is pretty nearly so," Malcolm said; "but at present the +empress has bought off the Prussians, whose king joined in the +affair solely for his own advantage, by giving him the province +of Silesia, so that in fact at present it is England and Hanover, +which is all the same thing, with the Dutch and Hessians, against +France and Bavaria, for I don't think that at present Spain has +sent any troops."</p> + +<p>"Well, it seems to me a downright shame," Ronald said +indignantly; "and though I have no great love for the English, +and hate their Hanoverian George and his people, I shouldn't like +to fight with one of the Scotch regiments in the French service +in such a quarrel."</p> + +<p>Malcolm laughed.</p> + +<p>"My dear lad, if every soldier were to discuss the merits of +the quarrel in which he is ordered to fight there would be an end +of all discipline."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see that," Ronald agreed; "if one is once a soldier he +has only to obey orders. But one need not become a soldier just +at the time when he would be called upon to fight for a cause +which he considers unjust."</p> + +<p>"That is so, Ronald, and it's fortunate, if your feelings are +in favour of Maria Theresa, that we are not thinking of enlisting +just at present, for you would be puzzled which side to take. If +you fought for her you would have to fight under the Hanoverian; +if you fight against the Hanoverian you are fighting against +Maria Theresa."</p> + +<p>"Well, we don't want to fight at all," Ronald said. "What we +want to do is to find out something about my father. I wish the +voyage was at an end, and that we had our faces towards +Paris."</p> + +<p>"It will not be so easy to cross from Holland into France," +Malcolm said. "I wish our voyage was at an end for another +reason, for unless I mistake there is a storm brewing up."</p> + +<p>Malcolm's prediction as to the weather was speedily verified. +The wind rose rapidly, ragged clouds hurried across the sky, and +the waves got up fast, and by nightfall the sea had become really +heavy, dashing in sheets high in the air every time the bluff +bowed craft plunged into it. Long before this Ronald had gone +below prostrate with seasickness.</p> + +<p>"It's just like the obstinacy of these Dutchmen," Malcolm +muttered to himself as he held on by a shroud and watched the +labouring ship. "It must have been clear to anyone before we were +well out of the river that we were going to have a gale, and as +the wind then was nearly due south, we could have run back again +and anchored in shelter till it was over. Now it has backed round +nearly into our teeth, with every sign of its getting into the +north, and then we shall have the French coast on our lee. It's +not very serious yet, but if the wind goes on rising as it has +done for the last four or five hours we shall have a gale to +remember before the morning."</p> + +<p>Before the daylight, indeed, a tremendous sea was running, and +the wind was blowing with terrible force from the north. Although +under but a rag of canvas the brig was pressed down gunwale deep, +and each wave as it struck her broadside seemed to heave her +bodily to leeward. Malcolm on coming on deck made his way aft and +glanced at the compass, and then took a long look over the +foaming water towards where he knew the French coast must lie. +The wind was two or three points east of north, and as the clumsy +craft would not sail within several points of the wind she was +heading nearly east.</p> + +<p>"She is making a foot to leeward for every one she forges +ahead," he said to himself. "If she has been at this work all +night we cannot be far from the coast."</p> + +<p>So the Dutch skipper appeared to think, for a few minutes +afterwards he gave orders to bring her about on the other tack. +Three times they tried and failed; each time the vessel slowly +came up into the wind, but the heavy waves forced her head off +again before the headsails filled. Then the skipper gave orders +to wear her. Her head payed off to the wind until she was nearly +before it. Two or three great seas struck her stern and buried +her head deeply, but at last the boom swung over and her head +came up on the other tack. During the course of these manoeuvres +she had made fully two miles leeway, and when she was fairly +under sail with her head to the west Malcolm took another long +look towards the south.</p> + +<p>"Just as I thought," he said. "There is white water there and +a dark line behind it. That is the French coast, sure +enough."</p> + +<p>It would have been useless to speak, but he touched the arm of +the skipper and pointed to leeward. The skipper looked in this +direction for a minute and then gave the order for more sail to +be put on the ship, to endeavour to beat out in the teeth of the +gale. But even when pressed to the utmost it was evident to +Malcolm that the force of the waves was driving her faster +towards the coast than she could make off it, and he went below +and told Ronald to come on deck.</p> + +<p>"I would rather lie here," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, lad! The wind and spray will soon knock the +sickness out of you; and you will want all your wits about you, +for it won't be many hours before we are bumping on the sands, +and stoutly built as the craft is she won't hold together long in +such a sea as this."</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it, Malcolm, or are you only trying to get +me on deck?"</p> + +<p>"I mean it, lad. We are drifting fast upon the French coast, +and there is no hope of her clawing off in the teeth of such a +gale as this."</p> + +<p>The news aroused Ronald effectually. He had not suffered at +all on the voyage down from Glasgow, and he was already beginning +to feel better when Malcolm went down to call him. He was soon on +deck holding on by the bulwark.</p> + +<p>"There it is, that long low black line; it looks a long way +off because the air is full of spray and the coast is low, but +it's not more than three or four miles; look at that broad belt +of foam."</p> + +<p>For some hours the Dutch skipper did his best to beat to +windward, but in vain, the vessel drove nearer and nearer towards +the shore; the anchors were got in readiness, and when within a +quarter of a mile of the line of breakers the vessel's head was +brought up into the wind, and the lashings of the two anchors cut +simultaneously.</p> + +<p>"Will they hold her, do you think?" Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a chance of it, Ronald. Of course the captain is right to +try; but no cables were ever made would hold such a bluff bowed +craft as this in the teeth of such a wind and sea."</p> + +<p>The cables ran out to the bitts. Just as they tightened a +great sea rolled in on the bow. Two dull reports were heard, and +then her head payed off. The jib was run up instantly to help her +round, and under this sail the brig was headed directly towards +the shore. The sea was breaking round them now; but the brig was +almost flat bottomed and drew but little water. All on board hung +on to the shrouds and bulwarks, momentarily expecting a crash, +but she drove on through the surf until within a hundred yards of +the shore. Then as she went down in the trough of a wave there +was a mighty crash. The next wave swept her forward her own +length.</p> + +<p>Then there was another crash even more tremendous than the +first, and her masts simultaneously went over the side. The next +wave moved her but a few feet; the one which followed, finding +her immovable, piled itself higher over her, and swept in a +cataract down her sloping deck. Her stern had swung round after +the first shot, and she now lay broadside to the waves. The Dutch +skipper and his crew behaved with the greatest calmness; the ship +lay over at such an angle that it was impossible to stand on the +deck; but the captain managed to get on the upper rail, and +although frequently almost washed off by the seas, contrived to +cut the shrouds and ropes that still attached the masts to the +ship there. Then he joined the crew, who were standing breast +high in the water on the lee side, the floating masts were pulled +in until within a few yards of the vessel, and such of the crew +as could swim made towards them.</p> + +<p>The skipper cut the last rope that bound them, and then +plunged in and joined his men. The distance was little over fifty +yards to the shore, and the wreck formed a partial shelter. A +crowd of people were assembled at the edge of the beach with +ropes in readiness to give any assistance in their power. Malcolm +and Ronald were among those who had swum to the masts, but when +within a short distance of the shore the former shouted in the +latter's ear:</p> + +<p>"Swim off, lad, the masts might crush us."</p> + +<p>As soon as they neared the shore a number of ropes were +thrown. Most of the sailors, seeing the danger of being crushed, +followed the example of Malcolm, and left the masts. Malcolm and +Ronald swam just outside the point where the waves broke until a +line fell in the water close to them. They grasped it at +once.</p> + +<p>"Give it a twist round your arm," Malcolm shouted, "or the +backwash will tear you from it."</p> + +<p>The sailors on shore watched their opportunity, and the +instant a wave passed beneath the two swimmers ran up the beach +at full speed with the rope. There was a crash. Ronald felt +himself shot forward with great rapidity, then as he touched the +ground with his feet they were swept from under him, and so great +was the strain that he felt as if his arm was being pulled from +the socket. A few seconds later he was lying at full length upon +the sands, and before the next wave reached him a dozen men had +rushed down and seized him and Malcolm, and carried them beyond +its influence. For a minute or two Ronald felt too bruised and +out of breath to move. Then he heard Malcolm's voice:</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"No; I think not, Malcolm," he replied, making an effort to +sit up. "Are you?"</p> + +<p>"No, lad; bruised a bit, but no worse."</p> + +<p>One by one the sailors were brought ashore, one with both legs +broken from the force with which he was dashed down by the surf, +and one man who stuck to the mast was crushed to death as it was +rolled over and over on to the beach. The captain and three +sailors were, like Malcolm and Ronald, unhurt. There still +remained four men on the wreck. Fortunately she had struck just +at high tide, and so stoutly was she built that she held together +in spite of the tremendous seas, and in an hour the four sailors +were able to wade breast high to the shore.</p> + +<p>They found that the spot where the vessel had struck was half +a mile west of Gravelines. They were taken to the town, and were +hospitably entertained. A small body of soldiers were quartered +there, and the officer in command told the Dutch skipper, that as +the two nations were at war he and his crew must be detained +until he received orders respecting them. On learning from +Malcolm that he and Ronald were passengers, and were Scotsmen +making their way from England to escape imprisonment as friends +of the Stuarts, and that he had for twelve years served in one of +the Scotch regiments of Louis, and was now bound for Paris, the +officer said that they were free to continue their journey at +once.</p> + +<p>It was two or three days before they started, for they found +the next morning that they were both too severely bruised to set +out at once on the journey. As Malcolm had taken care to keep the +purse containing Ronald's money securely fastened to a belt under +his clothes they had no lack of funds; but as time was no object +they started for Paris on foot. Ronald greatly enjoyed the +journey. Bright weather had set in after the storm. It was now +the middle of May, all nature was bright and cheerful, the +dresses of the peasantry, the style of architecture so different +to that to which he was accustomed in Scotland, and everything +else were new and strange to him. Malcolm spoke French as +fluently as his own language, and they had therefore no +difficulty or trouble on the way.</p> + +<p>They arrived at Paris without any adventure. Malcolm went to a +cabaret which had at the time when he was in the French service +been much frequented by Scotch soldiers, being kept by a +countryman of their own, an ex-sergeant in one of the Scottish +regiments.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Sandy Macgregor," Malcolm exclaimed as the proprietor of +the place approached to take their order. "So you are still in +the flesh, man! Right glad am I to see you again.</p> + +<p>"I know your face," Sandy replied; "but I canna just say what +your name might be."</p> + +<p>"Malcolm Anderson, of Leslie's Scotch regiment. It's fourteen +years since I left them now; but I was here again four years +later, if you can remember, when I came over to try and find out +if aught had been heard of the colonel."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," Sandy said, grasping Malcolm's outstretched hand +warmly. "It all comes back to me now. Right glad am I to see you. +And who is the lad ye have brought with you? A Scot by his face +and bearing, I will be bound, but young yet for the service if +that be what he is thinking of."</p> + +<p>"He is the colonel's son, Sandy. You will remember I told you +I had carried him back to Scotland with me; but I need not tell +ye that this is betwixt ourselves, for those who have so badly +treated his father might well have a grudge against the son, and +all the more that he is the rightful heir to many a broad acre +here in France."</p> + +<p>"I give you a hearty welcome, young sir," Sandy said. "Many a +time I have seen your brave father riding at the head of his +regiment, and have spoken to him too, for he and his officers +would drop in here and crack a cup together in a room I keep +upstairs for the quality. Well, well, and to think that you are +his son! But what Malcolm said is true, and it were best that +none knew who ye are, for they have an unco quick way here of +putting inconvenient people out of the way."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever heard aught of my father since?" Ronald asked +eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Not a word," Sandy replied. "I have heard it talked over +scores of times by men who were in the regiment that was once +his, and none doubted that if he were still alive he was lying in +the Bastille, or Vincennes, or one of the other cages where they +keep those whose presence the king or his favourites find +inconvenient. It's just a stroke of the pen, without question or +trial, and they are gone, and even their best friends darena ask +a question concerning them. In most cases none know why they have +been put away; but there is no doubt why Leslie was seized. Three +or four of his fellow officers were in the secret of his +marriage, and when he had disappeared these talked loudly about +it, and there was sair grief and anger among the Scottish +regiment at Leslie's seizure. But what was to be done? It was +just the king's pleasure, and that is enough in France. Leslie +had committed the grave offence of thwarting the wishes of two of +the king's favourites, great nobles, too, with broad lands and +grand connections. What were the likings of a Scottish soldier of +fortune and a headstrong girl in comparison! In Scotland in the +old times a gallant who had carried off a daughter of a Douglas +or one of our powerful nobles would have made his wife a widow +ere many weeks were over, and it is the same thing here now. It +wouldna have been an easy thing for his enemies to kill Leslie +with his regiment at his back, and so they got an order from the +king, and as surely got rid of him as if they had taken his +life."</p> + +<p>"You have never heard whether my mother has married again?" +Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"I have never heard her name mentioned. Her father is still at +court, but his daughter has never been seen since, or I should +have heard of it; but more than that I cannot say."</p> + +<p>"That gives me hopes that my father is still alive," Ronald +said. "Had he been dead they might have forced her into some +other marriage."</p> + +<p>"They might so; but she was plainly a lassie who had a will of +her own and may have held out."</p> + +<p>"But why did they not kill him instead of putting him in +prison if he was in their way?"</p> + +<p>"They might, as I said, have done it at once; but once in +prison he was beyond their reach. The king may grant a lettre de +cachet, as these orders are called, to a favourite; but even in +France men are not put to death without some sort of trial, and +even Chateaurouge and De Recambours could not ask Louis to have a +man murdered in prison to gratify their private spite, especially +when that man was a brave Scottish officer whose fate had already +excited much discontent among his compatriots in the king's +service. Then again much would depend upon who was the governor +of the prison. These men differ like others. Some of them are +honourable gentlemen, to whom even Louis himself would not +venture to hint that he wanted a prisoner put out of the way; but +there are others who, to gratify a powerful nobleman, would think +nothing of telling a jailer to forget a fortnight to give food to +a prisoner. So you see we cannot judge from this. And now what +are you thinking of doing, Malcolm, and why are you over +here?"</p> + +<p>"In the first place we are over here because young Leslie took +after his father and aided a Jacobite, whom George's men were in +search of, to escape, and drew his sword on a worshipful justice +of Glasgow and the city watch."</p> + +<p>"He has begun early," Sandy said, laughing; "and how did he +get away?"</p> + +<p>"They brought him down a prisoner to London, to interrogate +him as to the plot. I had a boat in the Thames and he jumped over +and swam for it; so here we are. There are rumours in Scotland +that King Louis is helping Prince Charlie, and that an army is +soon going to sail for Scotland."</p> + +<p>"It is talked of here, but so far nothing is settled; but as +King George is interfering in Louis's affairs, and is fighting +him in Germany, I think it more than likely that King Louis is +going to stir up a coil in Scotland to give George something to +do at home."</p> + +<p>"Then if there's nothing to be done here I shall find out the +old regiment. There will be many officers in it still who have +fought under Leslie, and some of them may know more about him +than you do, and will surely be able to tell me what has become +of the lad's mither."</p> + +<p>"That may well be so; but keep a quiet tongue, Malcolm, as to +Leslie's son, save to those on whose discretion you can rely. I +tell you, if it were known that he is alive and in France his +life would not be worth a week's purchase. They would not take +the trouble to get a lettre de cachet for him as they did for his +father; it would be just a pistol bullet or a stab on a dark +night or in a lonely place. There would be no question asked +about the fate of an unknown Scotch laddie."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful, Sandy, and silent. The first thing is to +find out where the old regiment is lying."</p> + +<p>"That I can tell you at once. It is on the frontier with the +Duc de Noailles, and they say that there is like to be a great +battle with English George and his army."</p> + +<p>"Well, as we have nothing else to do we will set out and find +them," Malcolm said; "but as time is not pressing we will stop a +few days here in Paris and I will show the lad the sights. I +suppose you can put us up."</p> + +<p>"That can I. Times are dull at present. After '15 Paris +swarmed with Scotsmen who had fled to save their heads; but of +late years but few have come over, and the Scotch regiments have +difficulty in keeping up their numbers. Since the last of them +marched for the frontier I have been looking after empty benches, +and it will be good news for me when I hear that the war is over +and they are on their way back."</p> + +<p>For some days Malcolm and Ronald wandered about the narrow +streets of Paris. Ronald was somewhat disappointed in the city of +which he had heard so much. The streets were ill paved and worse +lighted, and were narrow and winding. In the neighbourhood of the +Louvre there were signs of wealth and opulence. The rich dresses +of the nobles contrasted strongly indeed with the sombre attire +of the Glasgow citizens, and the appearance and uniform of the +royal guards filled him with admiration; but beyond the +fashionable quarter it did not appear to him that Paris possessed +many advantages over Glasgow, and the poorer class were squalid +and poverty stricken to a far greater degree than anything he had +seen in Scotland. But the chief points of attraction to him were +the prisons. The Bastille, the Chatelet, and the Temple were +points to which he was continually turning; the two former +especially, since, if he were in Paris, it was in one of these +that his father was most probably lying.</p> + +<p>The various plans he had so often thought over, by which, in +some way or other, he might communicate with his father and aid +his escape, were roughly shattered at the sight of these +buildings. He had reckoned on their resembling in some respect +the prison in Glasgow, and at the sight of these formidable +fortresses with their lofty walls and flanking towers, their +moats and vigilant sentries, his hopes fell to zero. It would, he +saw at once, be absolutely impossible to open communication with +a prisoner of whose whereabouts he was wholly ignorant and of +whose very existence he was doubtful. The narrow slits which +lighted the cell in which he was confined might look into an +inner court, or the cell itself might be below the surface of the +soil. The legend of the troubadour who discovered King Richard of +England's place of captivity by singing without the walls had +always been present in his mind, but no such plan would be +practicable here. He knew no song which his father, and his +father only, would recognize; and even did he know such a song, +the appearance of anyone loitering in the open space outside the +moat round the Bastille singing at intervals at different points +would have instantly attracted the attention of the sentries on +the walls. Nor, even did he discover that his father was lying a +prisoner in one of the cells facing outwards in the fortress, did +he see any possibility of compassing his escape. The slits were +wide enough only for the passage of a ray of light or the flight +of an arrow. No human being could squeeze himself through them, +and even if he could do so he would need a long rope to descend +into the moat.</p> + +<p>One day Ronald talked over his ideas with Malcolm, who +declared at once that they were impossible of execution.</p> + +<p>"There is scarcely a case on record," he said, "of an escape +from either the Bastille or the Chatelet, and yet there have been +scores of prisoners confined in them with friends of great +influence and abundant means. If these have been unable, by +bribing jailers or by other strategy, to free their friends, how +could a stranger, without either connection, influence, or +wealth, hope to effect the escape of a captive were he certain +that he was within the walls. Do not waste your thought on such +fancies, Ronald. If your father is still in prison it is by +influence only, and influence exerted upon the king and exceeding +that of your father's enemies, that his release can be +obtained.</p> + +<p>"Such influence there is no possibility of our exerting. Your +father's comrades and countrymen, his position and services, +availed nothing when he was first imprisoned; and in the time +which has elapsed the number of those who know him and would +venture to risk the king's displeasure by pleading his cause must +have lessened considerably. The only possibility, mind I say +possibility, of success lies in your mother.</p> + +<p>"So far it is clear that she has been powerless; but we know +not under what circumstances she has been placed. She may all +this time have been shut up a prisoner in a convent; she may be +dead; but it is possible that, if she is free, she may have +powerful connections on her mother's side, who might be induced +to take up her cause and to plead with the king for your father's +liberty. She may have been told that your father is dead. She is, +no doubt, in ignorance of what has become of you, or whether you +are still alive. If she believes you are both dead she would have +had no motive for exerting any family influence she may have, and +may be living a broken hearted woman, firm only in the resolution +to accept no other husband."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is possible," Ronald agreed. "At any rate, Malcolm, +let us lose no further time, but set out tomorrow for the +frontier and try to find out from my father's old comrades what +has become of my mother."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_V_Dettingen_"></a>CHAPTER V: +Dettingen.</h1> + +<p>After walking two or three miles Malcolm and Ronald came upon +the rear of a train of waggons which had set out from Paris an +hour earlier. Entering into conversation with one of the drivers +they found that the convoy was bound for the frontier with +ammunition and supplies for the army.</p> + +<p>"This is fortunate," Malcolm said; "for to tell you the truth, +Ronald, I have looked forward to our meeting with a good many +difficulties by the way. We have no passes or permits to travel, +and should be suspected of being either deserters or thieves. We +came down from the north easy enough; but there they are more +accustomed to the passage of travellers to or from the coast. +Going east our appearance if alone would be sure to incite +comment and suspicion. It is hard if among the soldiers with the +convoy I do not know someone who has friends in the old regiment. +At any rate we can offer to make ourselves useful in case of any +of the drivers falling ill or deserting by the way."</p> + +<p>As they walked along towards the head of the long line of +waggons Malcolm closely scrutinized the troopers who formed the +escort, but most of them were young soldiers, and he therefore +went on without accosting them until he reached the head of the +column. Here two officers were riding together, a captain and a +young lieutenant. Malcolm saluted the former.</p> + +<p>"I am an old soldier of the 2d Regiment of Scottish Calvary, +and am going with my young friend here, who has relations in the +regiment, to join them. Will you permit us, sir, to journey with +your convoy? We are ready, if needs be, to make ourselves useful +in case any of your drivers are missing, no uncommon thing, as I +know, on a long journey."</p> + +<p>The officer asked a few questions about his services, and +said: "What have you been doing since you left, as you say, +fourteen years ago?"</p> + +<p>"I have been in Scotland, sir. I took this lad, who was then +an infant, home to my people, having had enough of soldiering, +while my brother, his father, remained with the regiment. We do +not know whether he is alive or dead, but if the former the lad +wants to join as a trumpeter, and when old enough to fight in the +ranks."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the officer said. "You can march along with us, +and if any of these fellows desert you shall take their places, +and of course draw their pay."</p> + +<p>It was a short time indeed before Malcolm's services were +called into requisition, for the very first night several of the +drivers, who had been pressed into the service, managed to elude +the vigilance of the guard and slipped away.</p> + +<p>The next morning Malcolm, with Ronald as his assistant, took +charge of one of the heavy waggons, loaded with ammunition, and +drawn by twelve horses.</p> + +<p>"This is better than walking after all, Ronald. In the first +place it saves the legs, and in the second one is partly out of +the dust."</p> + +<p>"But I think we should get on faster walking, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we had no stoppages. But then, you see, as we have no +papers we might be detained for weeks by some pig headed official +in a little country town; besides, we are sure to push on as fast +as we can, for they will want the ammunition before a battle is +fought. And after all a few days won't make much difference to +us; the weather is fine, and the journey will not be +unpleasant."</p> + +<p>In fact Ronald enjoyed the next three weeks greatly as the +train of waggons made its way across the plains of Champagne, and +then on through the valleys of Lorraine and Alsace until it +reached Strasbourg. Malcolm had speedily made friends with some +of the soldiers of the escort, and of an evening when the day's +work was over he and Ronald sat with them by the fires they made +by the roadside, and Malcolm told tales of the campaigns in which +he had been engaged, and the soldiers sang songs and chatted over +the probabilities of the events of the war. None of them had +served before, having been but a few months taken from their +homes in various parts of France. But although, doubtless, many +had at first regretted bitterly being dragged away to the wars, +they were now all reconciled to their lot, and looked forward +eagerly to joining their regiment, which was at the front, when +the duty of looking after the convoy would be at an end.</p> + +<p>Little was known in Paris as to the position of the contending +armies beyond the fact that Lord Stair, who commanded the English +army, sixteen thousand strong, which had for the last year been +lying inactive in Flanders, had marched down with his Hanoverian +allies towards the Maine, and that the Duc de Noailles with sixty +thousand men was lying beyond the Rhine. But at Strasbourg they +learned that the French army had marched north to give battle to +Lord Stair, who had at present with him but twenty-eight thousand +men, and was waiting to be joined by twelve thousand Hanoverians +and Hessians who were on their way.</p> + +<p>The convoy continued its journey, pushing forward with all +speed, and on the 26th of July joined the army of De Noailles. +The French were on the south side of the river, but having +arrived on its banks before the English they had possession of +the bridges. As soon as the waggons had joined the army, Malcolm +obtained from the officer commanding the escort a discharge, +saying that he and Ronald had fulfilled their engagement as +drivers with the waggons to the front, and were now at liberty to +return to France.</p> + +<p>"Now we are our own masters again, Ronald," Malcolm said. "I +have taken part in a good many battles, but have never yet had +the opportunity of looking on at one comfortably. De Noailles +should lose no time in attacking, so as to destroy the English +before they receive their reinforcements. As he holds the bridges +he can bring on the battle when he likes, and I think that +tomorrow or next day the fight will take place."</p> + +<p>It was known in the camp that evening that the English had +established their chief magazines at Hanau, and were marching up +the river towards Aschaffenburg. In the early morning a portion +of the French troops crossed the river at that town, and took up +a strong position there. Ronald and Malcolm climbed a hill +looking down upon the river from the south side, and thence +commanded the view of the ground across which the English were +marching. On the eastern side of the river spurs of the Spessart +Mountains came down close to its bank, inclosing a narrow flat +between Aschaffenburg and Dettingen. At the latter place the +heights approached so closely to the river as to render it +difficult for an army to pass between them. While posting a +strong force at Aschaffenburg to hold the passage across a stream +running into the Maine there, De Noailles marched his main force +down the river; these movements were hidden by the nature of the +ground from the English, who were advancing unconscious of their +danger towards Dettingen.</p> + +<p>"De Noailles will have them in a trap," Malcolm said, for from +their position on the hill they could see the whole ground on the +further bank, Hanau lying some seven miles beyond Dettingen, +which was itself less than seven miles from Aschaffenburg.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid so," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"Afraid!" Malcolm repeated. "Why, you should rejoice, +Ronald."</p> + +<p>"I can't do that," Ronald replied. "I should like to see the +Stuarts instead of the Hanoverians reigning over us; but after +all, Malcolm, England and Scotland are one nation."</p> + +<p>"But there are Scotch regiments with the French army, and a +brigade of Irish."</p> + +<p>"That may be," Ronald said. "Scotchmen who have got into +political trouble at home may enter the service of France, and +may fight heartily against the Germans or the Flemings, or other +enemies of France; but I know that I should feel very reluctant +to fight against the English army, except, of course, at home for +the Stuarts."</p> + +<p>"It will benefit the Stuarts' cause if the English are +defeated here," Malcolm said.</p> + +<p>"That may be or it may not.," Ronald replied. "You yourself +told me that Louis cared nothing for the Stuarts, and would only +aid them in order to cripple the English strength at home. +Therefore, if he destroys the English army here he will have less +cause to fear England and so less motive for helping the +Chevalier."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough," Malcolm agreed. "You are fast becoming +a politician, Ronald. Well, I will look on as a neutral then, +because, although the English are certainly more nearly my +countrymen than are the French, you must remember that for twelve +years I fought under the French flag. However, there can be no +doubt what is going to take place. See, the dark mass of the +English army are passing through the defile of Dettingen, and the +French have begun to cross at Seligenstadt in their rear. See, +they are throwing three or four bridges across the river +there."</p> + +<p>In utter ignorance of their danger the English marched on +along the narrow plain by the river bank towards +Aschaffenburg.</p> + +<p>"Look at their cavalry scouting ahead of them," Malcolm said. +"There, the French are opening fire!" And as he spoke puffs of +musketry rose up from the line of the stream held by the +French.</p> + +<p>The English cavalry galloped back, but the columns of infantry +still advanced until within half a mile of the French position, +and were there halted, while some guns from the French lines +opened fire. The bridges at Seligenstadt were now completed, and +masses of troops could be seen pouring over. King George and the +Duke of Cumberland had joined the Earl of Stair just as the army +passed through Dettingen, and were riding at the head of the +column when the French fire opened. A short time was spent in +reconnoitring the position of the enemy in front. The English +believed that the entire French army was there opposed to them, +and that the advance of the army into Franconia, which was its +main objective was therefore barred. After a short consultation +it was resolved to fall back at once upon the magazines at Hanau, +which, from their ignorance of the near proximity of the French, +had been left but weakly guarded. Believing that as they fell +back they would be hotly pursued by the French army, the king +took the command of the rear as the post of danger, and the +columns, facing about, marched towards Dettingen.</p> + +<p>But the French had been beforehand with them. De Noailles had +sent 23,000 men under his nephew the Duke de Grammont across the +river to occupy Dettingen. He himself with his main army remained +on the south side, with his artillery placed so as to fire across +the river upon the flank of the English as they approached +Dettingen; while he could march up and cross at Aschaffenburg +should the English, after being beaten back at Dettingen, try to +retreat up the river.</p> + +<p>De Grammont's position was a very strong one behind a swamp +and a deep ravine hollowed out by a stream from the hill. There +seemed no possibility of escape for the English army, who were as +yet absolutely in ignorance of the position of the French. As the +head of the column approached Dettingen, Grammont's artillery +opened upon them in front, while that of De Noailles smote them +in flank. As soon as the king found that his retreat was cut off +he galloped from the rear of the column to its head. His horse, +alarmed by the fire of the artillery and whistling of balls, ran +away with him, and was with difficulty stopped just as he reached +the head of the column. He at once dismounted and announced his +intention of leading his troops on foot.</p> + +<p>There was a hasty council held between him, Lord Stair, and +the Duke of Cumberland, and it was agreed that the only escape +from entire destruction was by fighting their way through the +force now in front of them. This would indeed have been +impossible had De Grammont held his position; but when that +officer saw the English troops halt he believed he had only the +advanced guard in front of him, and resolving to overwhelm these +before their main body arrived, he abandoned his strong position, +led the troops across the swamp, and charged the English in +front.</p> + +<p>De Noailles, from the opposite bank, seeing the error his +nephew had made, hurried his troops towards the bridges in order +to cross the river and render him assistance; but it was too +late.</p> + +<p>The English infantry, headed by the king in person, hurled +themselves upon the troops of De Grammont.</p> + +<p>Every man felt that the only hope of escape from this trap +into which they had fallen lay in cutting their way through the +enemy, and so furiously did they fight that De Grammont's troops +were utterly overthrown, and were soon in full flight towards the +bridges in the rear, hotly pursued by the English. Before they +could reach the bridges they left behind them on the field six +thousand killed and wounded. King George, satisfied with his +success, and knowing that the French army was still greatly +superior to his own, wisely determined to get out of his +dangerous position as soon as possible, and pushed on that night +to Hanau.</p> + +<p>Although Malcolm and Ronald were too far off to witness the +incidents of the battle, they made out the tide of war rolling +away from them, and saw the black masses of troops pressing on +through Dettingen in spite of the French artillery which +thundered from the opposite bank of the river.</p> + +<p>"They have won!" Ronald said, throwing up his cap. "Hurrah, +Malcolm! Where is the utter destruction of the English now? See, +the plain beyond Dettingen is covered by a confused mass of +flying men. The English have broken out of the trap, and instead +of being crushed have won a great victory."</p> + +<p>"It looks like it certainly," Malcolm said. "I would not have +believed it if I had not seen it; their destruction seemed +certain. And now let us go round to the camp again."</p> + +<p>On their way down Malcolm said:</p> + +<p>"I think, on the whole, Ronald, that you are perhaps right, +and the French defeat will do good rather than harm to the Stuart +cause. Had they conquered, Louis would have been too intent on +pushing forward his own schemes to care much for the Stuarts. He +has no real interest in them, and only uses them as cat's paws to +injure England. If he had beaten the English and Hanoverians he +would not have needed their aid. As it is, it seems likely enough +that he will try to create a diversion, and keep the English busy +at home by aiding the Stuarts with men and money to make a +landing in Scotland."</p> + +<p>"In that case, Malcolm, we need not grieve over the defeat +today. You know my sympathies are with the brave Empress of +Austria rather than with her enemies, and this defeat should go +far towards seating her securely on the throne. Now, what will +you do, Malcolm? Shall we try and find my father's friends at +once?"</p> + +<p>"Nor for another few days," Malcolm said. "Just after a defeat +men are not in the best mood to discuss bygone matters. Let us +wait and see what is done next."</p> + +<p>The next morning a portion of the French army which had not +been engaged crossed the river and collected the French and +English wounded, for the latter had also been left behind. They +were treated by the French with the same care and kindness that +was bestowed upon their own wounded. De Noailles was about to +advance against the English at Hanau, when he received the news +that the French army in Bavaria had been beaten back by Prince +Charles, and had crossed the Rhine into Alsace. As he would now +be exposed to the whole brunt of the attack of the allies he +decided to retreat at once.</p> + +<p>The next day the retreat recommenced. Many of the drivers had +fled at the first news of the defeat, and Malcolm without +question assumed the post of driver of one of the abandoned +teams. For another week the army retired, and then crossing the +Rhine near Worms were safe from pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Now, Ronald, I will look up the old regiment, and we will see +what is to be done."</p> + +<p>The 2d Scotch Dragoons were posted in a little village a mile +distant from the main camp which had now been formed. Malcolm did +nor make any formal transfer of the waggon to the authorities, +thinking it by no means improbable that they would insist upon +his continuing his self adopted avocation as driver; but after +seeing to the horses, which were picketed with a long line of +transport animals, he and Ronald walked quietly away without any +ceremony of adieu.</p> + +<p>"We must not come back again here," he said, "for some of the +teamsters would recognize me as having been driving lately, and I +should have hard work to prove that I was not a deserter; we must +take to the old regiment now as long as we are here."</p> + +<p>On reaching the village they found the street full of +troopers, who were busy engaged in cleaning their arms, grooming +their horses, and removing all signs of weather and battle. +Ronald felt a thrill of pleasure at hearing his native language +spoken. He had now so far improved the knowledge of French as to +be able to converse without difficulty, for Malcolm had from his +childhood tried to keep up his French, and had lately always +spoken in that language to him, unless it was necessary to speak +in English in order to make him understand.</p> + +<p>These occasions had become more and more rare, and two months +of constant conversation with Malcolm and others had enabled +Ronald by this time to speak with some fluency in the French +tongue. None of the soldiers paid any attention to the newcomers, +whose dress differed in no way from that of Frenchmen, as after +the shipwreck they had, of course, been obliged to rig themselves +out afresh. Malcolm stopped before an old sergeant who was +diligently polishing his sword hilt.</p> + +<p>"And how fares it with you all these years, Angus Graeme?"</p> + +<p>The sergeant almost dropped his sword in his surprise at being +so addressed in his own tongue by one whose appearance betokened +him a Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"You don't know me, Angus," Malcolm went on with a smile; "and +yet you ought to, for if it hadn't been for me the sword of the +German hussar who carved that ugly scar across your cheek would +have followed it up by putting an end to your soldiering +altogether."</p> + +<p>"Heart alive, but it's Malcolm Anderson! Eh, man, but I am +glad to see you! I thought you were dead years ago, for I have +heard nae mair of you since the day when you disappeared from +among us like a spook, the same day that puir Colonel Leslie was +hauled off to the Bastille. A sair day was that for us a'! And +where ha' ye been all the time?"</p> + +<p>"Back at home, Angus, at least in body, for my heart's been +with the old regiment. And who, think you, is this? But you must +keep a close mouth, man, for it must nor be talked of. This is +Leslie's son. By his father's last order I took him off to +Scotland with me to be out of reach of his foes, and now I have +brought him back again to try if between us we can gain any news +of his father."</p> + +<p>"You don't say so, Malcolm! I never as much heard that the +colonel had a son, though there was some talk in the regiment +that he had married a great lady, and that it was for that that +he had been hid away in prison. And this is Leslie's boy! Only to +think, now! Well, young sir, there isn't a man in the regiment +but wad do his best for your father's son, for those who have +joined us since, and in truth that's the great part of us, have +heard many a tale of Colonel Leslie, though they may not have +served under him, and not a tale but was to his honour, for a +braver officer nor a kinder one never stepped the earth. But come +inside, Malcolm. I have got a room to myself and a stoup of good +wine; let's talk over things fair and gentle, and when I know +what it is that you want you may be sure that I will do all I +can, for the sake baith of the colonel and of you, auld +comrade."</p> + +<p>The trio were soon seated in the cottage, and Malcolm then +gave a short sketch of all that had taken place since he had left +the regiment.</p> + +<p>"Well, well!" the sergeant said when he had ended; "and so the +lad, young as he is, has already drawn his sword for the Stuarts, +and takes after his father in loyalty as well as in looks, for +now that I know who he is I can see his father's face in his +plain enough; and now for your plans, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"Our plans must be left to chance, Angus. We came hither to +see whether any of the colonel's friends are still in the +regiment, and to learn from them whether they have any news +whatever of him; and secondly, whether they can tell us aught of +his mother."</p> + +<p>"Ay, there are six or eight officers still in the regiment who +served with him. Hume is our colonel now; you will remember him, +Malcolm, well, for he was captain of our troop; and Major +Macpherson was a captain too. Then there are Oliphant, and +Munroe, and Campbell, and Graham, all of whom were young +lieutenants in your time, and are now old captains of +troops."</p> + +<p>"I will see the colonel and Macpherson," Malcolm said; "if +they do not know, the younger men are not likely to. Will you go +along with us, Angus, and introduce me, though Hume is like +enough to remember me, seeing that I was so much with +Leslie?"</p> + +<p>"They will be dining in half an hour," the sergeant said; +"we'll go after they have done the meal. It's always a good time +to talk with men when they are full, and the colonel will have no +business to disturb him then. Our own dinner will be ready +directly; I can smell a goose that I picked up, as it might be by +accident, at the place where we halted last night. There are four +or five of us old soldiers who always mess together when we are +not on duty with our troops, and if I mistake not, you will know +every one of them, and right glad they will be to see you; but of +course I shall say no word as to who the lad is, save that he is +a friend of yours."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later four other sergeants dropped in, and there +was a joyful greeting between them and Malcolm as soon as they +recognized his identity. The meal was a jovial one, as old jokes +and old reminiscences were recalled. After an hour's sitting +Angus said:</p> + +<p>"Pass round the wine, lads, till we come back again. I am +taking Anderson to the colonel, who was captain of his troop. We +are not likely to be long, and when we come back we will make a +night of it in honour of old times, or I am mistaken."</p> + +<p>On leaving the cottage they waited for a while until they saw +the colonel and major rise from beside the fire round which, with +the other officers, they had been taking their meal, and walk to +the cottage which they shared between them. Angus went up and +saluted.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Graeme?" the colonel asked.</p> + +<p>"There's one here who would fain have a talk with you. It is +Malcolm Anderson, whom you may remember as puir Colonel Leslie's +servant, and as being in your own troop, and he has brought one +with him concerning whom he will speak to you himself."</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember Anderson," the colonel said. "He was +devoted to Leslie. Bring him in at once. What can have brought +him out here again after so many years? Been getting into some +trouble at home, I suppose? He was always in some scrape or other +when he was in the regiment, for, though he was a good soldier, +he was as wild and reckless a blade as any in the regiment. You +remember him, Macpherson?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember him well," the major said. "The colonel was +very fond of him, and regarded him almost as a brother."</p> + +<p>A minute later Angus ushered Malcolm and Ronald into the +presence of the two officers, who had now taken seats in the room +which served as kitchen and sitting room to the cottage, which +was much the largest in the village.</p> + +<p>"Well, Anderson, I am glad to see you again," Colonel Hume +said, rising and holding out his hand. "We have often spoken of +you since the day you disappeared, saying that you were going on +a mission for the colonel, and have wondered what the mission +was, and how it was that we never heard of you again."</p> + +<p>"I came over to Paris four years later, colonel, but the +regiment was away in Flanders, and as I found out from others +what I had come to learn, there was no use in my following you. +As to the colonel's mission, it was this;" and he put his hand on +Ronald's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, Anderson?" the colonel asked in +surprise.</p> + +<p>"This is Colonel Leslie's son, sir. He bade me fetch him +straight away from the folk with whom he was living and take him +off to Scotland so as to be out of reach of his foes, who would +doubtless have made even shorter work with him than they did with +the colonel."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" the colonel exclaimed; "this is news indeed. +So poor Leslie left a child and this is he! My lad," he said, +taking Ronald's hand, "believe me that anything that I can do for +you, whatever it be, shall be done, for the sake of your dear +father, whom I loved as an elder brother."</p> + +<p>"And I too," the major said. "There was not one of us but +would have fought to the death for Leslie. And now sit down, my +lad, while Anderson tells us your story."</p> + +<p>Malcolm began at the account of the charge which Colonel +Leslie had committed to him, and the manner in which he had +fulfilled it. He told them how he had placed the child in the +care of his brother, he himself having no fixed home of his own, +and how the lad had received a solid education, while he had seen +to his learning the use of his sword, so that he might be able to +follow his father's career. He then told them the episode of the +Jacobite agent, and the escape which had been effected in the +Thames.</p> + +<p>"You have done well, Anderson," the colonel said when he had +concluded; "and if ever Leslie should come to see his son he will +have cause to thank you, indeed, for the way in which you have +carried out the charge he committed to you, and he may well be +pleased at seeing him grown up such a manly young fellow. As to +Leslie himself, we know not whether he be alive or dead. Every +interest was made at the time to assuage his majesty's hostility, +but the influence of the Marquis of Recambours was too strong, +and the king at last peremptorily forbade Leslie's name being +mentioned before him. You see, although the girl's father was, of +course, at liberty to bestow her hand on whomsoever he pleased, +he had, with the toadyism of a courtier, asked the king's +approval of the match with Chateaurouge, which, as a matter of +course, he received. His majesty, therefore, chose to consider it +as a personal offence against himself that this Scottish soldier +of fortune should carry off one of the richest heiresses of +France, whose hand he had himself granted to one of his peers. At +the same rime I cannot but think that Leslie still lives, for had +he been dead we should assuredly have heard of the marriage of +his widow with some one else. The duke has, of course, long since +married, and report says that the pair are ill-matched; but +another husband would speedily have been found for the +widow."</p> + +<p>"Since the duke has married," Ronald said, "he should no +longer be so bitter against my father, and perhaps after so long +an imprisonment the king might be moved to grant his +release."</p> + +<p>"As the duke's marriage is an unhappy one, I fear that you +cannot count upon his hostility to your father being in any way +lessened, as he would all the more regret the interference with +his former plans."</p> + +<p>"Have you any idea where my mother is, sir?"</p> + +<p>"None," the colonel said. "But that I might find out for you. +I will give you a letter to the Count de Noyes, who is on +intimate terms with the Archbishop of Paris, who would, no doubt, +be able to tell him in which convent the lady is residing. You +must not be too sanguine, my poor boy, of seeing her, for it is +possible that she has already taken the veil. Indeed, if your +father has died, and she has still refused to accept any suitor +whom the marquis may have found for her, you may be sure that she +has been compelled to take the veil, as her estates would then +revert to the nearest kinsman. This may, for aught we know, have +happened years ago, without a word of it being bruited abroad, +and the affair only known to those most concerned. However, we +must look at the best side. We shall be able, doubtless, to learn +through the archbishop whether she is still merely detained in +the convent or has taken the veil, and you can then judge +accordingly whether your father is likely to be alive or dead. +But as to your obtaining an interview with your mother, I regard +it as impossible in the one case as the other.</p> + +<p>"At any rate it is of the highest importance that it should +not be known that you are in France. If it is proved that your +father is dead and your mother is secluded for life, we must then +introduce you to her family, and try and get them to bring all +their influence to bear to have you acknowledged openly as the +legitimate heir of the marquis, and to obtain for you the +succession to at least a portion of his estates -- say to that of +those which she brought him as her dowry. In this you may be sure +that I and every Scottish gentleman in the army will give you all +the aid and influence we can bring to bear."</p> + +<p>Ronald warmly thanked Colonel Hume for his kindness, and the +next day, having received the letter to the Count de Noyes, set +out for Paris with Malcolm. On his arrival there he lost no time +in calling upon the count, and presenting his letter of +introduction.</p> + +<p>The count read it through twice without speaking.</p> + +<p>"My friend Colonel Hume," he said at last, "tells me that you +are the son, born in lawful wedlock, of Colonel Leslie and Amelie +de Recambours. I am aware of the circumstances of the case, being +distantly related to the lady's family, and will do that which +Colonel Hume asks me, namely, discover the convent in which she +is living. But I warn you, young man, that your position here is +a dangerous one, and that were it known that Colonel Leslie's son +is alive and in France, I consider your life would not be worth a +day's purchase. When powerful people are interested in the +removal of anyone not favoured with powerful protection the +matter is easily arranged. There are hundreds of knives in Paris +whose use can be purchased for a few crowns, of if seclusion be +deemed better than removal, a king's favourite can always obtain +a lettre-de-cachet, and a man may linger a lifetime in prison +without a soul outside the walls knowing of his existence +there.</p> + +<p>"You are an obstacle to the plans of a great noble, and that +is in France a fatal offence. Your wisest course, young man, +would be to efface yourself, to get your friend Colonel Hume to +obtain for you a commission in his regiment, and to forget for +ever that you are the son of Colonel Leslie and Amelie de +Recambours. However, in that you will doubtless choose for +yourself; but believe me my advice is good. At any rate I will do +what my friend Colonel Hume asks me, and will obtain for you the +name of the convent where your mother is living. I do not see +that you will be any the better off when you have it, for +assuredly you will nor be able to obtain permission to see her. +However, that again is your affair. If you will give me the +address where you are staying in Paris I will write to you as +soon as I obtain the information. Do not be impatient, the +archbishop himself may be in ignorance on the point; but I doubt +not, that to oblige me, he will obtain the information from the +right quarter.</p> + +<p>A week later, Ronald, on returning one day to Le Soldat +Ecossais, found a note awaiting him. It contained only the +words:</p> + +<p>"She has not taken the veil; she is at the convent of Our Lady +at Tours."</p> + +<p>The next morning Ronald and Malcolm set out on their journey +to Tours.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_VI_The_Convent_of_Our_Lady_"></a>CHAPTER VI: The Convent +of Our Lady.</h1> + +<p>Arrived at Tours, Malcolm took a quiet lodging in a retired +street. Colonel Hume had furnished him with a regular discharge, +testifying that the bearer, Malcolm Anderson, had served his time +in the 2d Scotch Dragoons, and was now discharged as being past +service, and that he recommended him as a steady man for any +employment for which he might be suited. Malcolm showed this +document to his landlord in order that the latter might, as +required by law, duly give notice to the police of the name and +occupation of his lodger, and at the same time mentioned that the +relations of his wife lived near Tours, and that he hoped through +them to be able to obtain some sort of employment.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were settled in their lodgings they went out, +and after a few inquiries found themselves in front of the +convent of Our Lady. It was a massive building, in a narrow +street near the river, to which its grounds, surrounded by a high +wall, extended. None of the windows of the building looked +towards the street, upon which the massive gate, with a small +wicket entrance, opened.</p> + +<p>"What building is this?" Malcolm, in a careless tone, asked a +woman who was sitting knitting at her door nearly opposite the +entrance. "I am a stranger in Tours."</p> + +<p>"That needs no telling," the woman replied, "or you would have +known that that is the convent of Our Lady, one of the richest in +Touraine, and they say in all France. Though what they do with +their riches is more than I can tell, seeing that the rules are +of the strictest, and that no one ever comes beyond the gates. +They have their own grounds down to the river, and there is a +walk along the wall there where they take the air of an evening +when the weather is fine. Poor things, I pity them from my +soul."</p> + +<p>"But I suppose they all came willingly," Malcolm said; "so +there is no need for pity."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about willingly," the woman said. "I expect most +of them took the veil rather than marry the men their fathers +provided for them, or because they were in the way of someone who +wanted their lands, or because their lovers had been killed in +the war, just as if grief for a lover was going to last one's +life. Besides, they are not all sisters. They say there's many a +lady of good family shut up there till she will do her father's +will. 'Well, well,' I often says to myself, 'they may have all +the riches of France inside those walls, but I would rather sit +knitting at my door here than have a share of them.'"</p> + +<p>"You are a wise woman," Malcolm said. "There is nothing like +freedom. Give me a crust, and a sod for my pillow, rather than +gold plates inside a prison. I have been a soldier all my life, +and have had my share of hard knocks; but I never grumbled so +long as I was on a campaign, though I often found it dull work +enough when in garrison."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have been a soldier! I have a brother in the regiment +of Touraine. Perhaps you know him?"</p> + +<p>"I know the regiment of Touraine," Malcolm said; "and there +are no braver set of men in the king's service. What is his +name?"</p> + +<p>"Pierre Pitou. I have not heard of him for the last two years. +He is a tall man, and broad, with a scar over the left eye."</p> + +<p>"To be sure, to be sure!" Malcolm said. "Of course, Pierre +Pitou is one of my best friends; and now I think of it, madam, I +ought to know without asking, so great is his resemblance to you. +Why, his last words to me were, 'If you go to Tours, seek out my +sister, who lives in a house nearly opposite the entrance to the +convent of Our Lady;' and to think I should have forgotten all +about it till I saw you!"</p> + +<p>Malcolm remained for a quarter of an hour chatting with the +woman about her brother, and then, promising to call again the +next day in the evening to be introduced to her husband, he +rejoined Ronald, who had been waiting at the corner of the lane, +and had been fidgeting with impatience at the long interview +between Malcolm and the woman.</p> + +<p>"What have you been talking about all this time, Malcolm, and +what could you have to say to a stranger?"</p> + +<p>"I have been telling her all about her brother, Pierre Pitou +of the Touraine regiment, and how he distinguished himself at +Dettingen, and will surely be made a sergeant, with a hope some +day of getting to be a captain. I have quite won her heart."</p> + +<p>"But who is Pierre Pitou, and when did you know him?" Ronald +asked surprised.</p> + +<p>"He is a tall man with broad shoulders and a scar over his +left eye," Malcolm said laughing, and he then related the whole +conversation.</p> + +<p>"But why did you pretend to this poor woman that you knew her +brother?"</p> + +<p>"Because she may be very useful to us, Ronald; and if you +can't find a friend in court, it's just as well to have one near +court. She is a gossiping woman, and like enough she may know +some of the lay sisters, who are, in fact, the servants of the +convent, and come out to buy supplies of food and other things, +and who distribute the alms among the poor. I don't know what +advantage will come of it yet, Ronald; but I can see I have done +a great stroke of business, and feel quite an affection for my +friend Pierre Pitou."</p> + +<p>Malcolm followed up the acquaintance he had made, and soon +established himself as a friend of the family. Ronald did not +accompany him on any of his visits, for as the plan of proceeding +was still undecided, he and Malcolm agreed that it was better +that he should not show himself until some favourable opportunity +offered.</p> + +<p>Sometimes towards evening he and Malcolm would take a boat and +float down the stream past the convent walls, and Ronald would +wonder which of the figures whose heads he could perceive as they +walked upon the terrace, was that of his mother. It was not until +Malcolm had become quite at home with Madame Vipon that he again +turned the conversation towards the convent. He learned that she +had often been inside the walls, for before her marriage she had +worked at a farm whence the convent drew a portion of its +supplies; milk, butter, and eggs, and she had often carried +baskets to the convent.</p> + +<p>"Of course I never went beyond the outer court," she said; +"but Farmer Miron's daughter -- it was he owned the farm -- is a +lay sister there. She was crossed in love, poor girl. She liked +Andre, the son of a neighbouring farmer, but it was but a small +place by the side of that of Miron, and her father would not hear +of it, but wanted her to marry Jacques Dubois, the rich miller, +who was old enough to be her father. Andre went to the wars and +was killed; and instead of changing when the news came, as her +father expected, and taking up with the miller, she hated him +worse than ever, and said that he was the cause of Andre's death; +so the long and short of it was, she came as a lay sister to the +convent here. Of course she never thought of taking the vows, for +to do that here one must be noble and be able to pay a heavy +dowry to the convent.</p> + +<p>"So she is just a lay sister, a sort of servant, you know, but +she is a favourite and often goes to market for them, and when +she does she generally drops in here for a few minutes for a +talk; for though she was only a child when I was at the farm we +were great friends, and she hears from me how all the people she +used to know are getting on."</p> + +<p>"I suppose she knows all the ladies who reside in the convent +as well as the sisters?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, and much better than the sisters! It is on them she +waits. She does not see much of the sisters, who keep to their +own side of the house, and have very little to do with the +visitors, or as one might call them the prisoners, for that is +what most of them really are."</p> + +<p>"Now I think of it," Malcolm said, "one of the officers I +served under had a relation, a lady, whom I have heard him say, +when he was talking to another officer, is shut up here, either +because she wouldn't marry some one her father didn't want her +to, I forget exactly what it was now. Let me see, what was her +name. Elise -- no, that wasn't it. Amelie -- Amelie de Recambours +-- yes, that was it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know the name! I have heard Jeanne speak of her. +Jeanne said it was whispered among them that she had really +married somebody against her father's will. At any rate she has +been there ever so many years, and they have not made her take +the veil, as they do most of them if they are obstinate and won't +give way. Poor thing! Jeanne says she is very pretty still, +though she must be nearly forty now."</p> + +<p>"That is very interesting," Malcolm said; "and if you will not +mind, Madam Vipon, I will write to the officer of whom I spoke +and tell him his cousin is alive and well. I was his servant in +the regiment, and I know, from what I have heard him say, he was +very much attached to her. There can be no harm in that, you +know," he said, as Madam Vipon looked doubtful; "but if you would +prefer it, of course I will not say how I have heard."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that will be better," she agreed. "There is never any +saying how things come round; and though there's no harm in what +I have told you, still it's ill gossiping about what takes place +inside convent walls."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, my dear Madam Vipon, and admire your +discretion. It is singular how you take after your brother. +Pierre Pitou had the reputation of being the most discreet man in +the regiment of Touraine."</p> + +<p>Ronald was very excited when he heard from Malcolm that he had +actually obtained news at second hand as to his mother, and it +was with difficulty that his friend persuaded him to allow +matters to go on as he proposed.</p> + +<p>"It will never do to hurry things now, Ronald; everything is +turning out beyond our expectations. A fortnight ago it seemed +absolutely hopeless that you should communicate with your mother; +now things are in a good train for it."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Malcolm made no further allusion to the subject to +Madame Vipon until a fortnight had passed; then he said, on +calling on her one day:</p> + +<p>"Do you know, my dear Madam Vipon, I have had a letter from +the gentleman of whom I was speaking to you. He is full of +gratitude at the news I sent him. I did not tell him from whom I +had heard the news, save that it was from one of the kindest of +women, the sister of an old comrade of mine. He has sent me this" +-- and he took out a small box which he opened, and showed a +pretty gold broach, with earrings to match -- "and bid me to give +it in his name to the person who had sent him this good +news."</p> + +<p>"That is beautiful," Madam Vipon said, clapping her hands; +"and I have so often wished for a real gold broach! Won't my +husband open his eyes when he sees them!"</p> + +<p>"I think, if I might advise, my dear madam," Malcolm said, "I +should not give him the exact history of them. He might take it +into his head that you had been gossiping, although there is no +woman in the world less given to gossiping than you are. Still, +you know what husbands are. Therefore, if I were you I would tell +him that your brother Pierre had sent them to you through me, +knowing, you see, that you could not have read a letter even if +he could have written one."</p> + +<p>"Yes, perhaps that would be the best," Madam Vipon said; "but +you had better write to Pierre and tell him. Otherwise when he +comes home, and my husband thanks him for them, he might say he +had never sent them, and there would be a nice affair."</p> + +<p>"I will do so," Malcolm said; "but in any case I am sure your +wit would have come to the rescue, and you would have said that +you had in fact bought them from your savings; but that thinking +your husband might grumble at your little economies you had +thought it best to say that they came from your brother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, fie, monsieur; I am afraid you are teaching me to tell +stories."</p> + +<p>"That is a very hard word, my dear madam. You know as well as +I do that without a little management on both sides husbands and +wives would never get on well together; but now I want to tell +you more. Not only does my old master write to say how glad he is +to hear of his cousin's welfare, but he has told me a great deal +more about the poor lady, and knowing your kindness of heart I do +not hesitate to communicate the contents of his letter to you. +The Countess Amelie de Recambours was secretly married to a young +officer, a great friend of my late master, and her father did not +discover it until after the birth of a child -- a boy. Then she +was shut up here. The father got the boy safely away to Scotland, +but he has now come back to France. I do not suppose the poor +lady has ever heard of her little son since, and it would be an +act of kindness and mercy to let her know that he is alive and +well."</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, poor creature," Madame Vipon said +sympathetically. "Only to think of being separated from your +husband, and never hearing of your child for all these +years!"</p> + +<p>"I knew your tender heart would sympathize with her," Malcolm +said; "she is indeed to be pitied."</p> + +<p>"And what became of her husband?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy he died years ago; but my master says nothing about +him. He only writes of the boy, who it seems is so delighted with +the news about his mother that he is coming here to see if it is +possible to have an interview with her."</p> + +<p>"But it is not possible," Madam Vipon exclaimed. "How can he +see her, shut up as she is in that convent?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is difficult," Malcolm agreed; "but nothing is +impossible, my dear madam, when a woman of heart like yourself +takes a matter in hand; and I rely, I can tell you, greatly on +your counsel; as to your goodwill, I am assured of that +beforehand."</p> + +<p>"But it is quite, quite, quite impossible, I assure you, my +good Monsieur Anderson."</p> + +<p>"Well, let us see. Now I know that you would suggest that the +first measure to be taken is to open communication between mother +and son, and there I heartily agree with you."</p> + +<p>"That would be the first thing of course, monsieur; but how is +that to be done?"</p> + +<p>"Now that is where I look to you, madam. Your friend Jeanne +waits upon her, you see, and I know your quick wit will already +have perceived that Jeanne might deliver a message. I am sure +that she would never be your friend had she not a warm heart like +your own, and it will need very little persuasion on your part, +when you have told her this sad story, to induce her to bring +gladness to this unfortunate lady."</p> + +<p>"Yes; but think of the consequences, Monsieur Anderson: think +what would happen if it were found out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if there were any talk of the countess running away from +the convent I would not on any condition ask you to assist in +such a matter; but what is this -- merely to give a message, a +few harmless words."</p> + +<p>"But you said an interview, Monsieur Anderson."</p> + +<p>"An interview only if it is possible, my dear madam, that is +quite another matter, and you know you said that it was quite +impossible. All that we want now is just a little message, a +message by word of mouth which not even the keenest eye can +discover or prevent; there can be no harm in that."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think there can be much harm in that," Madam +Vipon agreed; "at any rate I will talk to Jeanne. It will be her +day for going to market tomorrow; I will tell her the story of +the poor lady, and I think I can answer beforehand that she will +do everything she can."</p> + +<p>The following afternoon Malcolm again saw Madam Vipon, who +told him that although she had not actually promised she had no +doubt Jeanne would deliver the message.</p> + +<p>"She will be out again on Saturday, monsieur, at nine in the +morning, and if you will be here with the boy, if he has arrived +by that time, you shall speak to her."</p> + +<p>At the time appointed Malcolm, with Ronald, attired now as a +young French gentleman, arrived at the house of Madam Vipon, who +was warmly thanked by Ronald for the interest she had taken in +him.</p> + +<p>"My friend here has spoken to me in the highest terms of you, +Madam Vipon, and I am sure that all that he has said is no more +than the truth."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I will do all I can," replied Madam Vipon, who was +greatly taken by Ronald's appearance and manner; "it's a cruel +thing separating a mother from a son so many years, and after all +what I am doing is no hanging matter anyway."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Jeanne entered; she was a pleasant looking +woman of five or six and twenty, and even her sombre attire as a +lay sister failed to give a formal look to her merry face.</p> + +<p>"So these are the gentlemen who want me to become a +conspirator," she said, "and to run the risk of all sorts of +punishment and penalties for meddling in their business?"</p> + +<p>"Not so much my business as the business of my mother," Ronald +said. "You who have such true heart of your own, for madam has +told us something of your story, will, I am sure, feel for that +poor lady shut up for fifteen years, and knowing not whether her +child is dead or alive. If we could but see each other for five +minutes, think what joy it would be to her, what courage her poor +heart would take."</p> + +<p>"See each other!" Jeanne repeated surprised. "You said nothing +about that, Francoise; you only said take a message. How can they +possibly see each other? That's a different thing +altogether."</p> + +<p>"I want you to take a message first," Ronald said. "If nothing +more can be done that will be very much; but I cannot think but +that you and my mother between you will be able to hit upon some +plan by which we might meet."</p> + +<p>"But how," Jeanne asked in perplexity, "how could it possibly +be?"</p> + +<p>"For example," Ronald suggested; "could I not come in as a lay +sister? I am not much taller than you, and could pass very well +as a girl."</p> + +<p>Jeanne burst our laughing.</p> + +<p>"You do not know what you are saying, monsieur; it would be +altogether impossible. People do not get taken on as lay sisters +in the convent of Our Lady unless they are known; besides, in +other ways it would be altogether impossible, and even if it were +not it might be years before you could get to speak to the +countess, for there are only two or three of us who ever enter +the visitors' rooms; and lastly, if you were found out I don't +know what would be done to both of us. No, that would never do at +all."</p> + +<p>"Well, in the next place, I could climb on to the river +terrace at night, and perhaps she could come and speak to me +there."</p> + +<p>"That is more possible," Jeanne said thoughtfully; "but all +the doors are locked up at night."</p> + +<p>"But she might get out of a window," Ronald urged; "with a +rope ladder she could get down, and then return again, and none +be the wiser."</p> + +<p>Jeanne sat silent for a minute, and then she asked +suddenly:</p> + +<p>"Are you telling me all, monsieur, or are you intending that +the countess shall escape with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, on my honour!" Ronald exclaimed. "I have nowhere +where I could take my mother. She would be pursued and brought +back, and her position would be far worse than it is now. No; I +swear to you that I only want to see her and to speak to her, and +I have nothing else whatever in my mind."</p> + +<p>"I believe you, monsieur," Jeanne said gravely. "Had it been +otherwise I dare not have helped, for my punishment if I was +discovered to have aided in an escape from the convent would be +terrible -- terrible!" she repeated with a shudder. "As to the +other, I will risk it; for a gentler and kinder lady I have never +met. And yet I am sure she must be very, very brave to have +remained firm for so many years. At any rate I will give her your +message."</p> + +<p>Ronald took from a small leather bag, which he wore round his +neck, a tiny gold chain with a little cross.</p> + +<p>"I had this round my neck when I was taken away as a child to +Scotland. No doubt she put it there, and will recognize it. Say +to her only: 'He whom you have not seen since he was an infant is +in Tours, longing above all things to speak to you;' that is all +my message. Afterwards, if you will, you can tell her what we +have said, and how I long to see her. How high is her room from +the ground? Because if it is high it will be better that I should +climb to her window, than that she should descend and ascend +again."</p> + +<p>Jeanne shook her head.</p> + +<p>"That could not be," she said. "The visitors have all separate +cells, but the partitions do not go up to the ceiling; and even +if you entered, not a word could be spoken without being +overheard. But fortunately she is on the first floor, and I am +sure she is not one to shrink from so little a matter as the +descent of a ladder in order to have an interview with her +son."</p> + +<p>That same afternoon as Amelie de Recambours was proceeding +from the refectory to her cell, following several of her fellow +captives, her attendant Jeanne came out from one of the cells. +Glancing behind to see that no one was following, she put her +finger on her lips and then whispered: "Make some excuse not to +go into the garden with the others this evening. It is most +important." Then she glided back into the room from which she had +come.</p> + +<p>The countess followed the others in a state of almost +bewilderment. For sixteen years nothing had occurred to break the +monotony of her existence. At first occasional angry messages +reached her from her father, with orders to join an application +to the pope for a divorce; but when it had been found impossible +to overcome her steady refusals the messages had at last ceased, +and for years no word from the outer world had reached her, +although she had learned from those who from time to time came to +share her captivity what was passing outside. Whether her husband +was alive or dead she knew not. They had told her over and over +again that he was dead; but the fact that she had never had the +option given her of accepting another husband or taking the final +vows kept hope alive. For she was convinced that if he was really +dead, efforts would be made to compel her to marry again.</p> + +<p>What, then, she wondered to herself, could this communication +so secretly given mean? She regarded the lay sister who attended +upon her as a happy looking young woman whose face was in strong +contrast to most of those within the walls of the convent; but +she had exchanged but few words with her, knowing that she would +be but a short time about her. For the policy of the abbess was +to change the attendants upon the ladies in their charge +frequently, in order to prevent them from being tampered with, or +persuaded into conveying communications without the walls.</p> + +<p>"You look pale, Amelie," one of the other ladies said as they +gathered in a group for a moment before proceeding to their +respective apartments, where they were supposed to pass the +afternoon in working, reading, and meditation.</p> + +<p>"It is the heat," the countess said. "I have a headache."</p> + +<p>"You look it," the latter said. "It is not often that you have +anything the matter with you. You know we all say that you must +have a constitution of iron and the courage of a Roland to be +sixteen years here and yet to have no wrinkle on your forehead, +no marks of weeping round your eyes."</p> + +<p>The countess smiled sadly.</p> + +<p>"I wept the first six months almost without ceasing, and then +I told myself that if I would be strong and resist I must weep no +more. If a bird in a cage once takes to pining he is sure not to +live long. There are few of us here the news of whose death would +not give pleasure to those who shut us up, and I for one resolved +that I would live in spite of all."</p> + +<p>"Well, you must not get ill now, Amelie. We should miss you +terribly in the one hour of the day when we really live, the hour +when we walk and talk, and laugh if we can, on the river +terrace.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I shall be able to come this evening," the +countess said. "I shall lie down and keep myself quiet. Tomorrow +I hope to be myself again. It is a mere passing +indisposition."</p> + +<p>The hours passed slowly as Amelie lay on her couch and +wondered over the coming interview. There were so many things +which she might hear -- that her father was dead; that her family +had hopes at last of obtaining her restoration to the world. That +it could be a message from her husband she had no hope, for so +long as her father lived she was sure that his release would +never be granted. As to the child, she scarce gave it a thought. +That it had somehow been removed and had escaped the search that +had been made for it she was aware; for attempts had been made to +obtain from her some clue as to where it would most likely have +been taken. She was convinced that it had never been found, for +if it had she would have heard of it. It would have been used as +a lever to work upon her.</p> + +<p>At last the hour when she was accustomed to go into the garden +arrived, and as the convent bell struck seven she heard the doors +of the other cells open, the sound of feet in the corridor, and +then all became still. In a few minutes a step approached, and +one of the sisters entered to inquire why she was not in the +garden with the others.</p> + +<p>She repeated that her head ached.</p> + +<p>"You look pale," the sister said, "and your hand is hot and +feverish. I will send you up some tisane. It is the heat, no +doubt. I think that we are going to have thunder."</p> + +<p>In a few minutes a step was again heard approaching, and +Jeanne entered with the medicament. As she closed the door the +countess started into a sitting position.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Jeanne? What is it that you have to say to +me?"</p> + +<p>"Calm yourself, I pray you, countess," Jeanne said. "For both +our sakes I pray you to hear what I have to say calmly. I expect +Sister Felicia will be here directly. When she heard you were +unwell she said she would come up and see what you needed. And +now, I will begin my message. In the first place I was to hand +you this." And she placed in Amelie's hand the little necklet and +cross.</p> + +<p>For a moment the countess looked at them wonderingly, and then +there flashed across her memory a sturdy child in its nurse's +arms, and a tall man looking on with a loving smile as she +fastened a tiny gold chain round the child's neck. A low cry +burst from her lips as she started to her feet.</p> + +<p>"Hush, lady, hush!" Jeanne exclaimed. "This is my message: 'He +whom you have not seen since he was an infant is in Tours, +longing above all things to speak to you.'"</p> + +<p>"My child! my child!" the countess cried. "Alive and here! My +God, I thank thee that thou hast remembered a friendless mother +at last. Have you seen him, Jeanne? What is he like? Oh, tell me +everything!"</p> + +<p>"He is a right proper young gentleman, madam. Straight and +comely and tall, with brown waving hair and a bright pleasant +face. A son such as any mother might be proud of."</p> + +<p>The countess suddenly threw her arms around Jeanne's neck and +burst into tears.</p> + +<p>"You have made me so happy, Jeanne; happy as I never thought +to be again. How can I thank you?"</p> + +<p>"The best way at present, madam," Jeanne said with a smile, +"will be by drinking up that tisane, and lying down quietly. +Sister Felicia moves about as noiselessly as a cat, and she may +pop in at any moment. Do you lie down again, and I will stand a +little way off talking. Then if she comes upon us suddenly she +will suspect nothing."</p> + +<p>The countess seized the bowl of tisane and drank it off, and +then threw herself on the couch.</p> + +<p>"Go on, Jeanne, go on. Have pity on my impatience. Think how I +am longing to hear of him. Did the message say he was longing to +see me? But that is not possible."</p> + +<p>"It is not quite impossible, madam; though it would be +dangerous, very dangerous. Still it is not quite impossible."</p> + +<p>"How then could it be done, Jeanne? You know what our life is +here. How can I possibly see my boy?"</p> + +<p>"What he proposes, madam, is this: that he should some night +scale the river wall, and await you on the terrace, and that you +should descend from your window by a rope ladder, and so return +after seeing him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, that is possible!" the countess exclaimed; "I could +knot my bed clothes and slide down. It matters not about getting +back again, since we have no ladder."</p> + +<p>"I can manage to bring in two light ropes," Jeanne said. "It +would not do for you to be found in the garden, for it would +excite suspicion, and you would never have a chance of doing it +again. But it is not an easy thing to climb up a rope ladder with +no one to help you, and you know I shall be at the other end of +the house."</p> + +<p>"That is nothing," the countess said. "Had I to climb ten +times the height, do you think I should hesitate for a moment +when it was to see my son? Oh, Jeanne, how good you are! And when +will it be?"</p> + +<p>"I will bring in the ropes next time I go out. Mind and place +them in your bed. You will know that that night at eleven o'clock +your son will be on the terrace awaiting you.</p> + +<p>As Jeanne finished speaking she placed her finger on her lips, +for she thought she heard a slight noise without. The countess +closed her eyes and then lay down on her pillow, while Jeanne +stood as if watching her. The next instant the door opened +noiselessly and Sister Felicia entered. She moved with a +noiseless step up to Jeanne.</p> + +<p>"Is she asleep?" she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Oh no!" Jeanne answered in a louder voice, guessing that the +sister would have heard the murmur of voices. "She has only just +closed her eyes."</p> + +<p>The countess looked up.</p> + +<p>"Ah! is it you, sister? I have taken the tisane Sister Angela +sent up, but my hands are burning and my head aches. The heat in +chapel was so great I thought I should have fainted."</p> + +<p>"Your hands are indeed burning," the sister said, convinced, +as soon as she touched them, that the countess was really +indisposed. "Yes; and your pulse is beating quicker than I can +count. Yes, you have a touch of fever. I will mix you a draught +and bring it up to you at once. Hark! that is the first peal of +thunder; we are going to have a storm. It will clear the air, and +do you even more good than my medicine. I will leave you here for +tonight; if you are not better tomorrow we will move you into the +infirmary."</p> + +<p>The next morning Sister Felicia found her patient much better, +though she still seemed languid and weak, and was ordered to +remain quietly in her apartment for a day or so, which was just +what she desired, for she was so filled with her new born +happiness that she feared that if she went about her daily tasks +as usual she should not be able to conceal from the sharp eyes of +the sisters the joyousness which was brimming over in her, while +had she laughed she would have astonished the inmates of the +gloomy convent.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_VII_Mother_"></a>CHAPTER VII: +Mother!</h1> + +<p>When Jeanne, after accomplishing her errands the next time she +went out, entered Madam Vipon's, she found Ronald and Malcolm +awaiting her.</p> + +<p>"You have told my mother?" the former asked eagerly as she +entered.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have told her, and if I had been an angel from heaven, +with a special message to her, the poor lady could not have +looked more happy."</p> + +<p>"And you have been like an angel to us!" Ronald exclaimed, +taking her hand. "How can I thank you for your goodness?"</p> + +<p>"For shame, sir!" Jeanne said, smiling and colouring as +Ronald, in his delight, threw his arms round her and kissed her. +"Remember I am a lay sister."</p> + +<p>"I could not have helped it," Ronald said, "if you had been +the lady superior. And now," he went on eagerly, "is all +arranged? See, I have brought a ladder of silk rope, light and +thin, but quite strong enough to bear her."</p> + +<p>"You take all for granted then, sir. You know I said I would +take your message, but that I would not engage to meddle further +in it."</p> + +<p>"I know you said so; but I was sure that having gone so far +you would do the rest. You will, won't you, Jeanne?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose I must," Jeanne said; "for what with the countess +on one side and you on the other, I should get no peace if I said +no. Well, then, it is all arranged. At eleven o'clock tonight you +are to be on the terrace, and you can expect her there. If she +does not come you will know that something has occurred to +prevent her, and she will come the following night at the same +hour."</p> + +<p>Jeanne took the silken cords and wound them round her, under +her lay sister's robe, and then, with a kindly nod at Ronald, and +an injunction to be as noiseless as a mouse in climbing up the +terrace, and above all not to raise his voice in speaking to his +mother, she tripped away across the street to the convent.</p> + +<p>Malcolm and Ronald sallied out from Tours before the city +gates were closed at sunset, and sat down on the slope which +rises from the other side of the river and waited till it was +time to carry the plan into operation. Gradually the lights +disappeared from the various windows and the sounds which came +across the water ceased, and by ten o'clock everything was +profoundly still. They had, in the course of the afternoon, hired +a boat, saying they were going out for a night's fishing. This +they had moored a short distance below the town, on the side of +the river where they now were. They now made their way to it and +rowed quietly across the stream; then they left it and waded +through the water, which flowed knee deep at the foot of the +walls.</p> + +<p>Although Tours was still a walled town the habit of keeping +sentry in time of peace had long since died out, and they had no +fear, at that hour, of discovery. There was no moon, but the +night was bright and clear, and they had no difficulty in finding +that part of the wall which now formed the terrace of the +convent.</p> + +<p>They were provided with a rope knotted at every foot, and with +a grapnel attached to one end. At the second attempt this caught +on the parapet of the wall, and Ronald at once climbed it and +stood on the terrace, where, a minute later, he was joined by +Malcolm. The convent itself could not be seen, for a screen of +trees at the foot of the wall shut it off from the view of people +on the opposite bank of the river. They waited quietly until a +sudden peal of the bells of the numerous churches announced that +it was the hour. Then they moved towards the steps leading down +into the garden. A minute later a figure was seen approaching. +Malcolm fell back, and Ronald advanced towards it. As the +countess approached she held our her arms, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"My boy, my boy!" and with a cry of "Mother!" Ronald sprang +forward into her embrace.</p> + +<p>For a short time not a word was spoken, and then the countess +murmured:</p> + +<p>"My God, I thank thee for this great happiness. And now, my +son," she said, recovering herself, "tell me everything. First, +have you news of your father?"</p> + +<p>"Alas, no!" Ronald said. "Nothing has been heard of him since +the fatal day when he was seized; but I am convinced that he is +still alive, and since I have found you, surely I shall be able +to find him."</p> + +<p>"Who is that with you, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"That is Malcolm Anderson; it is to him I owe everything. He +carried me off and took me away with him to Scotland the day my +father was arrested. He has been my best friend ever since, and +it is he who brought me here to you."</p> + +<p>The countess advanced to Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"My son has told me that we owe everything to you, my brave +Malcolm!" she said, holding out her hand. "I guessed that it was +to you that my husband had confided the care of the child when I +learned that it had disappeared. I remember what confidence he +had in your devotion, and how he confided everything to you."</p> + +<p>"He was like a brother to me, madam," Malcolm replied; "and +glad indeed am I that I have been able to befriend his son and to +bring him back to you a gentleman who will be an honour even to +his father's name and yours."</p> + +<p>"And now let us sit down here," the countess said, taking a +seat upon a bench. "It gets light very early, and you must not +stay after two o'clock, and there is so much for me to hear."</p> + +<p>For the next two hours Ronald sat holding his mother's hand, +while he told her the story of his life. "And now, mother," he +said, when he had concluded, "we have but an hour left, for it +has just struck one, and we have not said a word yet about the +principal thing of all. How are we to obtain your freedom? Cannot +you arrange to escape with us? I do not, of course, mean tonight, +for we have nothing prepared, and, moreover, I promised Jeanne +that there should be no attempt at escape; but we can come again +when everything is ready. We shall, of course, need a disguise +for you, for there will be a hot pursuit when your escape is +known. But we might manage to reach the coast and cross over to +England, and so make our way north."</p> + +<p>"No, my son," the countess said. "I have thought it over in +every way since I knew you were here, and I am resolved to remain +here. Were I to fly, the last hope that your father might be +freed would be lost. My father would be more than ever incensed +against him and me; and, moreover, although that is but a minor +consideration, there would be no hope whatever of your ever +recovering the rank and estate to which you are entitled. No, I +am resolved to wait here, at any rate so long as my father lives. +At his death doubtless there will be some change, for as heiress +to his estates my existence must be in some way recognized, and +my family may be enabled to obtain my release when his powerful +opposition is removed; if not, it will be time to take the idea +of flight into consideration; till then I remain here. Now that I +have seen you, now that I know you as you are, for I can just +make out your face by the light of the stars, I shall be as near +contentment and happiness as I can be till I meet your father +again. In the meantime your good friend here can advise you far +better than I can as to what your course had better be. If you +can obtain any high influence, use it for obtaining your father's +release. If it be accompanied by a sentence of exile from France +it matters not, so that he is freed. You can then return here, +and I will gladly fly with you to join him in Scotland."</p> + +<p>Malcolm now rose from his seat and left mother and son half an +hour together. When two o'clock struck he returned to them.</p> + +<p>"There is the signal," the countess said, rising, "and now we +must part." She had already refused to accede to Ronald's +entreaty that she would meet him there again.</p> + +<p>"No, my son, we have been permitted to meet this once, but we +must not tempt fortune again. Sooner or later something would be +sure to occur which would lead to discovery, and bring ruin upon +all our plans. It is hard to say no, and to refuse the chance of +seeing you again now that we have come together, but I am fully +resolved that I will not risk it."</p> + +<p>"We will see you safe up the ladder, mother," Ronald said. "It +is no easy matter to climb up a rope ladder swinging +loosely."</p> + +<p>"No, I discovered that in descending," the countess said; "but +if you come with me you must take off your boots -- the print of +a man's footstep in the garden would ruin us all; and mind, not a +word must be spoken when we have once left the terrace."</p> + +<p>Taking off their boots they accompanied her through the +garden. There was a last passionate embrace at the foot of the +ladder, then the countess mounted it while they held it steady. +Directly she entered the window she undid the fastening of the +rope inside and let the ladder drop down to them. Five minutes +later Ronald descended the rope into the river. Malcolm shifted +the grapnel so that it caught only on the edge of the parapet and +could be shaken off from below when the strain on the rope was +removed, then he slid down to Ronald's side. A sharp jerk brought +down the grapnel, and they returned along the edge of the river +as they had come, crossed in the boat, and waited for +morning.</p> + +<p>They waited two days longer in Tours in order that they might +receive, through Jeanne from the countess, a list of the noble +families to which she was related, with notes as to those persons +of whom she had seen most before her marriage, and who she +believed would be most disposed to exert their influence on her +behalf.</p> + +<p>"Jeanne," Ronald said, "I am troubled that I do not know what +I can do to show you how grateful I am. I should so like to give +you some souvenir, but what can I do -- you could not wear +brooches, or earrings, or trinkets."</p> + +<p>"That I could not, monsieur," Jeanne broke in with a smile; +"and if I could I would not accept them from you. I have done +what I have done because I pitied your mother and you, and I am +content that if I have broken the rules I have done it with a +good purpose."</p> + +<p>"Well, Jeanne," Ronald said, "you may not be a lay sister all +your life; you have taken no vows that will bind you for ever, +and I have no doubt that the lady superior can absolve you from +your engagements should you at any time wish to go back to the +world; if so, and if I am still in France, I will come to dance +at your wedding, and will promise you as pretty a necklace and +earrings as are to be found in Touraine."</p> + +<p>"Very well, that is a bargain," Jeanne said laughing; "and it +is not impossible, young sir, that some day I may hold you to +your promise, for only last market day I met my father, and he +spoke more kindly to me than he used to, and even said that he +missed me; and I hear that the miller has found someone who will +put up with him for the sake of his money. I shouldn't be +surprised if, when that comes off, father wants me home again; +but I sha'n't go directly he asks me, you may be sure, but shall +bargain that if there be again any question of a husband it will +be for me to decide and not him."</p> + +<p>The next day Ronald and his companion started for Paris. They +were highly gratified with the success which had attended them, +and Ronald felt his whole life brightened now that he had found +the mother who had been so long lost to him. On arriving at Paris +they found that Colonel Hume's regiment had returned to the +capital. It was not expected that there would at present be any +further fighting on the frontier, and two or three of the Scotch +regiments had been brought back. Ronald at once called on Colonel +Hume and related to him the success which had attended the first +portion of his undertaking.</p> + +<p>"I congratulate you indeed," Colonel Hume said. "I own that I +thought your enterprise was a hopeless one, for it seemed to me +impossible that you should be able to obtain an interview with a +lady closely imprisoned in a convent. Why, Anderson, it is plain +now that your talents have been lost, and that you ought to have +been a diplomatist instead of wasting your time as a soldier. The +way you carried out your plan was indeed admirable, and I shall +really begin to think that Ronald will yet succeed; and now, my +young friend, what do you mean to do next?"</p> + +<p>"Would it be possible, sir, to ascertain where my father is +confined?"</p> + +<p>"I think not, my lad," the colonel said gravely. "In addition +to the four or five prisons in Paris there are a score of others +in different parts of France. The names of the prisoners in each +are known only to the governors; to all others within the walls +they exist as numbers only. The governors themselves are sworn to +secrecy, and even if we could get at one or two of them, which +would be difficult enough, we could hope for no more. Nor would +it be much satisfaction to you merely to know in which prison +your father is lying, for it is a very different matter to +communicate with a prisoner in one of the royal fortresses to +passing a message to a lady detained in a convent. I can see +nothing for you but to follow the example of your mother and to +practise patience, so conducting yourself as to gain friends and +make a name and influence, so that at your grandfather's death we +may bring as strong a pressure as possible to bear upon the +king."</p> + +<p>"How old is my grandfather?" Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"He is a man about sixty."</p> + +<p>"Why, he may live twenty years yet!" Ronald exclaimed +bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Do not look at the worst side of the question," Colonel Hume +replied with a smile. "But he may live some years," he went on +more gravely, "and in the meantime you must think what you had +better do. I will tell you as a great secret, that it has been +finally resolved that an expedition shall sail this winter for +Scotland, and fifteen thousand troops will assemble at Dunkirk +under Marshal Saxe. Nothing could be more opportune. We are to +form part of the expedition, with several other Scottish +regiments. You are too young as yet for me to ask for a +commission for you, but if you like I will enroll you as a +gentleman volunteer; in this way you may have an opportunity of +distinguishing yourself. I will introduce you to the Chevalier, +and it may be that if he succeeds in gaining the crown of +Scotland, if not of England, he will himself ask King Louis as a +personal favour to release and restore to him Colonel Leslie of +Glenlyon, who fought bravely with him in '15. If the expedition +fails, and we get back alive to France, I will then obtain for +you a commission in the regiment, and we can carry out our plan +as we arranged. What do you say to that?"</p> + +<p>"I thank you greatly, sir, and accept your offer most +gratefully. I see that I am powerless to do anything for my +father now, and your plan gives at least a prospect of success. +In any case nothing will give me so much delight as to serve with +the regiment he formerly commanded, and under so kind a friend as +yourself."</p> + +<p>"That is settled then," Colonel Hume said; "and now about +outfit. A gentleman volunteer wears the uniform of the officers +of the regiment, and indeed is one in all respects except that he +draws no pay. My purse will be at your disposal. Do not show any +false modesty, my lad, about accepting help from me. Your father +would have shared his last penny with me had I needed it."</p> + +<p>"I thank you heartily, colonel, for your offer, and should it +be necessary I will avail myself of it, but at present I have +ample funds. Malcolm carried off with me a bag with a hundred +louis, and up to the day when I landed in France these had never +been touched. I have eighty of them still remaining, which will +provide my outfit and my maintenance for a long time to +come."</p> + +<p>"There is another advantage in your being a volunteer, rather +than on the list of officers, Ronald; in that if it is necessary +at any time, you can, after a word with me, lay aside your +uniform and go about your affairs as long as you choose without +question, which would be hard to do if you belonged regularly to +the regiment."</p> + +<p>At the end of a week Ronald had procured his uniform, and was +presented by the colonel to the officers of the regiment as +Ronald Leslie, the son of an old friend of his, who was joining +the regiment as a gentleman volunteer. Malcolm joined only in the +capacity of Ronald's servant. It was painful to the lad that his +old friend and protector should assume such a relation towards +him, but Malcolm laughed at his scruples.</p> + +<p>"My dear Ronald," he said, "I was your father's servant, and +yet his friend. Why should I not act in the same capacity to you? +As to the duties, they are so light that, now I do not belong to +the regiment, my only difficulty will be to kill time. There is +nothing to do save to polish up your arms and your equipment. +Your horse will be looked after by a trooper so long as you are +with the regiment. I shall call you in the morning, get your cup +of chocolate, and prepare your dinner when you do not dine +abroad, carry your messages when you have any messages to send, +and escort you when you go about any business in which it is +possible that a second sword would be of use to you. As I have +said, the only trouble will be to know what to do with myself +when you do not want me."</p> + +<p>It was now the end of August, and for the next four months +Ronald worked hard at drill. He soon became a general favourite +with the officers. The fact that his name was Leslie, and that he +was accompanied by Malcolm, who was known to many of the old +soldiers as being devoted to their former colonel and as having +in some strange way disappeared from the regiment at the same +time, gave ground to a general surmise that Leslie was the +colonel's son.</p> + +<p>Malcolm himself, when questioned, neither denied nor +acknowledged the fact, but turned it off with a joke and a laugh. +He was soon as much at home in his old regiment as if he formed a +part in it, and when not required by Ronald passed the greater +part of his time with his former comrades. As was natural, the +opinion entertained by the men as to Leslie's identity was shared +by the officers. The avoidance by Ronald of any allusion to his +family, his declining when he first came among them to say to +which branch of the Leslies he belonged, and the decided manner +in which Colonel Hume, the first time the question was broached +in his hearing in Ronald's absence, said that he begged no +inquiries would be made on that score; all he could assure them +was that Leslie's father was a gentleman of good family, and a +personal friend of his own -- put a stop to all further +questioning, but strengthened the idea that had got abroad that +the young volunteer was the son of Colonel Leslie.</p> + +<p>Early in January the 2d Scottish Dragoons marched for Dunkirk, +where twenty thousand men assembled, while a large number of men +of war and transports were gathered in the port. One day, when +Ronald was walking in the street with Malcolm at his heels, the +latter stepped up to him and touched him.</p> + +<p>"Do you see that officer in the uniform of a colonel of the +Black Musketeers, in that group at the opposite corner; look at +him well, for he is your father's greatest enemy, and would be +yours if he knew who you are; that is the Duke de +Chateaurouge."</p> + +<p>Ronald gazed at the man who had exercised so evil an influence +upon the fate of his parents. He was a tall dark man with a +pointed moustache, and of from forty to forty-five years of age. +His features were regular and handsome; but in his thin straight +eyebrows, the curl of his lips, and a certain supercilious +drooping of the eyelids, Ronald read the evil passions which +rendered him so dangerous and implacable an enemy.</p> + +<p>"So that is the duke!" Ronald said when he had passed on. "I +did not know he was a soldier."</p> + +<p>"He is an honorary colonel of the regiment, and only does duty +when it is called on active service; but he served in it for some +years as a young man, and had the reputation of being a good +soldier, though I know that he was considered a harsh and +unfeeling officer by the men who served under him. That is the +man, Ronald, and if you could get six inches of your sword +between his ribs it would go a good long way towards obtaining +your father's release; but I warn you he is said to be one of the +best swordsmen in France."</p> + +<p>"I care not how good a swordsmen he is," Ronald said hotly, +"if I do but get a fair chance."</p> + +<p>"Don't do anything rash, Ronald; I have no fear about your +swordsmanship, for I know in the last four months you have +practised hard, and that Francois says that young as you are you +could give a point to any officer in the regiment. But at present +it were madness to quarrel with the duke; you have everything to +lose and nothing to gain. If he killed you there would be an end +of you and your plans; if you killed him you would have to fly +the country, for a court favourite is not to be slain with as +much impunity as a bourgeois, and equally would there be an end +of all hope of obtaining your father's release.</p> + +<p>"No, for the present you must be content to bide your time. +Still it is as well for you to know your foe when you see him, +and in the meantime go on frequenting the various schools of arms +and learn every trick of the sword that is to be taught. Look!" +he went on, as a group of mounted officers rode down the street; +"that is Marshal Saxe, one of the best soldiers in France, if not +the best, and just as wild and reckless in private life as he is +calm and prudent as a general."</p> + +<p>Ronald looked with some surprise at the great general. He had +expected to see a dashing soldier. He saw a man who looked worn +and bent with disease, and as if scarce strong enough to sit on +his horse; but there was still a fire in his eye, and as he +uttered a joke to an officer riding next to him and joined +merrily in the laugh, it was evident that his spirit was +untouched by the disease which had made a wreck of his body.</p> + +<p>A few days later a messenger arrived with the news that the +French fleet from Brest had sailed, and had met the English fleet +which had gone off in pursuit of it, and the coast of Kent was in +consequence unguarded. Orders were instantly given that the +troops should embark on board the transports, and as fast as +these were filled they set sail. The embarkation of the cavalry +naturally took longer time than that of the infantry, and before +the Scottish Dragoons had got their horses on board a portion of +the fleet was already out of sight.</p> + +<p>"Was there ever such luck!" Malcolm exclaimed, after assisting +in getting the horses on board, a by no means easy task, as the +vessel was rolling heavily at her mooring. "The wind is rising +every moment, and blowing straight into the harbour; unless I +mistake not, there will be no sailing tonight."</p> + +<p>This was soon evident to all. Signals were made from ship to +ship, fresh anchors were let down, and the topmast housed. By +midnight it was blowing a tremendous gale, which continued for +three days. Several of the transports dragged their anchors and +were washed ashore, and messages arrived from different parts of +the coast telling of the wreck of many of those which had sailed +before the storm set in.</p> + +<p>The portion of the fleet which had sailed had indeed been +utterly dispersed by the gale. Many ships were lost, and the +rest, shattered and dismantled, arrived at intervals at the +various French ports. The blow was too heavy to be repaired. The +English fleet had again returned to the coast, and were on the +lookout to intercept the expedition, and as this was now reduced +to a little more than half of its original strength no surprise +was felt when the plan was abandoned altogether.</p> + +<p>Marshal Saxe with a portion of the troops marched to join the +army in Flanders, and the Scotch Dragoons were ordered to return +to Paris for the present.</p> + +<p>For a year Ronald remained with the regiment in Paris. He had +during that time been introduced by Colonel Hume to several +members of his mother's family. By some of these who had known +her before her marriage he was kindly received; but all told him +that it would be hopeless to make any efforts for the release of +his father as long as the Marquis de Recambours remained alive +and high in favour at court, and that any movement in that +direction would be likely to do harm rather than good. Some of +the others clearly intimated to him that they considered that the +countess had, by making a secret marriage and defying her +father's authority, forfeited all right to the assistance or +sympathy of her mother's family.</p> + +<p>Twice Ronald travelled to Tours and sent messages to his +mother through Jeanne, and received answers from the countess. +She had, however, refused to meet him again on the terrace, +saying that in spite of the love she had for him, and her desire +to see him again, she was firmly resolved not to run the risk of +danger to him and the failure of all their hopes, by any rash +step.</p> + +<p>At the end of the summer campaign in Flanders Marshal Saxe +returned to Paris, and Colonel Hume one day took Ronald and +introduced him to him, having previously interested the marshal +by relating his history to him. The marshal asked Ronald many +questions, and was much pleased with his frank manner and +bearing.</p> + +<p>"You shall have any protection I can give you," the marshal +said. "No man has loved adventures more than I, nor had a fairer +share of them, and my sympathies are altogether with you; +besides, I remember your father well, and many a carouse have we +had together in Flanders. But I am a soldier, you know, and +though the king is glad enough to employ our swords in fighting +his enemies, we have but little influence at court. I promise +you, however, that after the first great victory I win I will ask +the release of your father as a personal favour from the king, on +the ground that he was an old comrade of mine. I can only hope, +for your sake, that the marquis, your grandfather, may have +departed this world before that takes place, for he is one of the +king's prime favourites, and even the request of a victorious +general would go for little as opposed to his influence the other +way. And now, if you like, I will give you a commission in +Colonel Hume's regiment. You have served for a year as a +volunteer now, and younger men than you have received +commissions."</p> + +<p>Ronald thanked the marshal most heartily for his kind promise, +but said that at present he would rather remain as a volunteer, +because it gave him greater freedom of action.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," the marshal said. "But at any rate +you had better abstain from attempting any steps such as Colonel +Hume tells me you once thought of for obtaining the release of +your father. Success will be all but impossible, and a failure +would destroy altogether any hopes you may have of obtaining his +release from the king."</p> + +<p>It seemed that some of his mother's family with whom he had +communicated must have desired to gain the favour of the +favourite of the king by relating the circumstances to him, for a +short time after Ronald's interview with the marshal the marquis +came up to Colonel Hume when he was on duty in the king's +antechamber, and, in the presence of a number of courtiers, said +to him:</p> + +<p>"So, Colonel Hume, I find that I have to thank you for +harbouring in your regiment an imposter, who claims to be my +grandson. I shall know, sir, how to repay the obligation."</p> + +<p>"The gentleman in question is no imposter, marquis, as I have +taken the pains to inform myself. And I am not aware of any +reason why I should not admit the son of a Scottish gentleman +into my regiment, even though he happen to be a grandson of +yours. As to your threat, sir, as long as I do my duty to his +majesty I fear the displeasure of no man."</p> + +<p>Two nights later, as Ronald was returning from dining with +Colonel Hume and some of his officers, he was suddenly attacked +in a narrow street by six men. Malcolm was with him, for Colonel +Hume had at once related to him the conversation he had had with +the marquis, and had warned him to take the greatest +precautions.</p> + +<p>"He is perfectly capable of having you suddenly put out of his +way by a stab in the back, Ronald. And if there were anywhere for +you to go I should advise you to leave Paris at once; but nowhere +in France would you be safe from him, and it would upset all your +plans to return to Scotland at present. However, you cannot be +too careful."</p> + +<p>Ronald had related what had passed to Malcolm, who determined +to watch more carefully than ever over his safety, and never left +his side when he was outside the barracks.</p> + +<p>The instant the six men rushed out from a lane, at whose +entrance a lantern was dimly burning, Malcolm's sword was out, +and before the assailants had time to strike a blow he had run +the foremost through the body.</p> + +<p>Ronald instantly recovered from his surprise and also drew. He +was now nearly eighteen, and although he had not yet gained his +full height he was a match for most men in strength, while his +constant exercise in the school of arms had strengthened the +muscle of his sword arm, until in strength as well as in skill he +could hold his own against the best swordsman in the regiment. +The men were for a moment checked by the fall of their leader; +but then seeing that they had opposed to them only one man, and +another whom they regarded as a lad, scarcely to be taken into +consideration, they rushed upon them. They were quickly +undeceived. Ronald parried the first blow aimed at him, and with +his riposte stretched his opponent on the pavement, and then +springing forward, after a few rapid thrusts and parries ran the +next through the shoulder almost at the same moment that Malcolm +stretched another opponent on the ground.</p> + +<p>Terrified at the downfall of three of their number, while a +fourth leaned against a door post disabled, the two remaining +ruffians took to their heels and fled at the top of their speed, +the whole affair having lasted scarce a minute.</p> + +<p>"Tell your employer," Ronald said to the wounded man, "that I +am not to be disposed of so easily as he imagined. I should be +only giving you what you deserve if I were to pass my sword +through your body; but I disdain to kill such pitiful assassins +except in self defence."</p> + +<p>The next morning Ronald communicated to Colonel Hume what had +happened.</p> + +<p>"It's just as well, my young friend, that you are going to +leave Paris. I received orders half an hour ago for the regiment +to march to the frontier at once. That is the marquis's doing, no +doubt. He thought to get rid of you last night and to punish me +this morning; but he has failed both ways. You have defeated his +cutthroats; I shall be heartily glad to be at the front again, +for I am sick of this idle life in Paris."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_VIII_Hidden_Foes_"></a>CHAPTER VIII: Hidden Foes.</h1> + +<p>"I am heartily glad to be out of Paris," Ronald said to +Malcolm on their first halt after leaving the capital. "It is not +pleasant to regard every man one meets after dark as a possible +enemy, and although I escaped scot free from the gang who +attacked us the other night, one cannot always expect such good +fortune as that. It was a constant weight on one's mind, and I +feel like a new man now that we are beyond the city walls."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, Ronald, we must not omit any precautions. Your +enemy has a long purse, and can reach right across France. That +last affair is proof of his bitterness against you, and it would +be rash indeed were we to act as if, having made one attempt and +failed, he would abandon his plans altogether. He is clearly a +man who nourishes a grudge for years, and his first failure is +only likely to add to his vindictive feeling. I do not say that +your danger is as great as it was in Paris, but that is simply +because the opportunities of attacking you are fewer. I should +advise you to be as careful as before, and to be on your guard +against ambushes and surprises."</p> + +<p>"Well, it may be so, Malcolm, and of course I will be careful; +but till I have proof to the contrary I shall prefer to think +that the marquis will trust to my being knocked on the head +during the war, and will make no further move against me until +the regiment returns to Paris."</p> + +<p>"Think what you like, lad," Malcolm said, "so that you are +cautious and guarded. I shall sleep with one eye open, I can tell +you, till we are fairly beyond the frontier."</p> + +<p>Two days later the regiment encamped outside the town of St. +Quentin. They were usually quartered on the inhabitants; but the +town was already filled with troops, and as the weather was fine +Colonel Hume ordered his men to bivouac a short distance outside +the walls. Ronald was seeing that his troop got their breakfast +next morning, when a sergeant came up with two men with a +horse.</p> + +<p>"This is Monsieur Leslie," he said to them. "These men were +asking for you, sir."</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me?" Ronald said surprised.</p> + +<p>"We heard, sir," one of the peasants said, "that you wanted to +buy a horse. We have a fine animal here, and cheap."</p> + +<p>"But I do not want to buy one," Ronald replied. "I am very +well supplied with horses. What made you think I wanted one?"</p> + +<p>"We asked one of the officers, sir, if anyone in the regiment +would be likely to buy, and he said that Monsieur Leslie wanted +one, he believed."</p> + +<p>"No," Ronald said decidedly. "Whoever told you was mistaken. I +have my full complement, and though your horse looks a nice +animal I could not take him if you offered him to me for nothing. +I don't think you will get anyone to buy him in the regiment. I +believe that every officer has his full complement of +chargers."</p> + +<p>In the evening Ronald happened to mention to Malcolm the offer +he had had in the morning.</p> + +<p>"It was a nice looking beast," he said, "and I had half a mind +to ask them what they would take to exchange him with my roan, +but I did not want to dip further into my purse."</p> + +<p>"I wish I had been beside you at the time," Malcolm said +earnestly; "those two fellows wouldn't have gone out of the camp +so easily."</p> + +<p>"Why, what do you mean, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"Mean!" Malcolm repeated in a vexed tone. "This is what comes +of your being watchful and cautious, Ronald. Why, the matter is +clear enough. The marquis has set men on your track, but of +course they could do nothing until some of them knew you by +sight, so two of them are sent into camp with this cock and bull +story about a horse, and they come and have a good look at you +and go quietly off. It is too provoking. Had I been there I would +have given them in charge of a file of men at once. Then we would +have asked every officer in the regiment if he had sent them to +you, and when we found, as we certainly should have found, that +none of them had done so, we should have marched the men off to +Colonel Hume, and I am sure, when he heard the circumstances of +the case, they would have been lashed up and flogged till he had +got the truth of the matter out of them. My great hope has been +that they could not very well attempt your life, because none of +the men who might be engaged on the job would be likely to know +your face, and they would therefore have no means of singling you +out for attack; and now two of the ruffians will be able to +follow you and watch their opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, Malcolm, you are too suspicious altogether! I +have no doubt the affair was just as they stated it to be. What +was more natural?"</p> + +<p>"Well, Ronald, you will meet all the other officers at supper +in half an hour. Just ask if any of them sent two men wanting to +sell a horse to you this morning; if any of them say that they +did so, I will acknowledge I am wrong.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Ronald, at supper, put the question, but none of +the officers admitted they knew anything about the matter.</p> + +<p>"You have two very good horses, Leslie; why should anyone +suppose that you wanted another?" the colonel asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Ronald said. "I only know that two men did +come up with a horse to me this morning, and said that one of the +officers had told them that I wanted to buy one."</p> + +<p>"It must have been one of the men," the colonel said +carelessly, "though I don't know why anyone should suppose that +you wanted another charger. Still, someone, knowing that you are +the last joined officer, might think you had need for a second +horse."</p> + +<p>The subject dropped, and Malcolm shook his head ominously when +Ronald acknowledged to him that his suspicions were so far right +that none of the officers had sent the men to him. The next day, +as the regiment was passing through a thick wood, and Ronald was +riding with Captain Campbell behind his troop, which happened to +be in the rear in the regiment, two shots were fired from among +the trees. The first struck Ronald's horse in the neck, causing +him to swerve sharply round, a movement which saved his rider's +life, for the second shot, which was fired almost instantly after +the first, grazed his body and passed between him and Captain +Campbell.</p> + +<p>"Are you hit, Leslie?" the latter exclaimed, for the sudden +movement of his horse had almost unseated Ronald.</p> + +<p>"Nothing serious, I think. The bullet has cut my coat and +grazed my skin, I think, but nothing more."</p> + +<p>The captain shouted orders to his men, and with a score of +troopers dashed into the wood. The trees grew thickly and there +was a dense undergrowth, and they had difficulty in making their +way through them. For half an hour they continued their search +without success, and then rejoined the regiment on its march.</p> + +<p>"This is a curious affair," Colonel Hume said when Captain +Campbell reported, at the next halt, that an attempt at +assassination had taken place.</p> + +<p>"It looks like a premeditated attempt upon one or other of +you. You haven't been getting into any scrape, have you?" he +asked with a smile; "kissing some peasant's wife or offering to +run away with his daughter? But seriously this is a strange +affair. Why should two men lie in wait for the regiment and fire +at two of its officers? The men have been behaving well, as far +as I have heard, on the line of march, and nothing has occurred +which could explain such an outrage as this."</p> + +<p>"It may be fancy on my part, colonel," Ronald said, "but I +cannot help thinking that it is a sequence of that affair I told +you about in Paris, just before we started. The first shot struck +my horse and the second would certainly have killed me had it not +been for the horse's sudden swerve, therefore it looks as if the +shots were aimed at me. I have some reason, too, for supposing +that I have been followed. If you remember my question last night +at supper about the men who wanted to sell me a horse. Malcolm +Anderson is convinced that the whole thing was only a ruse to +enable them to become acquainted with my face. They wanted to be +able to recognize me, and so got up this story in order to have +me pointed out to them, and to have a talk with me. None of the +officers did send them to me, as they said, and they could hardly +have hit upon a better excuse for speaking to me."</p> + +<p>"It certainly looks like it," Colonel Hume said gravely. "I +would give a good deal if we had caught those two men in the +wood. If we had I would have given them the choice of being hung +at once or telling me what was their motive in firing at you and +who paid them to do it. This is monstrous. If we could get but a +shadow of proof against your enemies I would lay a formal +complaint before the king. Marquis or no marquis, I am not going +to have my officers assassinated with impunity. However, till we +have something definite to go upon, we can do nothing, and until +then, Leslie, you had best keep your suspicion to yourself. It +were best to say nothing of what you think; in this country it is +dangerous even to whisper against a king's favourite. Let it be +supposed that this attack in the woods was only the work of some +malicious scoundrels who must have fired out of pure hatred of +the king's troops."</p> + +<p>Captain Campbell and Ronald quite agreed with the view taken +by the colonel, and answered all questions as to the affair, that +they had not the least idea who were the men who fired on them, +and that no one obtained as much as a glimpse of them.</p> + +<p>With most of the officers of the regiment, indeed with all +except one, Ronald was on excellent terms. The exception was a +lieutenant named Crawford; he was first on the list of his +company, and had, indeed, been twice passed over in consequence +of his quarrelsome and domineering disposition. He was a man of +seven or eight and twenty; he stood about the same height as +Ronald and was of much the same figure, indeed the general +resemblance between them had often been remarked.</p> + +<p>His dislike to Ronald had arisen from the fact that previous +to the latter joining the regiment Crawford had been considered +the best swordsman among the officers, and Ronald's superiority, +which had been proved over and over again in the fencing room, +had annoyed him greatly. Knowing that he would have no chance +whatever with Ronald in a duel, he had carefully abstained from +open war, showing his dislike only by sneering remarks and +sarcastic comments which frequently tried Ronald's patience to +the utmost, and more than once called down a sharp rebuke from +Colonel Hume or one or other of the majors. He did not lose the +opportunity afforded by the shots fired in the wood, and was +continually suggesting all sorts of motives which might have +inspired the would be assassins.</p> + +<p>Ronald, who was the reverse of quarrelsome by disposition, +laughed good temperedly at the various suggestions; but one or +two of the senior officers remonstrated sharply with Crawford as +to the extent to which he carried his gibes.</p> + +<p>"You are presuming too much on Leslie's good nature, +Crawford," Captain Campbell said one day. "If he were not one of +the best tempered young fellows going he would resent your +constant attacks upon him; and you know well that, good swordsman +as you are, you would have no chances whatever if he did so."</p> + +<p>"I am quite capable of managing my own affairs," Crawford said +sullenly, "and I do not want any advice from you or any other +man."</p> + +<p>"I am speaking to you as the captain of Leslie's troop," +Captain Campbell said sharply, "and I do not mean to quarrel with +you. You have had more quarrels than enough in the regiment +already, and you know Colonel Hume said on the last occasion that +your next quarrel should be your last in the regiment. I tell you +frankly, that if you continue your course of annoyance to young +Leslie I shall report the matter to the colonel. I have noticed +that you have the good sense to abstain from your remarks when he +is present."</p> + +<p>Three days later the regiment joined the army before +Namur.</p> + +<p>That evening, having drunk more deeply than usual, Lieutenant +Crawford, after the colonel had retired from the circle round the +fire and to his tent, recommenced his provocation to Ronald, and +pushed matters so far that the latter felt that he could no +longer treat it as a jest.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Crawford," he said, "I warn you that you are pushing your +remarks too far. On many previous occasions you have chosen to +make observations which I could, if I had chosen, have resented +as insulting. I did not choose, for I hate brawling, and consider +that for me, who have but lately joined the regiment, to be +engaged in a quarrel with an officer senior to myself would be in +the highest degree unbecoming; but I am sure that my fellow +officers will bear me out in saying that I have shown fully as +much patience as is becoming. I, therefore, have to tell you that +I will no longer be your butt, and that I shall treat any further +remark of the nature of those you have just made as a deliberate +insult, and shall take measures accordingly."</p> + +<p>A murmur of approval rose among the officers sitting round, +and those sitting near Crawford endeavoured to quiet him. The +wine which he had taken had, however, excited his quarrelsome +instinct too far for either counsel or prudence to prevail.</p> + +<p>"I shall say what I choose," he said, rising to his feet. "I +am not going to be dictated to by anyone, much less a boy who has +just joined the regiment, and who calls himself Leslie, though no +one knows whether he has any right to the name."</p> + +<p>"Very well, sir," Leslie said in a quiet tone, which was, +however, heard distinctly throughout the circle, for at this last +outburst on the part of Crawford a dead silence had fallen on the +circle, for only one termination could follow such an insult. +"Captain Campbell will, I hope, act for me?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Captain Campbell said in a loud voice; "and will +call upon any friend Lieutenant Crawford may name and make +arrangements to settle this matter in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Macleod, will you act for me?" Crawford said to a lieutenant +sitting next to him.</p> + +<p>"I will act," the young officer said coldly, "as your second +in the matter; but all here will understand that I do solely +because it is necessary that some one should do so, and that I +disapprove absolutely and wholly of your conduct."</p> + +<p>"Well, make what arrangements you like," Crawford said with an +oath, and rising he left the circle and walked away.</p> + +<p>When he had left there was an immediate discussion. Several of +the officers were of opinion that the duel should not be allowed +to proceed, but that Crawford's conduct should be reported to the +colonel.</p> + +<p>"I am entirely in your hands, gentlemen," Ronald said. "I have +no desire whatever to fight. This affair has been forced upon me, +and I have no alternative but to take it up. I am not boasting +when I say that I am a far better swordsman than he, and I have +no need to shrink from meeting him; but I have certainly no +desire whatever to take his life. He has drunk more than he ought +to do, and if this matter can be arranged, and he can be +persuaded in the morning to express his regret for what he has +said, I shall be very glad to accept his apology. If it can be +settled in this way without either fighting or reporting his +conduct to the colonel, which would probably result in his having +to leave the regiment, I should be truly glad -- What is that?" +he broke off, as a loud cry rang through the air.</p> + +<p>The whole party sprang to their feet, and snatching up their +swords ran in the direction from which the cry had come. The +tents were at some little distance, and just as they reached them +they saw a man lying on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, it is Crawford!" Captain Campbell said, +stooping over him. "See, he has been stabbed in the back. It is +all over with him. Who can have done it?"</p> + +<p>He questioned several of the soldiers, who had now gathered +round, attracted like the officers by the cry. None of them had +seen the act or had noticed anyone running away; but in so large +a camp there were so many people about that an assassin could +well have walked quietly away without attracting any +attention.</p> + +<p>The colonel was speedily on the spot, and instituted a rigid +inquiry, but entirely without success. The attack had evidently +been sudden and entirely unsuspected, for Crawford had not drawn +his sword.</p> + +<p>"It is singular," he said, as with the officers he walked +slowly back to the fire. "Crawford was not a popular man, but I +cannot guess at any reason for this murder. Strange that this +should be the second attack made on my officers since we left +Paris."</p> + +<p>Captain Campbell now related what had taken place after he had +left the circle.</p> + +<p>"The matter should have been reported to me at once," he said; +"although, as it has turned out, it would have made no +difference. Perhaps, after all, it is best as it is, for a duel +between two officers of the regiment would have done us no good, +and the man was no credit to the regiment. But it is a very +serious matter that we should be dogged by assassins. Leslie, +come up with me to my tent. I am not going to blame you, lad," he +said when they were together, "for you could not have acted +otherwise than you have done. Indeed, I have myself noticed +several times that Crawford's bearing towards you was the reverse +of courteous. Have you any idea as to how he came by his +death?"</p> + +<p>"I, sir!" Ronald said in surprise. "No, I know no more than +the others."</p> + +<p>"It strikes me, Leslie, that this is only the sequel of that +attack in the wood, and that your enemies have unwittingly done +you a service. Crawford was very much your height and build, and +might easily have been mistaken for you in the dark. I fancy that +blow was meant for you."</p> + +<p>"It is possible, sir," Ronald said after a pause. "I had not +thought of it; but the likeness between him and myself has been +frequently noticed. It is quite possible that that blow was meant +for me."</p> + +<p>"I have very little doubt of it, my lad. If any of these men +were hanging about and saw you as they believed coming away from +the circle alone, they may well have taken the opportunity. Let +it be a lesson to you to be careful henceforth. It is unlikely +that the attempt will be repeated at present. The men who did it +will think that they have earned their money, and by this time +are probably on the way to Paris to carry the news and claim +their reward. So that, for a time at least, it is not probable +that there will be any repetition of the attempt. After that you +will have to be on your guard night and day.</p> + +<p>"I wish to heaven we could obtain some clue that would enable +me to take steps in the matter; but at present we have nothing +but our suspicions, and I cannot go to the king and say three +attempts have been made on the life of one of my officers, and +that I suspect his grandfather, the Marquis de Recambours, has +been the author of them."</p> + +<p>When Malcolm heard the events of the evening his opinion was +exactly the same as that of the colonel, and he expressed himself +as convinced that Crawford had fallen by a blow intended for +Ronald. He agreed that for a while there was no fear of a renewal +of the attempt.</p> + +<p>"The fellows will take the news straight to Paris that you +have been put out of the way, and some time will elapse before +the employers know that a mistake has been made. Then, as likely +as not, they will decide to wait until the campaign is over."</p> + +<p>The camp before Namur was a large and brilliant one. The king +and dauphin had already arrived with the army. All the household +troops were there, and a large contingent of the nobles of the +court. The English army was known to be approaching, and was +expected to fight a battle to relieve Namur, which the French +were besieging vigorously. The French confidently hoped that in +the approaching battle they would wipe our the reverse which had +befallen them at Dettingen.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_IX_Fontenoy_"></a>CHAPTER IX: +Fontenoy.</h1> + +<p>A fortnight after the Scottish Dragoons joined the army the +king was present at an inspection of their regiment. As the +brilliant cortege passed along the line Ronald saw among the +gaily dressed throng of officers riding behind the king and +Marshal Saxe the Marquis de Recambours and the Duke de +Chateaurouge side by side. Ronald with two other gentlemen +volunteers were in their places in the rear of the regiment. It +was drawn up in double line, and as the royal party rode along +for the second time, Ronald saw that the two noblemen were +looking scrutinizingly through the line of troopers at himself +and his two companions.</p> + +<p>That evening Colonel Hume on his return from a visit to +Marshal Saxe told Ronald that the general had inquired after him, +and had sent him word that if he won the battle he would not +forget the promise he had made him. He had requested Colonel Hume +to place Ronald at his disposal on the day of the battle.</p> + +<p>"'I shall want active officers to carry my messages,' he said, +'and your young friend may have a greater opportunity of +distinguishing himself than he would with the regiment. I should +in that case find it all the easier to bring his business before +the king.'</p> + +<p>"The marshal is terribly ill," Colonel Hume said as he +reported the conversation to Ronald, "so ill that he can only +occasionally sit on his horse. Nothing but his indomitable +courage sustains him. He is drawn about in a light carriage made +of basketwork, and this serves him also for his bed."</p> + +<p>On the 7th of May the enemy were known to be close at hand, +and the French selected the position on which they would fight. +The village of Fontenoy had already been occupied by a strong +body of troops under Marshal Noailles, and the rest of the army +now moved forward to the posts allotted to them. The English army +were close at hand, and it was certain that the battle would be +fought on the morrow. In the evening the king held a grand +reception at which all the officers of rank were present. When +Colonel Hume returned to his camp his officers were still sitting +round the fire.</p> + +<p>"Have you any news for us, sir?"</p> + +<p>"No; I believe everything stands as was arranged. The king is +in the highest spirits, though I must say his majesty did not +choose reminiscences of a nature to encourage those who heard +him. He remarked, for instance, that since the days of St. Louis +the French had never gained a decisive success over the English, +and a few minutes later he observed that the last time a king of +France with his son had fought at the head of the French army was +at the battle of Poictiers."</p> + +<p>There was a general laugh.</p> + +<p>"Certainly the king was not happy with his reminiscences," +Major Munro remarked; "but I think this time the tables are going +to be turned. In the first place we considerably outnumbered the +enemy, even after leaving 15,000 men to continue the siege. In +the second place, the position we have chosen is almost +impregnable. The Scheldt covers our right, with the fortified +bridge securing our communication, and the village of Antoin +resting on the river. Along our front from Antoin to Fontenoy is +a narrow and difficult valley. Our left is covered by the wood of +Barre, where a strong redoubt has been constructed; and the whole +of the position is fortified with breastworks and abattis as far +as Fontenoy. Between that village and Barre the natural +difficulties are so great that field works are unnecessary. I +cannot believe myself that they will attack us in such a +position, especially as nearly half their army are Dutch, who +will count for little. The English are the only troops which we +shall find formidable."</p> + +<p>Before daybreak the camp was astir, and the troops took the +positions assigned to them. Even now it was hardly believed that +an attack would be made by the enemy so long as the French +remained in their all but impregnable position; but presently the +columns of the enemy were seen advancing. Ronald had ridden up to +the litter on which Marshal Saxe was placed, and after saluting, +had taken up his position with a number of other officers, in +readiness to carry orders to different parts of the field.</p> + +<p>At a short distance from the marshal the King of France with +the dauphin and the brilliant cortege of nobles had taken up his +post. From the position in which the marshal had caused himself +to be placed a complete view of the enemy's approaching ranks was +obtained. It could soon be seen that the Dutch troops, who on the +English right were advancing to the attack, were moving against +the villages of Antoin and Fontenoy. A strong force, headed, as +was known afterwards, by General Ingoldsby, moved towards the +wood of Barre; while a solid column of English and Hanoverians, +10,000 strong, marched forward to the attack across the broken +ground between Fontenoy and the wood of Barre.</p> + +<p>It was as yet but five o'clock in the morning when the cannon +broke out into a roar on both sides. The Dutch, who were +commanded by the Prince of Waldeck, soon hesitated, and in a +short time fell back out of range of fire. On the English right +General Ingoldsby penetrated some distance into the wood of +Barre, and then fell back again as the Dutch had done. In an hour +after the fighting had commenced the right and left of the allied +army had ceased their attack. There remained only the centre, but +this was advancing.</p> + +<p>Under the command of the Duke of Cumberland the column crossed +the ravine in front of Fontenoy. The ground was so broken that +the troops were unable to deploy, but moved forward in a solid +mass with a front of only forty men.</p> + +<p>The French batteries from the right and left mowed them down +in lines, but as steadily as if on parade the places were filled +up, and unshaken and calm the great column moved forward. The +cannon which they dragged along by hand opened against Fontenoy +and the redoubts, and as, in spite of the hail of fire, they +pressed steadily on, the French gunners were obliged to abandon +their cannon and fly.</p> + +<p>The regiment of French guards, officered almost entirely by +the highest nobles, met the English guards, who composed the +front lines of the column. A tremendous volley flashed along the +English line, shattering the ranks of the French guard. There was +a moment's fierce fighting, and then the English column swept +from before it the remains of the French guard, and cleared the +ravine which defended Fontenoy.</p> + +<p>Ronald felt his heart beat with excitement and a feeling of +pride and admiration as he saw the English advancing unmoved +through the storm of fire. They advanced in the most perfect +order. The sergeants calmly raised or depressed the soldiers' +muskets to direct the fire; each vacant place was filled quietly +and regularly without hesitation or hurry; and exclamations of +surprise and admiration broke even from the French officers.</p> + +<p>Regiment after regiment was brought up and hurled against the +head of the column, but with no more effect than waves against a +rock, each being dashed aside shattered and broken by the steady +volleys and regular lines of bayonets. Ronald and other officers +were sent off to bring up the cavalry, but in vain did these +strive to break the serried column. One regiment after another +charged down upon it, but the English, retaining their fire until +they were within a few yards of their muzzles, received them with +such tremendous volleys that they recoiled in disorder.</p> + +<p>The French regiment of Vaisseaux next advanced to the attack, +and fought with greater gallantry than any which had preceded it; +but at last, when almost annihilated, its survivors fell back. +And now it seemed as if this 10,000 men were to be victorious +over the whole French army. Marshal Saxe begged the king to +retire with the dauphin across the bridge of Calonne while he did +what he could to retrieve the battle, but the king refused to +leave the field. There was a hurried council held round Louis, +and it was agreed to make a great effort by calling up the whole +of the troops between Fontenoy and Antoin, as the positions they +held were no longer threatened by the Dutch.</p> + +<p>Had the latter now advanced nothing could have saved the +French army from utter defeat; but they remained immovable at a +distance from the field of battle. The English now won the crown +of the position, had cut through the French centre, and were +moving forward towards the bridge of Calonne, when the whole of +the French artillery, which had, by the advice of the Duke of +Richelieu, been brought up, opened fire on the English column. At +the same moment the French regiments from Antoin fell upon it; +while Marshal Saxe, who had, when the danger became imminent, +mounted his horse, himself brought up the Irish Brigade, who, +with a wild yell of hatred, flung itself furiously upon the flank +of the English.</p> + +<p>Attacked thus on all sides, mown down by a heavy fire of +artillery, unsupported amid an army of foes, the column could do +no more. Ten thousand men could not withstand fifty thousand. +Their ranks were twice broken by the Irish, but twice their +officers rallied them; until at last, when it became evident that +no more could be done, the column fell slowly back in an order as +perfect and regular as that in which it had advanced.</p> + +<p>French historians have done ample justice to the extraordinary +valour shown by the English troops on this occasion, a valour +never surpassed in the long annals of the British army. Had they +received the slightest assistance from their cowardly allies the +victory must have been theirs. As it was, although unsuccessful, +the glory and honour of the day rested with them, rather than +with the victorious army of France. More than half the column had +fallen in the desperate engagement, but the loss of the victors +was even greater, and comprised many belonging to the noblest +families of France.</p> + +<p>Ronald had won the warm approval of Marshal Saxe for the +manner in which he carried his orders across ground swept by a +heavy fire, and brought up the regiments to within close quarters +of the English; and after the battle was over Marshal Saxe +presented to the king several of his staff who had most +distinguished themselves, and calling up Ronald, who was standing +near, for his horse had been shot under him as he rode by the +side of the marshal with the Irish Brigade to the attack, the +marshal said:</p> + +<p>"Allow me to present to your majesty Ronald Leslie, a young +Scottish gentleman of good family, who is a volunteer in the +Scottish Dragoons, and has rendered great service today by the +manner in which he has borne my orders through the thickest of +the fire."</p> + +<p>"I will bear you in mind, young gentleman," the king said +graciously, "and I charge the marshal to bring your name before +me on a future day."</p> + +<p>His duty as aide de camp over, Ronald rejoined his regiment. +They had lost nearly a third of their number in their charges +upon the English column. Major Munro had been killed, the colonel +severely wounded, and a number of officers had fallen. Ronald +went about among the men assisting to bind up wounds, and +supplying those who needed it with wine and other refreshments. +Presently he was joined by Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are safe, Ronald. I tell you, you have given me +many a fright today as I watched you galloping along through the +line of the English fire."</p> + +<p>"Where were you, Malcolm? I did not see you."</p> + +<p>"I had nothing to do," Malcolm said, "and I climbed a tree not +fifty yards from the marshal's litter, and keeping the trunk in +front of me to protect me from a stray bullet I had a good view +of the whole proceedings. At one time I was on the point of +slipping down and making a bolt for it, for I thought it was all +over with us. How that column did fight! I have been in many a +battle, but I never saw anything like it, it was grand; and if it +hadn't been for the Irish Brigade, I think that they would have +beaten the whole French army. But if you go into a battle again I +sha'n't come to see you. I have done my share of fighting, and +can take hard knocks as well as another; but I would not go +through the anxiety I have suffered today about you on any +condition. However, this has been a great day for you."</p> + +<p>"You mean about the marshal presenting me to the king? Yes, +that ought to help us."</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't mean that, for I had not heard of it. I mean +about that old rascal your grandfather, the Marquis de +Recambours."</p> + +<p>"What about him? I have not heard."</p> + +<p>"No!" Malcolm exclaimed; "then I have good news for you. A +ball from one of the English field pieces struck him full in the +chest, and of course slew him instantly. He was not thirty yards +from the tree when I saw him knocked over. He is quite dead, I +can assure you, for when the others moved off I took the trouble +to clamber down to assure myself. So now the greatest obstacle to +the release of your father and mother is out of the way."</p> + +<p>"Thank God for that!" Ronald said. "I have no reason for +feeling one spark of regret at what has befallen him. He was the +cruel persecutor of my parents, and did his best to get me +removed. There is but one obstacle now to obtaining my father's +release, and as he is neither a relation nor an old man I shall +be able to deal with him myself"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you must be careful, Ronald; remember the decree +against duelling. We must not make a false step now, when fortune +is at last favouring us. There will be no more fighting, I fancy. +The English will certainly not attack us again, and Tournay must +fall, and I don't think that on our part there will be any desire +whatever to go out of our way to seek another engagement with +them. The king is sure to go back to Paris at once, where he will +be received with enthusiasm. Marshal Saxe will probably follow as +soon as Tournay has fallen. I should advise you, therefore, to +get leave from the colonel to be absent from the regiment for a +time, and we will make our way down to Tours and let your mother +know the marquis is dead, and get her to write a memorial to the +king requesting permission to leave the convent, and then when +the marshall arrives in Paris we will get him to present it."</p> + +<p>Ronald agreed to Malcolm's proposal, and the next morning, +having obtained leave of absence from the colonel, he and Malcolm +mounted and rode for Tours.</p> + +<p>The message was duly conveyed to the countess by Jeanne, +together with Ronald's earnest request that his mother would +again meet him. She sent back by Jeanne the memorial he had asked +her to write to the king, begging that she might be allowed to +leave the convent; but she refused to agree to his wishes to meet +her, bidding Jeanne say that now it seemed there was really a +hope of her release shortly, she would less than ever risk any +step which if discovered might prejudice their plans.</p> + +<p>Although disappointed, Ronald could not deny that her decision +was a wise one, and therefore contented himself by sending word +that he had obtained one very powerful friend, and that he hoped +that she would ere long receive good tidings. After a short stay +at Tours, Ronald and Malcolm returned to Paris, where a series of +brilliant fetes in honour of the victory of Fontenoy were in +preparation. Tournay had surrendered a few days after the battle, +the governor of that town having accepted a heavy bribe to open +the gates, for the place could have resisted for months, and the +allied army were ready to recommence hostilities in order to +relieve it.</p> + +<p>After its surrender they fell back and resumed a defensive +attitude. The king therefore returned at once to Paris, and +Marshal Saxe, handing over the command of the army to Marshal de +Noailles, followed him by easy stages. Delighted above all things +at a success gained over the English, who had for centuries been +victorious in every battle in which England and France had met as +enemies, the citizens of Paris organized a succession of +brilliant fetes, which were responded to by entertainments of all +kinds at Versailles. The Scottish Dragoons were still at the +front; but Colonel Hume had been brought to Paris, as it would be +some time ere he would be able again to take the command of the +regiment. Ronald called at the house where the colonel lodged, +upon the day after his return from Tours, and found that he had +arrived upon the previous day. Ronald was at once shown up on +sending in his name. The colonel was lying on the couch when he +entered.</p> + +<p>"How are you, colonel?"</p> + +<p>"I am going on as well as possible, Ronald; they found the +ball and got it out the day before I left the regiment, and I +shall do well now. I have been carried on a litter all the way by +eight of our troopers, and the good fellows were as gentle with +me as if I had been a child, and I scarce felt a jar the whole +distance. What I have got to do now is to lie quiet, and the +doctor promises me that in six weeks' time I shall be fit to +mount a horse again. Marshal Saxe sent yesterday evening to +inquire after me, and I will send you to him to thank him for so +sending, and to inquire on my part how he himself is going on. My +message will be a good excuse for your presenting yourself."</p> + +<p>Ronald found the antechamber of the marshal crowded with +nobles and officers who had come to pay their respects to the +victorious general, who was, next to the king himself, at that +moment the most popular man in France. Hitherto, as a Protestant +and a foreigner, Maurice of Saxony had been regarded by many with +jealousy and dislike; but the victory which he had won for the +French arms had for the first time obliterated every feeling save +admiration and gratitude.</p> + +<p>Presently the marshal came out from the inner room with the +dauphin, who had called on the part of the king to inquire after +his health. He was now able to walk, the excitement of the battle +and the satisfaction of the victory having enabled him partially +to shake off the disease which afflicted him. After the dauphin +had left, the marshal made the tour of the apartment, exchanging +a few words with all present.</p> + +<p>"Ah! you are there, my young Leslie," he said familiarly when +he came to Ronald. "Where have you been? I have not seen you +since the day when you galloped about with my messages through +the English fire as if you had a charmed life."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume gave me leave, sir, to travel on private +business. I am now the bearer of a message from him, thanking you +for the kind inquiries as to his wound; he bids me say that he +trusts that your own health is rapidly recovering."</p> + +<p>"As you see, Leslie, Fontenoy has done wonders for me as well +as for France; but wait here, I will speak with you again."</p> + +<p>In half an hour most of the callers took their departure, then +the marshal called Ronald into an inner room.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," he said, "I am going to pay my respects to the +king at Versailles. I will take you with me. Have you your +mother's memorial? That is right. As her father was killed at +Fontenoy there will, I hope, be the less difficulty over the +matter; but we must not be too sanguine, for there will be a host +of hungry competitors for the estates of the marquis, and all +these will unite against you. However, I do not think the king +will be able to refuse my first request, and when your mother is +out we must put our heads together and see about getting your +father's release."</p> + +<p>Ronald expressed his deep gratitude at the marshal's +kindness.</p> + +<p>"Say nothing about it, my lad. Fortunately I want nothing for +myself, and it is no use being a victorious general if one cannot +utilize it in some way; so I am quite glad to have something to +ask the king."</p> + +<p>The next day Ronald presented himself at the hotel of Marshal +Saxe and rode by the side of his carriage out to Versailles. The +king, surrounded by a brilliant train of courtiers, received the +marshal with the greatest warmth, and after talking to him for +some time retired with him into his private closet. A few minutes +later one of the royal pages came out into the audience chamber +and said in a loud voice that the king desired the presence of +Monsieur Ronald Leslie.</p> + +<p>Greatly embarrassed at finding himself the centre of +observation not unmingled with envy at the summons, Ronald +followed the page into the presence of the king, who was alone +with Marshal Saxe. Louis, who was in high good humour, gave +Ronald his hand to kiss, saying:</p> + +<p>"I told the marshal to recall your name to me, and he has done +so now. He says that you have a boon to ask of me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sire," the marshal said; "and please consider graciously +that it is I who ask it as well as he. Your majesty has always +been gracious to me, and if you think me deserving of any mark of +your favour after this success which your majesty and I have +gained together, I would now crave that you grant it."</p> + +<p>"It is granted before you name it, marshal," the king said. "I +give you my royal word that whatever be your boon, provided that +it be within the bounds of possibility, it is yours."</p> + +<p>"Then, sire, I ask that an old comrade and fellow soldier of +mine, who fought bravely for your majesty, but who fell under +your majesty's displeasure many years ago on account of a +marriage which he made contrary to your pleasure, may be +released. He has now been over sixteen years in prison, and has +therefore paid dearly for thwarting your will, and his wife has +all this time been confined in a convent. They are the father and +mother of this brave lad -- Colonel Leslie, who commanded your +majesty's regiment of Scotch Dragoons, and his wife, the Countess +Amelie of Recambours. I ask your majesty, as my boon, that you +will order this officer to be released and the lady to be allowed +to leave the convent."</p> + +<p>"Peste, marshal!" the king said good temperedly; "your request +is one of which will get me into hot water with a score of +people. From the day the marquis was killed at Fontenoy I have +heard nothing but questions about his estates, and I believe that +no small portion of them have been already promised."</p> + +<p>"I say nothing about the estates," the marshal replied; "as to +that, your majesty's sense of justice is too well known for it to +be necessary for me to say a single word. The countess has +estates of her own, which she inherited from her mother, but even +as to these I say nothing. It is her liberty and that of her +husband which I and this brave lad ask of your majesty."</p> + +<p>"It is granted, marshal, and had your boon been a great one +instead of a small one I would have granted it as freely;" and +the king again held out his hand to Ronald, who bent on one knee +to kiss it, tears of joy flowing down his cheeks and preventing +the utterance of any audible thanks for the boon, which far +surpassed his expectations; for the marshal had said nothing as +to his intention of asking his father's freedom, which indeed he +only decided to do upon seeing in how favourable a disposition he +had found the king.</p> + +<p>"You see, marshal," Louis went on, "marriages like this must +be sternly discouraged, or all order in our kingdom would be done +away with. Wilful girls and headstrong soldiers cannot be +permitted to arrange their affairs without reference to the plans +of their parents, and in this instance it happened that the +father's plans had received our approval. The great estates of +France cannot be handed over to the first comer, who may perhaps +be utterly unworthy of them. I do not say that in the present +case Colonel Leslie was in any way personally unworthy; but the +disposal of the hands of the great heiresses of France is in the +king's gift, and those who cross him are against his +authority."</p> + +<p>The king touched a bell and bade the page who entered to order +his secretary to attend at once.</p> + +<p>"Search the register of the state prisons," he said, "and tell +me where Colonel Leslie, who was arrested by our orders sixteen +years ago, is confined, and then make out an order to the +governor of his prison for his release; also draw up an order +upon the lady superior of --," and he paused.</p> + +<p>"The convent of Our Lady at Tours," Ronald ventured to put +in.</p> + +<p>"Oh! you have discovered that, eh?" the king said with a +smile; and then turned again to the secretary -- "bidding her +suffer the Countess Amelie de Recambours to leave the convent and +to proceed where she will."</p> + +<p>The secretary bowed and retired. Ronald, seeing that his own +presence was no longer required, said a few words of deep +gratitude to the king and retired to the audience room, where he +remained until, ten minutes later, the door of the king's closet +opened, and the king and Marshal Saxe again appeared. The +audience lasted for another half hour, and then the marshal, +accompanied by many of the nobles, made his way down to his +carriage. Ronald again mounted, and as soon as the carriage had +left the great courtyard of the palace, rode up alongside and +poured out his gratitude to the marshal.</p> + +<p>"It has been another Fontenoy," the marshal said smiling. +"Here are the two orders, the one for Tours, the other for the +governor of the royal castle at Blois. The king made light of it; +but I know his manner so well that I could see he would rather +that I had asked for a dukedom for you. It is not often that +kings are thwarted, and he regards your parents as being rebels +against his authority. However, he was bound by his promise, and +there are the papers. Now, only one word, Leslie. Do not indulge +in any hopes that you will see your father more than a shadow of +the stalwart soldier that he was sixteen years ago. There are few +men, indeed, whose constitution enable them to live through +sixteen years' confinement in a state prison. Therefore prepare +yourself to find him a mere wreck. I trust that freedom and your +mother's care may do much for him, but don't expect too much at +first. If you take my advice you will go first and fetch your +mother, in order that she may be at hand to receive your father +when he leaves the fortress. By the way, I thought it just as +well not to produce your mother's memorial, as it seemed that we +should be able to do without it, for it might have struck the +king to ask how you obtained it, and he would probably have +considered that your communication with your mother was a fresh +act of defiance against his authority."</p> + +<p>Malcolm was wild with joy when Ronald returned with the +account of his interview with the king and its successful result, +and had his not been a seasoned head, the number of bumpers which +he drank that night in honour of Marshal Saxe would have rendered +him unfit for travel in the morning. Ronald had, after +acquainting him with the news, gone to Colonel Hume, whose +pleasure at hearing that his former colonel and comrade was to +regain his freedom was unbounded. Every preparation was made for +an early start.</p> + +<p>"Be sure you look well to the priming of your pistols before +you put them in your holsters tomorrow," Malcolm said.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it will be necessary?"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it, Ronald. News travels fast; and you may be +sure that by this time the fact that the king has granted an +order for the release of your father and mother is known to the +Duke of Chateaurouge. If he did not hear it from the king +himself, which he would be most likely to do, as Louis would +probably lose no time in explaining to him that he had only gone +against his wishes because under the circumstances it was +impossible for him to refuse the marshal's request, the secretary +who drew out the document would, no doubt, let the duke know of +it. There are no secrets at court."</p> + +<p>"But now that the orders for release have been granted," +Ronald said, "the duke can have no motive in preventing them +being delivered, for fresh ones could, of course, be +obtained."</p> + +<p>"In the first place, Ronald, the duke will be so furious at +your success that he will stick at nothing to have his revenge; +in the second place, he and the others, for there are many +interested in preventing your mother from coming into her +father's possessions, will consider that the gain of time goes +for a good deal. You are the mover in the matter. Were you out of +the way, and the documents destroyed, the matter might rest as it +is for a long time. The marshal is busy from morning till night, +and would be long before he missed you, and would naturally +suppose that you had, after obtaining the release of your +parents, retired with them to some country retreat, or even left +the kingdom.</p> + +<p>"This would give ample time for working upon Louis. Besides, +the king might never inquire whether the prisoners had been +released. Then the marshal might die or be sent away to the +frontier. Therefore, as you see, time is everything. I tell you, +Ronald, I consider the journey you are going to undertake +tomorrow an affair of greater danger than going into a pitched +battle. You will have to doubt everyone you meet on the road, the +people at the inns you stop at -- you may be attacked anywhere +and everywhere. As to our travelling by the direct road, I look +upon it as impossible. Our only chance is to throw them off the +scent, and as they know our destination that will be no easy +matter."</p> + +<p>They were astir by daylight, and Malcolm soon brought the +horses round to the door.</p> + +<p>"It's a comfort to know," he said, "that the horses have +passed the night in the barracks, and that therefore they have +not been tampered with. Look well to the buckles of your girths, +Ronald. See that everything is strong and in good order."</p> + +<p>"That is not your own horse, Malcolm, is it?"</p> + +<p>"No, it is one of the troopers'. It is one of the best in the +regiment, and I persuaded the man to change with me for a week. +No one is likely to notice the difference, as they are as nearly +as possible the same colour. Your horse is good enough for +anything; but if I could not keep up with you its speed would be +useless. Now, I think, we can keep together if we have to ride +for it.</p> + +<p>"What have you got in that valise, Malcolm? One would think +that you were going upon a campaign."</p> + +<p>"I have got four bottles of good wine, and bread and meat +enough to last us for two days. I do not mean, if I can help it, +to enter a shop or stop at an inn till we arrive at Tours. We can +make a shift to sleep for tonight in a wood. It would be safer a +thousand times than an inn, for I will bet fifty to one that if +we ventured to enter one we should find one or both of our horses +lame on starting again."</p> + +<p>"Oh come, Malcolm, that's too much! The Duke of Chateaurouge +is not ubiquitous. He has not an army to scatter over all +France."</p> + +<p>"No, he has not," Malcolm agreed; "but from what I know of him +I doubt not that he can lay his hands on a number of men who will +stick at nothing to carry out his orders and earn his money. +Paris swarms with discharged soldiers and ruffians of all kinds, +and with plenty of gold to set the machine in motion there is no +limit to the number of men who might be hired for any desperate +deed."</p> + +<p>As they were talking they were making their way towards one of +the southern gates. They arrived there before it opened, and had +to wait a few minutes. Several other passengers on horseback and +foot were gathered there.</p> + +<p>"I could bet a crown piece," Malcolm said, "that some one +among this crowd is on the watch for us, and that before another +half hour the Duke of Chateaurouge will know that we have +started."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_X_A_Perilous_Journey_"></a>CHAPTER X: A Perilous +Journey.</h1> + +<p>A number of peasants with market carts were waiting outside +the gates, and for the first few miles of their ride the road was +dotted with people making their way to the city. As they rode, +Malcolm discussed the question of the best road to be taken. +Ronald himself was still in favour of pushing straight forward, +for he was not so convinced as his follower that a serious +attempt would be made to interrupt their journey. He pointed out +that the road, as far as Orleans at least, was one of the most +frequented in France, and that in that city even the most +reckless would hardly venture to assault them.</p> + +<p>"I agree with you, Ronald, that the road offers less +opportunities for ambushes than most others, for the country is +flat and well cultivated; but after all a dozen men with muskets +could lie in ambush in a cornfield as well as a wood, and the +fact that people are going along the road counts for little one +way or the other, for not one in fifty would venture to interfere +if they saw a fray going on. But granting that so far as Orleans +the country is open and cultivated, beyond that it is for the +most part forest; but above all -- although they may regard it as +possible that we may be on our guard, and may travel by other +roads -- it is upon this direct line that they are sure to make +the most preparations for us. Beyond that it can only be chance +work. We may go by one road or by another. There may be one trap +set on each road; but once past that and we are safe."</p> + +<p>After riding for upwards of an hour they came, at the turn of +the road, upon two carts. One had apparently broken down, and the +other had stopped that those with it might give assistance in +repairing it. One cart was turned across the road, and the other +filled the rest of the space.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" Malcolm exclaimed, checking his horse suddenly.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Ronald asked in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Turn back!" Malcolm said sharply as he wheeled his horse +round.</p> + +<p>Ronald, without a word, did the same, and they galloped a +hundred yards down the road.</p> + +<p>"We were nearly caught there," Malcolm said.</p> + +<p>"Why, how do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind now, Ronald. Turn sharp to the right here, and +make a detour through the fields. You will soon see whether I was +right."</p> + +<p>"It is a shame riding through this ripe corn," Ronald said, as +without any further comment he leaped his horse over the bank and +dashed off among the golden grain, which stretched far and wide +on both sides of the road.</p> + +<p>They had not gone fifty yards before they heard loud shouts, +and as they came abreast of where the carts were standing several +shots were fired, and ten or twelve men were seen running through +the corn as if to cut them off. But although they heard the whiz +of the bullets they were too far off to be in much danger, and +the men on foot had no chance of cutting them off, a fact which +they speedily perceived, as one by one they halted and fired. A +few hundred yards farther the two horsemen came round into the +road again and pursued their journey.</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you think of that, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"It was an ambush, no doubt, Malcolm; but what on earth made +you suspect it? I saw nothing suspicious. Merely two carts in the +road, with three or four men doing something to one of the +wheels."</p> + +<p>"I am in a suspicious humour this morning, Ronald, and it is +lucky I am. The sight of the two carts completely blocking the +road brought me to a halt at once, and as I checked my horse I +saw a movement among the bushes on the right of the road, and +felt sure that it was an ambush. It was a well laid one, too, and +had we ridden on we should have been riddled with bullets. No +doubt there were men lying in the carts. They would have jumped +up as we came up to them, and the fellows in the bushes would +have taken us in the rear; between their two fires our chances +would have been small indeed. No doubt they had a man on watch, +and directly they saw us coming they got their carts across the +road, and took up their positions. It was a well contrived +scheme, and we have had a narrow escape."</p> + +<p>"Thanks to your quickness and watchfulness, Malcolm, which has +saved our lives. I admit that you are right and I was wrong, for +I own that I did not share your apprehensions as to the dangers +of our journey. Henceforth I will be as much on the lookout as +you are, and will look with suspicion at every beggar woman that +may pass."</p> + +<p>"And you will be right to do so," Malcolm said seriously; "but +for the present I think that we are safe. This, no doubt, was +their main ambush, and they may reasonably have felt certain of +success. However, we may be sure that they did not rely solely +upon it. This, no doubt, is the unmounted portion of their gang. +They were to try and put a stop to our journey at its outset; but +mounted men will have ridden on ahead, especially as they +couldn't have been sure that we should follow this road. We might +have gone out by one of the other gates at the south side of the +town, and they will have watched all the roads. Now I propose +that we take the next lane which branches off to the right, and +travel by byroads in future. Do not press your horse too fast. We +have a long journey before us, and must always have something in +hand in case it is necessary to press them to full speed."</p> + +<p>Two miles further a road branched to the right. As they +approached it Ronald was about to touch his horse's rein, when +Malcolm said shortly, "Ride straight on."</p> + +<p>Although surprised at this sudden change of plan, Ronald +obeyed without question.</p> + +<p>"What was that for?" he asked when he had passed the +turning.</p> + +<p>"Did you not see that man lying down by the heap of stones at +the corner?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I saw him; but what of that?"</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt he was on the lookout for us. Yes, I thought +so," he went on, as he stood up in his stirrups and looked back; +"there, do you see that horse's head in that little thicket, just +this side of where the road separates? I expected as much. If we +had turned off, in another two minutes that fellow would have +been galloping along this road to take the news to those ahead, +and they would have ridden to cut us off further along. I have no +doubt we shall find someone on watch at every turning between +this and Orleans."</p> + +<p>"But this is a regular campaign, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"It is a campaign, Ronald. The ruffians and thieves of Paris +form a sort of army. They have heads whom they implicitly obey, +and those who have money enough to set this machine in motion can +command the services of any number of men. Sharp fellows, too, +many of them are, and when they received orders to arrest our +journey to Tours at any cost, they would not omit a single +precaution which could ensure success. Their former attack upon +you, and its result, will have showed them that we are not +children, and that the enterprise was one which demanded all +their efforts."</p> + +<p>"What is our next move now, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"We will turn off before we get to the next road. They can see +a long way across these level plains; so we will dismount and +lead our horses. The corn is well nigh shoulder deep, and if we +choose a spot where the ground lies rather low, neither that +scoundrel behind nor the one at the next road is likely to see +us."</p> + +<p>Half a mile further there was a slight dip in the ground.</p> + +<p>"This is a good spot," Malcolm said. "This depression extends +far away on our right, and although it is very slight, and would +not conceal us if the ground were bare, it will do so now, so let +us take advantage of it."</p> + +<p>So saying he dismounted, and leading his horse, turned into +the cornfield. Ronald followed him, and for two miles they kept +straight on through the corn; then they came upon a narrow road +connecting two villages. They mounted and turned their horses' +heads to the south.</p> + +<p>"It is as well that none of the peasants saw us making through +their corn," Ronald said, "or we should have had them upon us +with stone and flail like a swarm of angry bees."</p> + +<p>"It could not be helped," Malcolm replied, "and we could +easily have ridden away from them. However, it is just as well +that we have had no bother with them. Now we will quicken our +pace. We are fairly between two of the main roads south, and if +we can contrive to make our way by these village tracks we shall +at any rate for some time be free from all risk of +molestation."</p> + +<p>"I should think we should be free altogether," Ronald said. +"When they find we do not come along the road they will suppose +we have been killed at the first ambush."</p> + +<p>Malcolm shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Do not build upon that, Ronald. No doubt as soon as we had +passed, some of those fellows mounted the horses we saw in the +carts, and rode off in accordance with an agreed plan to give +notice that we had passed them safely, and were proceeding by +that road. In the next place the fellow we saw on watch would +most likely after a time mount and follow us, and when he got to +the watcher at the next crossroad and found that we had not come +along there would know that we must have turned off either to the +right or left. One of them is doubtless before this on his way to +the next party with the news, while the other has set to work to +find out where we turned off, which will be easy enough to +discover. Still, we have gained something, and may fairly reckon +that if we ride briskly there is no fear of those who were posted +along the road we have left cutting us off."</p> + +<p>They rode all day at a steady pace, stopping occasionally for +a short time to allow the horses a rest and a feed. The people in +the quiet little villages looked in surprise at the young officer +and his follower as they rode through their street or stopped for +a quarter of an hour while the horses were fed, for even Malcolm +agreed that such pauses were unattended by danger. It was rarely, +indeed, that a stranger passed along these bypaths, and the +peasants wondered among themselves what could induce them to +travel by country byways instead of following the main roads.</p> + +<p>As they left the rich plains of the Beauce, the country was +less carefully cultivated. The fields of corn were no longer +continuous, and presently they came to tracts of uncultivated +land with patches of wood. They now left the little road they had +been following, and rode straight across country, avoiding all +villages. They crossed several hills, and late in the afternoon +drew rein in a wide spreading forest. They were, Malcolm thought, +quite as far south as Orleans, and by starting at daylight would +arrive at Tours by midday.</p> + +<p>"Here at least we are perfectly safe," he said; "when we +approach Tours our perils will begin again. When once they find +that we have given them the slip they are not likely to try to +intercept us anywhere along the route till we near the town, for +they will know that the chances are enormous against their doing +so, and the parties along the various roads will push on so as to +meet us somewhere near that city. The river can only be crossed +at certain points, and they will feel sure we shall go by one or +other of them."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose we shall," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"No, Ronald; my idea is that we turn west and ride to Le Mans, +then take a wide detour and enter Tours from the south side. It +will take us a day longer, but that is of little consequence, and +I think that we shall in that way entirely outwit them. The only +precaution we shall have to take is to cross the main road on our +right at some point remote from any town or village."</p> + +<p>"I think that is a capital plan. I do not mind a share of fair +fighting; but to be shot down suddenly in an ambush like that of +this morning, I own I have little fancy for it."</p> + +<p>Hobbling their horses, they turned them loose to pick up what +they could in the forest, and then sat down to enjoy a good meal +from the ample supply Malcolm had brought with him. When night +fell they unstrapped their cloaks from their saddles and rolled +themselves in them, and lay down to sleep. An hour later they +were roughly awakened, each being seized by three men, who, +before they could attempt to offer resistance, bound their arms +to their sides, and then hurried them along through the +forest.</p> + +<p>"I have been a fool, Ronald," Malcolm said bitterly; "I ought +to have kept watch."</p> + +<p>"It was not your fault, Malcolm. One could never have guessed +that they would have found us in this forest. Somebody must have +followed us at a distance and marked us down, and brought the +rest upon us; but even had you kept watch it would have been no +good, for they would have shot us down before we could make any +resistance."</p> + +<p>"I wonder they didn't cut our throats at once," Malcolm said. +"I don't know what they are troubling to make us prisoners +for."</p> + +<p>Presently they saw a light in the forest ahead of them, and +soon arrived at a spot where a number of men were sitting round a +fire.</p> + +<p>"You had no trouble with them, Pierre, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"No, captain, they slept as soundly as moles. They have been +speaking some strange language as we came along."</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" Malcolm exclaimed fervently. "I think, after all, +Ronald, we have only fallen in with a band of robbers, and not +with our enemies."</p> + +<p>"Unbind their hands," the captain of the band said, "but first +take away their swords and pistols. Gentlemen, may I ask you to +be seated; and then, perhaps, you will inform us what you, an +officer in the Scotch dragoons, as I perceive by your uniform, +are doing here in the forest?"</p> + +<p>Ronald, to whom the question was principally addressed, +replied frankly:</p> + +<p>"We took to this forest, I fancy, for the same reason for +which you use it, namely, for safety. We are on our way to Tours, +and there are some people who have interest in preventing our +arriving there. They made one attempt to stop us near Paris; +fortunately that failed, or we should not be now enjoying your +society; but as it was likely that another attempt would be made +upon the road, we thought it better to leave it altogether and +take to the forest for the night."</p> + +<p>"What interest could anyone have in preventing an officer of +the king from arriving at Tours?" the man asked doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"It is rather a long story," Ronald said, "but if it is of +interest to you I shall be happy to relate it; and I may mention +that there are three bottles of good wine in the valise of one of +the saddles, and a story is none the worse for such an +accompaniment."</p> + +<p>A laugh went round the circle at Ronald's coolness, and a man +stepped forward with the two saddles which he had carried from +the spot when the captives had been seized. The wine was taken +out and opened.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the captain of the band said, after tasting it, "the +wine is good; now let us have your story."</p> + +<p>Ronald gave them an outline of his history, told them how his +father and mother had been for many years imprisoned for marrying +contrary to the king's pleasure, and how he had at last obtained +the royal order for their release, and how the enemies of his +parents were now trying to prevent him from having those orders +carried out. "There are the orders," Ronald said as he concluded, +taking them from the inner pocket where he carried them. "You see +they are addressed to the abbess of the convent of Our Lady at +Tours, and to the governor of Blois."</p> + +<p>"The story you tell us is a singular one," the captain +replied, "and I doubt not its truth. What was the name of your +father?"</p> + +<p>"He was Colonel Leslie, and commanded the same regiment to +which I belong."</p> + +<p>"I remember him," one of the band said. "Our regiments were +quartered together, nigh twenty years ago, at Flanders, and I was +in Paris at the time when he was imprisoned. We were in the next +barracks to the Scotchmen, and I remember what a stir it made. +The regiment was very nigh mutinying."</p> + +<p>"And I remember you too, though I cannot recall your name," +Malcolm said, rising and looking hard at the speaker; "and if I +mistake not we have cracked many a flask together, and made many +a raid on the hen roosts of the Flemish farmers. My name is +Malcolm Anderson."</p> + +<p>"I remember you well," the other said, rising and giving him +his hand. "Of course I met you scores of times, for the regiments +were generally brigaded together."</p> + +<p>"That confirms your story altogether, monsieur," the captain +of the band said. "From this moment do not consider yourself a +prisoner any longer. I may say that we had no expectation of +booty in your case, and you were captured rather from curiosity +than from any other reason. One of my men, this afternoon, +happened to see you ride into the wood and then dismount and make +preparations for passing the night there. He reported the matter +to me. I know that gentlemen of your cloth -- I may say of mine, +for I was once an officer of his majesty, though I left the +service somewhat hastily," and he smiled, "on account of an +unfortunate deficiency in the funds of the regiment in which I +happened, at the time, to be acting as paymaster -- are seldom +burdened with spare cash, but the incident seemed so strange that +I determined to capture and question you. If you happen to have +more cash on you than you care about carrying we shall be glad to +purchase a few bottles of wine equal to that which you have given +us. If not, I can assure you that I do not press the +matter.".</p> + +<p>"I am obliged to you for your courtesy," Ronald said; "and as +at present I really happen to be somewhat flush of cash I am +happy to contribute ten louis for the laudable purpose you +mention."</p> + +<p>So saying he took out his purse, counted out ten pieces, and +handed them to the captain.</p> + +<p>The action was received with a round of applause, for the +robbers had not, from the first, anticipated obtaining any booty +worth speaking of, and the turn affairs had taken had altogether +driven any idea of gain from their minds.</p> + +<p>"I thank you warmly, sir," the captain said, "and promise you +that I will tomorrow despatch a messenger to Orleans, which is +but ten miles away, and will lay out the money in liquor, with +which we will, tomorrow night, drink your health and success in +the enterprise. Nay, more, if you like, a dozen of my men shall +accompany you on your road to Tours. They have, for various +reasons, which I need not enter into, a marked objection to +passing through towns, but as far as Blois they are at your +service."</p> + +<p>"I thank you for your offer," Ronald replied, "but will not +accept it, as we intend to ride tomorrow morning to Le Mans, and +then to enter Tours from the south side, by which we shall throw +our enemies completely off the scent."</p> + +<p>"But why do you not go to Blois first?" the man asked. "It is +on your way to Tours."</p> + +<p>"I wish my mother to be present at the release of my father. +So long a confinement may well have broken him down. Now that I +see how obstinately bent our enemies are upon our destruction I +will take with me two or three stout fellows from Tours, to act +as an escort."</p> + +<p>"What day will you be leaving there?" the man asked.</p> + +<p>"Today is Tuesday," Ronald said; "on Thursday we shall be at +Tours, on Friday morning we shall leave."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the man replied, "we will be on the road. It is +no difference to us where we are, and as well there as here. I +will have men scattered all along in the forest between Blois and +Amboise, and if I find that there are any suspicious parties +along the road we will catch them, and if you are attacked you +will find that we are close at hand to help you. You are a +generous fellow, and your story has interested me. We gentlemen +of the woods are obliged to live, whatever the law says; but if +we can do a good action to anybody it pleases us as well as +others."</p> + +<p>"I am greatly obliged to you," Ronald said, "and can promise +you, anyhow, that your time shall be not altogether thrown +away."</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards the whole band lay down round the fire and +were sound asleep. In the morning Malcolm saddled the two horses, +and after a hearty adieu from the captain and his followers -- +all of whom were discharged soldiers who had been driven to take +up this life from an inability to support themselves in any other +way -- they started for Le Mans, which town they reached late in +the afternoon, without adventure.</p> + +<p>Deeming it in the highest degree improbable that any watch +would be set for them at a place so far from their line of +travel, they put up for the night at the principal inn. In the +morning they again started, and after riding for some distance to +the south, made a wide sweep, and crossing the river, entered +Tours from the south, late in the evening. They again put up at +the principal inn, for although they doubted not that their +arrival would be noticed by the emissaries of the enemy, they had +no fear of molestation in a town like Tours. And on the following +morning Ronald presented himself at the entrance to the +convent.</p> + +<p>"I wish to see the lady superior," he said to the lay sister +at the wicket. "I am the bearer of a communication to her from +the king."</p> + +<p>He was left waiting for a few minutes outside the gate, then +the wicket door opened, and the sister requested him to follow +her. Not a soul was to be seen as he traversed the gloomy courts +and passed through several corridors to the room where the abbess +was waiting him. In silence he handed to her the king's order. +The abbess opened and read it.</p> + +<p>"His majesty's commands shall be obeyed," she said; "in an +hour the countess will be in readiness to depart."</p> + +<p>"A carriage shall be in waiting at the gate to receive her," +Ronald said, bowing, and then, without another word, retired.</p> + +<p>Malcolm was awaiting him outside, and they at once went to the +officer of the royal post and engaged a carriage and post horses +to take them to Blois.</p> + +<p>The carriage was at the door at the appointed time, and a few +minutes later the gate opened, and the countess, in travelling +attire, issued out, and in a moment was clasped in her son's +arms. He at once handed her into the carriage and took his place +beside her. Malcolm closed the door and leapt up on the box, the +postilion cracked his whip, and the carriage moved off.</p> + +<p>"Can it be true, Ronald, or am I dreaming? It is but a week +since you were here last, and the news of my release came upon me +with such a surprise that, do you know, I fainted. Am I really +free? Is it possible that I have seen the last of those hateful +walls? It seems like a dream. Where are we going?"</p> + +<p>"We are going to Blois."</p> + +<p>"To a prison?" the countess exclaimed. "But no, there are no +guards or escorts. Are we going, oh, Ronald, are we going to see +my husband?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, mother, we are going, not only to see him but to release +him. I have the king's order in my pocket."</p> + +<p>For some time the countess was unable to speak, her joy was +too great for words. Then tears came to her relief, and she +sobbed out exclamations of joy and gratitude. Ronald said nothing +until she had somewhat recovered her calmness, and then he told +her the manner in which Marshal Saxe had obtained the two orders +of release.</p> + +<p>"I will pray for him night and morning to the last day of my +life," the countess said. "God is indeed good to me. I had hoped, +from what you said, that my term of imprisonment was drawing to +an end; but I had looked forward to a long struggle, to endless +efforts and petitions before I could obtain your father's +release, with, perhaps, failure in the end. Not for one moment +did I dream that such happiness as this awaited me."</p> + +<p>Ronald now thought it wise to repeat the warning which the +marshal had given him.</p> + +<p>"Mother, dear," he said "you must be prepared to find that a +total change will have taken place in my father. His imprisonment +has been a very different one to yours. You have had companions +and a certain amount of freedom and comfort. You have had people +to speak to, and have known what is going on in the world. He has +been cut off altogether from mankind. He cannot even know whether +you are alive, or whether you may not have yielded to the +pressure that would be sure to be brought upon you, and +acquiesced in a divorce being obtained. He has, doubtless, been +kept in a narrow cell, deprived almost of the air and light of +heaven. He will be greatly changed, mother. He will not be like +you; for it does not seem to me that you have changed much from +what you were. I could not see you much that night on the +terrace; but now I see you I can hardly believe that you are my +mother, so young do you look."</p> + +<p>"I am nearly forty," the countess said smiling. "I was past +twenty-one when I married. Had I not been of age they could have +pronounced the marriage null and void. But you are right, Ronald, +and I will prepare myself to find your father greatly changed. It +cannot be otherwise after all he has gone through; but so that I +have him again it is enough for me, no matter how great the +change that may have taken place in him. But who are these men?" +the countess exclaimed, as, a quarter of a mile outside the town, +four men on horseback took up their places, two on each side of +the carriage.</p> + +<p>"Do not be alarmed, mother, they are our escort. Malcolm hired +them at Le Mans. They are all old soldiers, and can be relied on +in case of necessity."</p> + +<p>"But what need can there be for them, Ronald? I have heard +that bands of discharged soldiers and others make travelling +insecure; but I had no idea that it was necessary to have an +armed escort."</p> + +<p>"Not absolutely necessary, mother, but a useful measure of +precaution. We heard of them as we came through from Paris, and +Malcolm and I agreed, that as you would have with you any jewels +and valuables that you took to the convent, it would be just as +well to be in a position to beat off any who might be disposed to +trouble us. As you see, they have brought with them Malcolm's +horse and mine, and we shall now mount. The less weight the +horses have to draw the better. I will get in and have a talk +from time to time where the road happens to be good; but, to tell +you the truth, the jolting and shaking are neither pleasant nor +good for talking."</p> + +<p>"You are expecting to be attacked, Ronald," the countess said. +"I am sure you would not be wanting to get out and leave me so +soon after we have met did you not anticipate some danger."</p> + +<p>"Frankly, mother, then, I do think it is probable that an +attempt may be made to stop us, and that not by regular robbers, +but by your enemies. They did their best to prevent me from +reaching Tours, and will now most likely try to prevent our +arriving at Blois. I will tell you all about it when we get there +tonight. Here is the order for my father's release. Will you hide +it in your dress? I had rather not have it about me. And, mother, +if we should be attacked, do not be alarmed, for I have reason to +believe that if we should be outnumbered and hard pressed, help +will speedily be forthcoming."</p> + +<p>"I am not in the least afraid for myself," the countess said; +"but be careful, Ronald. Remember I have only just found you, and +for my sake do not expose yourself unnecessarily."</p> + +<p>"I will take care of myself, mother," he said. "You know I +have always had to do so."</p> + +<p>Malcolm had already mounted his horse, and Ronald was really +glad when he took his place beside him a few yards ahead of the +carriage. The art both of road making and carriage building was +still in its infancy. When the weather was fine and the ground +hard a fair rate of progress could be maintained; but in wet +weather the vehicles often sank almost up to their axles in mud +holes and quagmires, and the bumping and jolting were +terrible.</p> + +<p>"Now we take up our work of looking out for ambushes again, +Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"It will not be quite the same thing now," Malcolm said. +"Before, two or three men with guns behind a wall might do the +business, now they will have to make a regular attack. I have no +doubt that we were watched from the time we entered the town, and +that the news that we are travelling with the countess in a +carriage, and with an escort of four armed men, has been carried +on ahead already. It is by horsemen that we shall be attacked +today if we are attacked at all, and they will probably fall upon +us in the forest beyond Amboise. They will know that with a +vehicle we must keep the road, and that as we cannot travel more +than six miles an hour at the outside, we cannot attempt to +escape by our speed."</p> + +<p>"Do you think we had better wait at Amboise for the night and +go on to Orleans tomorrow?"</p> + +<p>"No, I think we had better push straight on, especially as we +told our friends in the forest that we should come today, and I +feel sure they will keep their promise to be on the lookout to +aid us. If it were not for that I should have said let us stay at +Tours for the present, for we may expect to be attacked by a +force much superior to our own."</p> + +<p>"Why, they would not have sent down more than six men to +attack us two, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"No, if they had been sure which road we should travel; but as +they didn't know that, they may have had small parties at half a +dozen spots, and these will now be united. Probably there may be +a score of them. However, I rely on the robbers. The captain +meant what he said, and you won the goodwill of all the men. If +there are a dozen horsemen anywhere along the road they are sure +to know of it, and will, I have no doubt, post themselves close +at hand so as to be ready to join in the fray as soon as it +commences."</p> + +<p>Amboise was reached without adventure. Here the horses in the +carriage were changed, and the party proceeded on their way. Four +miles further they entered a great forest. Ronald now ordered two +of the men to ride a few yards in front of the horses' heads. He +and Malcolm rode on each side of the coach, the other two +followed close behind. He ordered the driver, in case they were +attacked, to jump off instantly and run to the horses' heads, and +keep them quiet during the fray.</p> + +<p>A vigilant lookout was kept. Suddenly, when they were in the +thickest part of the wood, a number of mounted men dashed out +from either side. In obedience to the orders Ronald had given, +the men in front and behind at once closed in, so that there were +three on either side of the carriage. The assailants fired their +pistols as they dashed down, but the bullets flew harmlessly by, +while the fire of the defenders, sitting quietly on their horses, +was more accurate, two of the assailants falling dead, while +another was severely wounded.</p> + +<p>A moment later swords were drawn, and a furious combat ensued. +Ronald had told his men to keep close to the carriage, so that +they could not be attacked in the rear, keeping just far enough +out on either side of him to be able to use their swords. For a +short time the defenders of the coach maintained their position, +the number of their assailants giving them but slight advantage, +as they were unable to utilize their force.</p> + +<p>Ronald ran the first man who attacked him through the body, +and laid open the face of the next with a sweeping blow from left +to right. The men they had hired fought stoutly; but they were +being pressed together as the assailants urged forward their +horses, when suddenly a volley of firearms was heard.</p> + +<p>Several of the assailants fell dead, and with a loud shout a +number of men rushed out from the wood and fell upon them in +rear. The assailants turned to fly, and it was now the turn of +the defenders of the coach to attack, which they did +furiously.</p> + +<p>In two or three minutes all was over. Five or six only of the +assailants cut their way through the footmen who had attacked +them in rear, while twelve lay dead or dying on the ground. +Ronald's first impulse was to ride up to the carriage to assure +his mother of his safety, his next to leap off his horse and +grasp the hand of the chief of the robbers.</p> + +<p>"You have kept your promise nobly," he said, "and arrived at +the very nick of time. They were beginning to press us hotly; and +though I fancy we should have rendered an account of a good many +more, we must have been beaten in the end."</p> + +<p>"I was farther behind than I intended to be," the man said; +"but we were obliged to keep in hiding some little distance +behind them. There were four parties of them. We kept them in +sight all yesterday, and last night they assembled a mile or two +away. I had men watching them all night, and this morning we +followed them here, and saw them take up their position on both +sides of the road. We crept up as closely as we dared without +being observed, but you had for a couple of minutes to bear the +brunt of it alone."</p> + +<p>"I thank you most heartily," Ronald said. "My mother will +thank you herself" So saying, he led them to the door of the +carriage, which he opened.</p> + +<p>"Mother, I told you that if we were attacked I relied upon +help being near at hand. We owe our lives, for I have no doubt +that yours as well as mine would have been taken, to this brave +man and his followers."</p> + +<p>"I thank you most sincerely, sir," the countess said. "At +present I feel like one in a dream; for I have been so long out +of the world that such a scene as this has well nigh bewildered +me."</p> + +<p>"I am only too glad to have been of service," the man said as +he stood bareheaded. "I am not a good man, madame. I am one of +those whom the necessities of the times have driven to earn their +living as they can without much regard to the law; but I trust +that I have not quite lost my instincts as a gentleman, and I am +only too glad to have been able to be of some slight assistance +to a persecuted lady; for your son, the other night, related to +us something of the treatment which you have had to endure."</p> + +<p>With a bow he now stepped back. His followers were engaged in +searching the pockets of the fallen, and found in them a store of +money which spoke well for the liberality of their employer, and +well satisfied the robbers for the work they had undertaken. +After a few words with her son the countess opened a small bag +she carried with her, and taking from it a valuable diamond +brooch, called the leader of the band up and presented it to +him.</p> + +<p>Ronald and his party then remounted their horses -- the +robbers had already overtaken and caught those of the fallen +assailants -- the driver mounted the box, and after a cordial +farewell to their rescuers the party proceeded on their way to +Blois.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XI_Free_"></a>CHAPTER XI: +Free.</h1> + +<p>It was late at night before Blois was reached, and having +alighted at the Aigle d'Or they engaged a private room.</p> + +<p>"Even the Duke of Chateaurouge will be satisfied," Ronald +said, "that his schemes have failed, and that no more can be done +just at present. It will be a bitter blow to him when those +scoundrels, on their return to Paris, report their utter failure, +for he must have considered it impossible that we could escape +from the toils he had laid for us. I only wish that we had clear +evidence that he is the author of these attempts. If so, I would +go straight with Marshal Saxe and lay an accusation against him +before the king; but however certain we may feel about it, we +have really nothing to connect him with the affair, and it would +be madness to accuse a king's favourite unless one could prove +absolutely the truth of what one says. However, I hope some day +that I shall get even with him. It will not be my fault if I do +not."</p> + +<p>That night Ronald and his mother debated what would be the +best way to proceed in the morning, and finally they agreed that +Malcolm should present himself at the prison with the order of +release, and that they should remain at the hotel, to which +Malcolm should bring Colonel Leslie, after breaking to him the +news that his wife and son were both awaiting him. The shock, in +any case, of sudden liberty, would be a severe one, and the +meeting with his attached comrade would act as a preparation for +that with his wife.</p> + +<p>Mother and son sat hand in hand after hearing the carriage +drive off with Malcolm next morning. In the hours they had spent +together they had come to know each other, and the relationship +had become a real one. They had scarce been able to make out each +other's features at their midnight meeting on the terrace, and at +that meeting, rejoiced as they both were, there was still a +feeling of strangeness between them. Now they knew each other as +they were, and both were well satisfied. The countess was less +strange to Ronald than he was to her. Malcolm had already +described her to him as he knew her eighteen years before, and +the reality agreed closely with the ideal that Ronald had +pictured to himself, except that she was younger and brighter. +For in thinking of her he had told himself over and over again +that she would have grown much older, that her hair might have +turned gray with grief and trouble, and her spirit been +altogether broken.</p> + +<p>She on her part had been able to form no idea as to what the +infant she had last seen would have grown up, and was not even +sure that he was in existence. She had hoped that if he had lived +he would have grown up like his father, and although she now saw +but slight resemblance between them, she was indeed well +satisfied with her son.</p> + +<p>He was not, she thought, as handsome as his father, but he +bade fair to surpass him in strength and stature. She was +delighted with his manly bearing; and when he laughed he reminded +her of her husband, and she thought that she read in his gray eye +and firm mouth a steadfastness and depth of character equal to +his. They spoke but little now. Both were too anxious, Ronald for +his mother's sake rather than his own. He was prepared to find +this unknown father a man broken down by his years of captivity; +but although his mother said that she too was prepared for great +changes, he could not but think that the reality would be a sad +shock to her. In little over an hour the carriage drove into the +courtyard.</p> + +<p>"Be brave, mother," Ronald said, as he felt the hand he held +in his own tremble violently. "You must be calm for his +sake."</p> + +<p>Steps were heard approaching. The door opened, and Malcolm +entered with a man leaning on his arm. The countess with a cry of +joy sprang forward, and the next moment was clasped in her +husband's arms.</p> + +<p>"At last, my love, at last!" she said.</p> + +<p>Ronald drew aside to the window to leave his father and mother +to enjoy the first rapture of their meeting undisturbed, while +Malcolm slipped quietly from the room again.</p> + +<p>"Why, Amelie," Leslie said at last, holding her at arms' +length that he might look the better at her, "you are scarce +changed. It does not seem to me that you are five years older +than when I saw you last, and yet Malcolm tells me that you too +have been a prisoner. How much my love has cost you, dear! No, +you are scarce changed, while I have become an old man -- my hair +is as white as snow, and I am so crippled with rheumatism I can +scarce move my limbs."</p> + +<p>"You are not so much changed, Angus. Your hair is white and +your face is very pale; but you are not so much changed. If I +have suffered for your love, dear, what have you suffered for +mine! I have been a prisoner in a way, but I had a certain amount +of freedom in my cage, while you --" And she stopped.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it has been hard," he said; "but I kept up my spirits, +Amelie. I never lost the hope that some day we should be +reunited."</p> + +<p>"And now, Angus, here is our boy, to whom we owe our liberty +and the joy of this meeting. You may well be proud of such a +son."</p> + +<p>"I am proud," Leslie said as Ronald advanced, and he took him +in his arms. "God bless you, my boy. You have performed well nigh +a miracle. Malcolm has been telling me of you. Call him in again. +It is right that he to whom you owe so much should share in our +happiness."</p> + +<p>Ronald at once fetched Malcolm, and until late at night they +talked of all that had happened during so many years. Colonel +Leslie had passed the first three years of his confinement in the +Chatelet. "It was well it was no longer," he said; "for even I, +hard as I was with years of soldiering, could not have stood that +much longer. My cell there was below the level of the river. The +walls were damp, and it was there I got the rheumatism which has +crippled me ever since. Then they moved me to Blois, and there my +cell was in one of the turrets, and the sun shone in through the +window slit for half an hour a day; besides for an hour once a +week I was allowed to take what they called exercise on the wall +between my turret and the next. The governor was not a bad +fellow, and did not try to pocket the best part of the money +allowed for the keep of the prisoners. Fortunately I never lost +hope. Had I done so I would have thrown myself over the parapet +and ended it at once. I felt sure that you too were shut up, +Amelie, and I pictured to myself how they would try to make you +give me up; but I never thought they would succeed, dear. I knew +you too well for that. Sometimes for months I lay as if paralysed +by rheumatism, and I think I should have died if I had not known +how my enemies would have rejoiced at the news of my death. So I +held on stoutly, and I have got my reward."</p> + +<p>But the hardships had told their tale. Although but the same +age as Malcolm Anderson, Colonel Leslie looked fully ten years +older. His long confinement had taken every tinge of colour out +of his face, and left it almost ghastly in its whiteness. He +could with difficulty lift his hands to his head, and he walked +as stiffly as if his legs had been jointless. His voice only had +not lost the cheery ring his wife remembered.</p> + +<p>"No, Amelie," he said when she remarked this. "I kept my +tongue in practice; it was the one member that was free. After I +had been confined a few months it struck me that I was rapidly +losing the power of speech, and I determined that if I could not +talk for want of someone to answer me, I could at least sing, and +having a good store of songs, Scottish and French, I sang for +hours together, at first somewhat to the uneasiness of the prison +authorities, who thought that I could not be so merry unless I +had some communication from without, or was planning an escape; +but at last they grew accustomed to it, and as my voice could not +travel through the thick walls of my cells, it annoyed no +one."</p> + +<p>"And did you never think of escaping, father?"</p> + +<p>"The first few years of my confinement I was always thinking +of it, Ronald, but nothing ever came of my thought. I had no +tools to burrow through a four foot wall, and if I could have +done so I should have tried if it had only been to give me +something to do, had it not been that I hoped some day to obtain +my release, and that any attempt at escape would, if discovered, +as it was almost certain to be, decrease my chances."</p> + +<p>Not a word was said that evening as to their future plans, all +their thoughts being in the past; but the next morning Colonel +Leslie said at breakfast:</p> + +<p>"And now what are we going to do next? How do we stand?"</p> + +<p>"I know no more than you do, Angus. I do not know whether the +king has gifted my mother's estate to others, as assuredly he has +done my father's lands. If he has, I have been thinking that the +best plan will be to ask the king's permission to leave the +kingdom and return to your native Scotland."</p> + +<p>"I am very fond of Scotland, Amelie; but I have also a +fondness for living, and how I should live in Scotland I have not +the most remote idea. My estate there was but a small one, and +was forfeited thirty years ago; so unless I become a gaberlunzie +and sit on the steps of St. Andrews asking for alms, I don't see +how we should get porridge, to say nothing of anything else. No, +Amelie, it seems to me that we must stop in France. For very +shame they cannot let the daughter of the Marquis de Recambours +starve, and they must at least restore you a corner of your +parents estates, if it be but a farm. How are we off for funds at +present?" he asked with a laugh. "I hope at least we have enough +to pay our hotel bill."</p> + +<p>"We have forty louis in cash, father; the remains of the +hundred you committed to Malcolm with me."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" he exclaimed. "All I can say is that that money +has lasted longer than any that ever passed through my fingers +before."</p> + +<p>"We have plenty of money," the countess said quietly. "I have +all the jewels which came to me from my mother, and their sale +will keep us for years, either in Scotland or France."</p> + +<p>"That is good indeed," the colonel said cheerily.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I took them all with me when I was sent to the convent, +and have parted with none save the diamond necklet which I gave +to the girl who brought Ronald and me together, as a parting +keepsake, and a brooch with which I rewarded the men who aided us +in the forest; but seriously, Angus, we must settle upon +something."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, Amelie; but what is that something to +be?"</p> + +<p>"I should think, Angus, that the proper thing would be for me +to write to the king thanking him for our release, asking his +commands, and petitioning him that my mother's estates may be +restored to me. I will also ask permission to retire to some +southern town where there are waters which may do good to your +rheumatism."</p> + +<p>Colonel Leslie frowned.</p> + +<p>"I suppose that is the right thing to do, Amelie; though, for +my part, I cannot thank a sovereign whom I have served well after +such treatment as I have received. I would rather beg my bread +from door to door."</p> + +<p>"No, I would not ask you, Angus, and of course you are +differently placed; but I have my rights as a peeress of France; +besides I have on my own account no complaint against the king. +It was my father who shut me up in the convent, not the +king."</p> + +<p>"By the way, Amelie," her husband said, "you are not yet in +mourning."</p> + +<p>"Nor do I intend to be," she said firmly; "unless I have to go +to court no thread of mourning do I put on. My father behaved +like a tyrant to me, and I will not feign a grief at an event +which has brought us happiness. Well, Ronald, what do you think +had best be done? You and Malcolm have managed so well that we +had best leave it for you to decide."</p> + +<p>"I think what you propose, mother, is best. I think you had +better travel down to some place near where your mother's estates +lay, and then write your petition to the king. I will leave you +there and return with it to Paris, and will there consult Colonel +Hume and Marshal Saxe as to how it should be delivered to the +king."</p> + +<p>This plan was carried out. The party journeyed together to +Poitiers, and there having seen his parents comfortably settled +in a small house near the town, and remained with them a few +days, Ronald with Malcolm returned to Paris, bearing with him his +mother's memorial to the king.</p> + +<p>Ronald was glad to find that Colonel Hume was now recovered +from his wound. Marshal Saxe too was better; the latter at once +took charge of the petition, and said that he would hand it to +the king on the first opportunity. Ronald accompanied the marquis +several times to Versailles, but the latter had no private +audience with the king, and thought it better not to present the +memorial in public. One day, however, he was called into the +king's closet.</p> + +<p>When he emerged with the king, Ronald thought from his +expression of countenance that things had not gone well. On +leaving the palace he mounted his horse -- for he was now well +enough to ride -- and as he set out he called Ronald, who with +other gentlemen had accompanied him to ride beside him.</p> + +<p>"Things have not gone well," he said. "Your father's enemies +have evidently been at work, and have been poisoning the king's +mind. He read the memorial, and then said harshly, 'The Countess +of Recambours has forfeited all rights to her mother's estates by +marrying an alien. The lands of France are for the King of +France's subjects, not for soldiers of fortune.' This touched me, +and I said, 'Your majesty may recollect that I am an alien and a +soldier of fortune, and methinks that in time of war the swords +of our soldiers of fortune have done such things for France that +they have earned some right to gratitude. In a hundred battles +our Scottish troops have fought in the front ranks, and had it +not been for the Irish Brigade we should not have had to write +Fontenoy down among the list of French victories."</p> + +<p>"You are bold, marshal," the king said angrily.</p> + +<p>"I am bold, sire," I replied, "because I am in the right: and +I humbly submit that a brave soldier like Colonel Leslie deserves +better treatment than he has received at the hands of +France."</p> + +<p>The king rose at once.</p> + +<p>"An answer to the petition will be sent to you tomorrow, +marshal."</p> + +<p>"I bowed, and without another word the king left his closet +and entered the room of audience. However, lad, you must not look +so downcast. We could perhaps expect no more the first time. Of +course every man who has a hope, or who has a relation who has a +hope, of obtaining the grant of your mother's estates is +interested in exciting the king's displeasure against her; +besides which there is, as you have told me, the Duc de +Chateaurouge, who may be regarded as a personal enemy of your +father, and who has the king's ear as much as anyone about him. +However, we must have courage. I consider my personal honour is +touched in the matter now, and I will not let the matter drop +till justice is done."</p> + +<p>At the appointed time Ronald again called at Marshal Saxe's +hotel, and watched the gay crowd of officers and nobles who were +gathered in his reception rooms. An hour later a royal attendant +entered and handed a document to the marshal. The latter glanced +at it and looked around. As soon as his eye fell upon Ronald he +nodded to him.</p> + +<p>"Here is the judgement," he said in a low tone, as he handed +him the paper. "You see it is directed to the countess, to my +care. I suppose you will start with it at once."</p> + +<p>"Yes, marshal; the horses are saddled and we shall leave +immediately."</p> + +<p>"Don't hurry your horses," the marshal said with a slight +smile; "from the king's manner I think that the contents are such +that a few hours' delay in the delivery will cause the countess +no pain. However, I do not anticipate anything very harsh. In the +first place, although the king is swayed by favourites who work +on his prejudices, his intention is always to be just; and in the +second place, after granting the release of your parents as a +boon to me he can scarcely annul the boon by any severe sentence. +Will you tell the countess from me that I am wholly at her +service, and that, should any opportunity offer, she may be sure +that I will do what I can to incline the king favourably towards +her. Lastly, Leslie, take care of yourself. The change in the +king's manner shows that you have powerful enemies, and now that +you have succeeded in obtaining your parents' freedom you have +become dangerous. Remember the attack that was made upon you +before, when there seemed but little chance that you would ever +succeed in obtaining their release or in seriously threatening +the interests of those who were looking forward to the reversion +of the family estates. Their enmity now, when it only needs a +change in the king's mood to do justice to your parents, will be +far greater than before.</p> + +<p>"Bid your father, too, to have a care for himself and your +mother. Remember that violence is common enough, and there are +few inquiries made. An attack upon a lonely house and the murder +of those within it is naturally put down as the act of some party +of discharged soldiers or other ruffians. Tell him therefore he +had best get a few trusty men around him, and be on guard night +and day against a treacherous attack. Those who stand in the way +of powerful men in France seldom live long, so he cannot be too +careful."</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later Ronald was on horseback. He had +already provided himself with a pass to leave the city after the +usual hour of closing the gates, and he and Malcolm were soon in +the open country. As they rode along Ronald repeated the warning +that the marshal had given him.</p> + +<p>"He is quite right, Ronald, and you cannot be too careful. We +have against us, first, this vindictive Duc de Chateaurouge, who, +no doubt, has poisoned the king's mind. In all France there is no +one whom I would not rather have as a foe. He is powerful, +unscrupulous, and vindictive; he would hesitate at nothing to +carry out anything on which he had set his mind, and would think +no more of obtaining the removal of one whom he considered to +stand in his way than of crushing a worm. Even as a young man he +had a villainous reputation, and was regarded as one of the most +dangerous men about the court. To do him justice, he is brave and +a fine swordsman, and for choice he would rather slay with his +own hands those who offend him than by other means. Though he was +but three-and-twenty at the time I first left France he had +fought half a dozen duels and killed as many men, and several +others who were known to have offended him died suddenly. Some +were killed in street brawls, returning home at night, one or two +were suspected of having been poisoned. Altogether the man was +feared and hated in those days, although, of course, none spoke +their suspicions openly.</p> + +<p>"From what I have heard those suspicions have stuck to him +ever since. He has not been engaged in many duels, because in the +first place edicts against duelling are very strict, and in the +second because his reputation as a swordsman is so great that few +would risk their lives against him. Still all who stood in his +way have somehow or other come to a sudden end. We must therefore +be on our guard night and day. He is, of course, your most +dangerous foe; but besides him must be numbered all those who +hope to obtain your mother's estates. The heirs of the marquis +doubtless feel perfectly safe from interference. There is no +chance whatever of the king dispossessing them in favour of a +foreigner, so we need not count them among your foes.</p> + +<p>"It is just as well, Ronald, that we started tonight instead +of waiting till tomorrow. The duke is pretty certain to learn +that the king's answer will be sent this evening, and may +possibly have made preparations for you on the road; but he will +hardly expect that you will start before the morning. However, in +order to be on the safe side I propose that we shall presently +turn off from the main road and avoid all large towns on our way +down to Poitiers."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the danger is as great as that, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think there is much danger, Ronald, just at present, +though I do in the future."</p> + +<p>Travelling by byways Ronald and Malcolm arrived at Poitiers +without adventure.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you the king's answer, mother," Ronald said as +he alighted; "but before you open it I may tell you that it is +unfavourable, though I am ignorant of the precise nature of its +contents. But you must not be disappointed. Marshal Saxe bade me +tell you that he considers his honour engaged in seeing you +righted, and that whenever an opportunity occurs he will +endeavour to move the king's mind in your favour. How is my +father?"</p> + +<p>"He suffers grievously from rheumatism, Ronald, and can scarce +move from his couch."</p> + +<p>As soon as they joined the colonel the countess opened the +king's letter. It was brief. "The Countess Amelie de Recambours +is hereby ordered to withdraw at once to her estate of La +Grenouille and there to await the king's pleasure concerning +her."</p> + +<p>The king's signature was affixed.</p> + +<p>"Well, that is not so very bad," the countess said. "At any +rate my right to one of my mother's estates is recognized. La +Grenouille is the smallest of them, and contains but three or +four farms. Still that will suffice for our wants, and as it lies +but twenty miles from Bordeaux the air will be warm and soft for +you, Angus."</p> + +<p>"Is there a chateau on it, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is a small chateau. I was there once as a girl. It +has never been modernized, but is still a castle such as it was +two hundred years ago."</p> + +<p>"All the better," Ronald said; and he then gave Malcolm's +reasons for their being on the watch against any sudden +attack.</p> + +<p>"He is quite right, Ronald," Colonel Leslie said. "The duke is +capable of anything. However, we will be on our guard, and if, as +your mother says, it is a fortified house, we need have no fear +of any sudden attack."</p> + +<p>"I would suggest, colonel, that I should ride to Tours," +Malcolm said, "and hire two of the men who escorted madame's +carriage. They have served in the wars and can be relied upon. +They would not need high wages, for most of the discharged +soldiers have trouble enough to keep body and soul together. With +a couple of men of this kind, and two or three of the men on the +estate, I think, colonel, you need fear no sudden attack."</p> + +<p>The colonel approved of the suggestion, and a week later, +Malcolm having returned with the two men, a carriage was hired to +convey the colonel and his wife, and so they journeyed quietly +down to La Grenouille. On arriving there they found that they +were expected, the old steward in charge having received a letter +from the royal chancellor, saying that he was to receive the +countess as the owner of the estate.</p> + +<p>The old man, who had known her mother well and remembered her +visits as a child, received the countess with respectful joy. The +chateau was, as Amelie had said, really a castle. It was +surrounded by a moat filled with water, from which the walls rose +abruptly, with no windows in the lower stories and only small +loopholes in those above. Although the steward was ignorant when +his mistress might be expected, he had already caused great fires +to be lighted in all the rooms and had temporarily engaged two of +the farmer's daughters to wait upon the countess, and three stout +men as servitors.</p> + +<p>"What are the revenues of the estate?" the countess asked the +steward that evening. "My mother's other estates have not been +restored to me as yet, and I have only this to depend upon, and I +do not know what establishment I can afford to keep up."</p> + +<p>"The revenue amounts to twelve thousand francs," he said. +"There are three large farms and four small ones. Twelve thousand +francs are not much, countess, for your mother's daughter; but +they go a long way here, where one can live for next to nothing. +We have a garden which will provide all the fruit and vegetables +you require, and your poultry will cost you nothing. The vineyard +attached to the chateau furnishes more than enough wine, and the +cellars are well filled, for every year I have put aside a few +barrels, so that in fact it will be only meat you have to +buy."</p> + +<p>"So that you think I can keep the two men I have brought with +me and the servants you have engaged?"</p> + +<p>"Easily, madam, and more if you wished it."</p> + +<p>"Do you think five men will be sufficient?" the countess said. +"I ask because I have powerful enemies, and in these lawless +times an attack upon a lonely house might well be carried +out."</p> + +<p>"With the drawbridge drawn up, madam, five men could hold the +chateau against a score, and the sound of the alarm bell would +bring all the tenants and their men down to your assistance. I +will answer for them all. There were great rejoicings last week +when I sent round the news that you were expected. The memory of +your mother, who once resided here for a year, is very dear to +all of us, and there is not a man on the estate but would take up +arms in your defence. The sound of the alarm bell would bring +thirty stout fellows, at least, to your aid."</p> + +<p>"Then we need not trouble on that score, Amelie," the colonel +said cheerfully. "Malcolm will see to the drawbridge tomorrow; +probably it has not been raised for years."</p> + +<p>"I have already been examining it," Malcolm -- who had just +entered the room -- said. "It only needs a little oil and a bolt +or two. I will have it raised tonight. Things look better than I +expected, colonel, and I shall be able to return to Paris without +having any anxiety upon your score."</p> + +<p>"But you are not thinking of going back, Ronald?" the countess +asked anxiously. "If there is danger here for us, there must be +surely danger for you in Paris. And I want you here with us."</p> + +<p>"I will stop for a few days, mother, and then Malcolm and I +will be off. As I have Marshal Saxe's protection I need fear no +open enmity from anyone, and as I shall be with the regiment I +shall be safe from the secret attacks; besides, my sword can +guard my head."</p> + +<p>"You have taught him to defend himself -- eh, Malcolm?" +Colonel Leslie said.</p> + +<p>"I," Malcolm repeated -- "I can use my sword in a melee, +colonel, as you know, and hold my own against Dutchman or German +when I meet them on the field; but Ronald is a different blade +altogether. He was well taught in Glasgow, and has practised +under the best maitres d'armes in Paris since, and I am proud to +say that I do not think there are ten men in France against whom +he could not hold his own."</p> + +<p>"That is good, that is good, indeed," the colonel said, +delighted. "Malcolm, I feel my obligations to you more and more +every day. Truly I had never even hoped that if my son were ever +to be restored to me, I should have such cause to be proud of +him."</p> + +<p>"But why do you think you had better return to Paris, Ronald?" +his mother inquired.</p> + +<p>"Because, mother, it will not do to let your enemies have +entirely their own way now that you have been so far restored. +Doubtless your family will be the more inclined to aid you with +their influence, but there must be somebody to urge them to do +so."</p> + +<p>"Besides, Amelie," the colonel put in, "we must not cage the +lad here at your apron strings. He has already won Saxe's regard +and protection by his conduct in the field, and can now accept a +commission in the old regiment. He has begun well, and may yet +live to command it. No, no, my love. I should like to keep him +here as much as you would, but in every way it is better that he +should go out and take his place in the world. To you and me, +after our long imprisonment, this place is life, freedom, and +happiness, and we are together; but for him it is a dreary little +country chateau, and he would soon long for a life among +men."</p> + +<p>And so, after three weeks' stay at the chateau, Ronald and +Malcolm rode back to Paris, and the former received a week later +a commission through Marshal Saxe in the Scottish Dragoons. That +regiment had returned from the frontier, and Ronald at once took +his place in its ranks, and was heartily received by all the +officers, to whom he was formally introduced by Colonel Hume as +the son of their former commanding officer.</p> + +<p>A short time afterwards it became the turn of duty of the +Scottish Dragoons to furnish guards for a week at Versailles, and +Colonel Hume took down two troops for that purpose. That to which +Ronald belonged was one of them. Ronald, knowing that for the +present he was not in favour with the king, begged the colonel to +put him on duty as often as possible, so that he might avoid the +necessity of being present at the king's audiences with the other +officers.</p> + +<p>He was one day walking with the colonel and several other +officers in the grounds at a distance from the palace, when they +came, at the turn of the walk, upon the Duc de Chateaurouge and +three other gentlemen of the court. The former stopped abruptly +before Colonel Hume.</p> + +<p>"I had the honour, Colonel Hume, to speak to you some time +since of a volunteer in your regiment who chose to call himself +the name of Leslie. I understand he is now an officer. I see by +the lists in the courtyard that a Cornet Leslie is now on duty +here. Where does he hide himself, for I have been seeking in vain +to meet him?"</p> + +<p>"Cornet Leslie is not one to balk any man's desire that way," +Colonel Hume said gravely. "This is Cornet Leslie."</p> + +<p>Ronald stepped forward and looked the duke calmly in the +face.</p> + +<p>"So this is the young cockerel," the duke said contemptuously. +"A worthy son of a worthy father, I doubt not."</p> + +<p>"At any rate, my lord duke," Ronald said quietly, "I do not +rid myself of my foes by getting those I am afraid to meet as man +to man thrown into prison, nor by setting midnight assassins upon +them. Nor do I rely upon my skill as a swordsman to be a bully +and a coward."</p> + +<p>The duke started as if struck.</p> + +<p>"I had made up my mind to kill you, young sir," he said, +"sooner or later; but you have brought it on yourself now. Draw, +sir!" And the duke drew his sword.</p> + +<p>Colonel Hume and several others threw themselves before +Ronald.</p> + +<p>"Put up your sword, sir. Duelling is forbidden, and you know +the consequence of drawing within the precincts of the +palace."</p> + +<p>"What care I for ordinances!" the duke said furiously. "Stand +aside, gentlemen, lest I do you harm!"</p> + +<p>"Harm or no harm," Colonel Hume said sternly, "my young friend +shall not fight in the palace grounds. I protest against his +being forced into a duel at all; but at any rate he shall not +fight here."</p> + +<p>The duke looked for a moment as if he was about to spring upon +Colonel Hume, but he saw by their faces that his companions also +were against him. For the consequences of drawing a sword within +the precincts of a palace were so serious, that even the most +powerful nobles shrank from braving them.</p> + +<p>"Very well," he said at last, thrusting his sword back into +its scabbard. "It is but ten minutes' walk to the boundary wall, +I will let him live till then."</p> + +<p>So saying he started off with rapid strides down the walk, +followed at a slower pace by the rest.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XII_The_End_of_the_Quarrel_"></a>CHAPTER XII: The End of +the Quarrel.</h1> + +<p>"This is a serious business, Leslie," the colonel said in a +low voice. "If it had been anyone but you I should have ordered +him to the barracks at once under pain of arrest, and have laid +the matter before the king, for it would have been nothing short +of murder. But I can trust you to hold your own even against the +Duke of Chateaurouge. And, in truth, after what has been said, I +do not see that you can do other but meet him."</p> + +<p>"I would not avoid it if I could," Ronald said. "His insults +to me do not disturb me; but I have my father's wrongs to +avenge."</p> + +<p>"Forbes," the colonel said to one of the other officers, "do +you go straight to the barracks, bid Leslie's man saddle his own +horse and his master's instantly, and bring them round outside +the wall of the park. If Leslie wounds or kills his man he will +have to ride for it."</p> + +<p>The officer at once hurried away.</p> + +<p>"Ronald, I will tell you a piece of news I heard this morning. +The young Chevalier left Paris secretly five days ago, and I have +received certain private information this morning that he has +gone to Nantes, and that he is on the point of sailing for +Scotland on his own account. I am told that this plan of his is +known to but five or six persons. If you get safely through this +business mount and ride thither at all speed. They are more +likely to pursue you towards the frontier or the northern ports, +and will not think you have made for Nantes. If you get there +before the prince has sailed, present yourself to him and join +his expedition. The king will be furious at first, both at the +loss of his favourite and the breaking of the edicts; but he must +come round. The gentlemen here with the duke are all honourable +men, and were, I could see, shocked at the insult which the duke +passed on you. Therefore I can rely upon them to join me in +representing the matter in its true light to the king. Before you +return, the matter will have blown over, and it may be that the +removal of your father's most powerful enemy may facilitate an +arrangement. In any case, my dear boy, you can rely upon the +marshal and myself to look after your interests."</p> + +<p>They had now reached a wicket gate in the wall of the park. +The duke was standing a few paces distant, having already removed +his coat and turned up the shirt sleeve of the sword arm.</p> + +<p>"You will act as second, marquis?" he said to one of the +gentlemen.</p> + +<p>The latter bowed coldly.</p> + +<p>"I act as second to my friend Leslie," Colonel Hume said. "And +I call upon you all, gentlemen, to bear witness in the future, +that this encounter has been wantonly forced upon him by the Duc +de Chateaurouge, and that Cornet Leslie, as a man of honour, has +no alternative whatever but to accept the challenge forced upon +him."</p> + +<p>Ronald had by this time stripped to his shirt sleeves. The +seconds took the two swords and compared their length. They were +found to be as nearly as possible the same. They were then +returned to their owners. A piece of even turf was selected, and +a position chosen in which the light was equally favourable to +both parties. Then both fell into position on guard, and as the +rapiers crossed Colonel Hume said solemnly:</p> + +<p>"May God defend the right!"</p> + +<p>An instant later they were engaged in deadly conflict. It +lasted but a few seconds. The duke, conscious of his own skill, +and believing that he had but a lad to deal with, at once +attacked eagerly, desirous of bringing the contest to a +termination before there was any chance of interruption. He +attacked, then, carelessly and eagerly, and made a furious lunge +which he thought would terminate the encounter at once; but +Ronald did not give way an inch, but parrying in carte, slipped +his blade round that of the duke, feinted in tierce, and then +rapidly disengaging, lunged in carte as before. The blade passed +through the body of his adversary, and the lunge was given with +such force that the pommel of his sword struck against the ribs. +The duke fell an inert mass upon the ground as Ronald withdrew +the rapier.</p> + +<p>An exclamation of surprise and alarm broke from the three +gentlemen who had accompanied the duke, while Colonel Hume said +gravely:</p> + +<p>"God has protected the right. Ah! here come the horses! Mount +and ride, Leslie, and do not spare the spurs. I should advise +you," he said, drawing him aside, "to take the northern route for +a few miles, so as to throw them off the scent. When you get to +Nantes search the inns till you find the Duke of Athole, he is an +intimate friend of mine, and it was from him I learned in strict +secrecy of the prince's intentions. Show him this ring, he knows +it well, and tell him I sent you to join him; say nothing at +first as to this business here. Your own name and my name will be +enough. He will introduce you to Prince Charlie, who will be with +him under a disguised name. May God bless you, my lad! We will do +our best for you here."</p> + +<p>At this moment Malcolm arrived with the two horses.</p> + +<p>"Thank God you are safe, Ronald!" he exclaimed as Ronald leapt +into his saddle, and with a word of thanks and adieu to the +colonel dashed off at full speed.</p> + +<p>Colonel Hume then rejoined the group gathered round the duke. +The Scottish officers were looking very grave, the courtiers even +more so. They had from the first recognized fully that the duel +had been provoked by the duke, and had accompanied him +reluctantly, for they regarded the approaching conflict as so +unfair that it would excite a strong amount of feeling against +all who had a hand in the matter. As to the edict against +duelling, it had not concerned them greatly, as they felt sure +that with the duke's influence the breach of the law would be +passed over with only a show of displeasure on the part of the +king, and an order to absent themselves for a short time from +court. The contingency that this young Scottish officer, who had +scarcely yet attained the age of manhood, should kill one of the +best swordsmen in France had not occurred to them; but this had +happened, and there could be no doubt that the king's anger, +alike at the loss of his favourite and at the breach of the law, +would fall heavily on all concerned, and that a prolonged exile +from court was the least evil they could expect. Not a word had +been spoken after they had, on stooping over the duke, found that +death had been instantaneous, until Colonel Hume joined them.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen," he said; "this is a bad business, and means +trouble for us all. His majesty will be vastly angry. However, +the duke brought it upon himself, and is the only person to +blame. His character is pretty well known, and it will be +manifest that if he had made up his mind to fight no remonstrance +on your part would have availed to induce him to abstain from +doing so. At the same time the king will not, in the first burst +of his anger, take that into consideration, and for awhile we +shall no doubt all of us suffer from his displeasure; but I do +not think that it will be lasting. The duke forced on the duel, +and would have fought within the royal park had we not +interfered, and we were in a way forced to be present. I propose +that we return to the palace and give notice of what has +occurred. Captain Forbes, as you were not present at the affair, +and will not therefore be called upon to give any account of it, +will you remain here until they send down to fetch the body?</p> + +<p>"We will, if you please, gentlemen, walk slowly, for every +mile that Leslie can put between him and Versailles is very +important. The news will reach the king's ears very shortly after +we have made it public. You and I, marquis, as the seconds in the +affair, are sure to be sent for first. As, fortunately, we were +both present at the quarrel we are both in a position to testify +that the duke brought his fate upon himself, that there was no +preventing the duel, and that had we refused to act he was in a +frame of mind which would have driven him to fight without +seconds if none had been forthcoming; lastly, we can testify that +the combat was a fair one, and that the duke fell in consequence +of the rashness of his attack and his contempt for his adversary, +although in point of fact I can tell you that young Leslie is so +good a swordsman that I am confident the result would in any case +have been the same."</p> + +<p>"I suppose there's nothing else for it," the marquis grumbled. +"I must prepare myself for a prolonged visit to my country +estates."</p> + +<p>"And I shall no doubt be placed under arrest for some time," +Colonel Hume said; "and the regiment will probably be packed off +to the frontier again. However, these things don't make much +difference in the long run. What I am most anxious about, +marquis, is that his majesty should thoroughly comprehend that +Leslie was not to blame, and that this affair was so forced upon +him that it was impossible for him to avoid it. There is much +more than the lad's own safety dependent on this."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure, colonel, that I will do him justice."</p> + +<p>At a slow pace the party proceeded until they neared the +palace, when they quickened their steps. The marquis proceeded +immediately to the apartments occupied by the duke, and told his +domestics that their master had been killed in a duel, and +directed them to obtain assistance and proceed at once to the +spot where his body would be found. The colonel went to the +king's surgeon, and told him of what had taken place.</p> + +<p>"His death was instantaneous," he said; "the sword passed +right through him, and I believe touched the heart. However, it +will be as well that you should go and see the body, as the king +will be sure to ask particulars as to the wound."</p> + +<p>The rest of the party joined their acquaintances, and told +them what had happened, and the news spread quickiy through the +palace. It created a great sensation. Breaches of the edict were +not unfrequent; but the death of so powerful a noble, a chief +favourite, too, of the king, took it altogether out of the +ordinary category of such events. The more so since the duke's +reputation as a swordsman and a duellist was so great that men +could scarce believe that he had been killed by a young officer +who had but just joined the regiment. It seemed like the story of +David and Goliath over again. A quarter of an hour later a court +official approached Colonel Hume and the Marquis de Vallecourt, +who were standing together surrounded by a number of courtiers +and officers.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur le Marquis and Colonel Hume," he said, saluting +them; "I regret to say that I am the bearer of the orders of his +majesty that you shall deliver me your swords, and that you will +then accompany me to the king's presence."</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen handed over their swords to the official, +and followed him to the king's presence. Louis was pacing angrily +up and down his apartment.</p> + +<p>"What is this I hear, gentlemen?" he exclaimed as they +entered. "A breach of the edicts here at Versailles, almost in +the boundaries of the park; and that the Duc de Chateaurouge, one +of my most valued officers and friends has been killed; they tell +me that you acted as seconds in the affair."</p> + +<p>"They have told your majesty the truth," the marquis said; +"but I think that, much as we regret what has happened, we could +scarcely have acted otherwise than we did. The duke drew in the +first place within the limits of the park, and would have fought +out his quarrel there had we not, I may almost say forcibly, +intervened. Then he strode away towards the boundary of the park, +calling upon his antagonist to follow him; and had we not gone +the encounter would have taken place without seconds or +witnesses, and might then have been called a murder instead of a +duel."</p> + +<p>"You should have arrested him, sir," the king exclaimed, "for +drawing in the park."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we should have done so, sire; but you must please to +remember that the Duke of Chateaurouge was of a temper not to be +crossed, and I believe that bloodshed would have taken place had +we endeavoured to thwart him. He enjoyed your majesty's favour, +and a forcible arrest, with perhaps the shedding of blood, in the +royal demesne would have been a scandal as grave as that of this +duel."</p> + +<p>"How did it come about?" the king asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>"The duke was walking with De Lisle, St. Aignan, and myself, +when we suddenly came upon Colonel Hume with three of the +officers of his regiment. The duke at once walked up to them and +addressed Colonel Hume, and finding which of his companions was +Monsieur Leslie, addressed him in terms of so insulting a nature +that they showed that he had been waiting for the meeting to +provoke a quarrel. The young officer replied perfectly calmly, +but with what I must call admirable spirit and courage, which so +infuriated the duke, that, as I have already had the honour of +telling your majesty, he drew at once, and when we interfered he +called upon him to proceed forthwith outside the park, and there +settle the quarrel. We most reluctantly accompanied him, and +determined to interfere at the first blood drawn; but the affair +scarcely lasted for a second. The duke threw himself furiously +and rashly upon the lad, for as your majesty is aware, he is but +little more. The latter, standing firm, parried with admirable +coolness, and in an instant ran the duke right through the +body."</p> + +<p>"But I have always heard," the king said, "that the duke was +one of the best swordsmen in the army."</p> + +<p>"Your majesty has heard correctly," Colonel Hume replied; "but +young Leslie is one of the best swordsmen in France. The duke's +passion and rashness led to the speedy termination of the duel; +but had he fought with his accustomed coolness I believe that +Leslie would have turned out his conqueror."</p> + +<p>"But what was the cause of the quarrel? Why should the Duc de +Chateaurouge fix a dispute, as you tell me he did, upon this +officer of yours?"</p> + +<p>"I believe, sire, that it was a long standing quarrel. The +duke's words showed that he bore an enmity against the lad's +father, and that it was on this account that he insulted the +son."</p> + +<p>"Leslie!" the king exclaimed, with a sudden recollection. "Is +that the youth whom Marshal Saxe presented to me?"</p> + +<p>"The same, sire; the lad who distinguished himself at +Fontenoy, and whom the Marshal afterwards appointed to a +commission in my regiment, in which he had served as a gentleman +volunteer for nearly a year."</p> + +<p>"These Leslies are always causing trouble," the king said +angrily. "I have already given orders that he shall be arrested +wherever he is found, and he shall be punished as he +deserves."</p> + +<p>"In punishing him," Colonel Hume said with grave deference, "I +am sure that your majesty will not forget that this quarrel was +forced upon him, and that, had he accepted the insults of the +Duke of Chateaurouge, he would have been unworthy to remain an +officer of your majesty."</p> + +<p>"Silence, sir!" the king said angrily. "You will return +immediately to Paris, under arrest, until my pleasure in your +case is notified to you. I shall at once give orders that your +troops here are replaced by those of a regiment whose officers +will abstain from brawling and breaking the edicts in our very +palace. Marquis, you will retire at once to your estates." The +two gentlemen bowed and left the royal presence.</p> + +<p>"Not worse than I expected," the marquis said, after the door +had closed behind them. "Now he will send for St. Aignan and De +Lisle, and will hear their account, and as it cannot but tally +with ours the king must see that the duke brought his fate upon +himself. Louis is not unjust when his temper cools down, and in a +few weeks we shall meet again here."</p> + +<p>"I expect to be on the frontier with my regiment before that," +Colonel Hume replied; "but as I would rather be there than in +Paris that will be no hardship."</p> + +<p>Colonel Hume at once mounted and rode back to Paris and +proceeded straight to the hotel of Marshal Saxe, to whom he +communicated what had occurred.</p> + +<p>"If Leslie gets safely away it will, perhaps, all turn out for +the best," the marshal said. "As soon as the king's anger dies +out I will begin to plead the cause of the boy's parents; and now +that the influence of Chateaurouge the other way is withdrawn, I +may hope for a more favourable hearing. As to the lad himself, we +will make his peace in a few months. The king is brave himself, +as he showed when under fire at Fontenoy, and he admires bravery +in others, and when he has once got over the loss of Chateaurouge +he will appreciate the skill and courage which the lad showed in +an encounter with one of the most noted duellists in France. Now, +too, that the duke has gone, some of the stories to his +disadvantage, of which there are so many current, are likely to +meet the king's ears. Hitherto no one has ventured to speak a +word against so powerful a favourite; but the king's eyes will +soon be open now, and he will become ashamed of so long having +given his countenance to a man who is generally regarded as +having not only killed half-a-dozen men in duels, but as having +procured the removal, by unfair means, of a score of others. When +he knows the truth the king is likely to do justice, not only to +young Leslie, but to his parents. I only hope that they will not +manage to overtake the lad before he reaches the frontier, for +although I can rely on the king's justice when he is cool I would +not answer for it just at present."</p> + +<p>As Ronald rode off at full speed with Malcolm he related to +him the whole circumstances of the quarrel and subsequent +duel.</p> + +<p>"It was well done, Ronald. I made sure that sooner or later +you and the duke would get to blows, that is if he did not adopt +other means to get you removed from his path; anyhow I am +heartily glad it's over, and that the most dangerous enemy of +your father and yourself is out of the way. And now we must hope +that we sha'nt be overtaken before we get to the frontier. The +danger is that orders for your arrest will be passed by +signal."</p> + +<p>"We are not going to the frontier, Malcolm; I am only riding +this way to throw them off the scent. We are going to +Nantes."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's not a bad plan," Malcolm said. "They are not so +likely to send orders there as to the northern ports. But it will +not be easy to get a vessel to cross, for you see, now that we +are at war with England, there is little communication. However, +we shall no doubt be able to arrange with a smuggler to take us +across."</p> + +<p>"We are not going to England, Malcolm; we are going direct to +Scotland. Colonel Hume has told me a secret: Prince Charles has +gone down to Nantes and is going to cross at once to +Scotland."</p> + +<p>"What! Alone and without an army!" Malcolm exclaimed in +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he despairs of getting assistance from Louis. Now +that Fontenoy has put an end to danger on the frontier the King +of France is no longer interested in raising trouble for George +at home."</p> + +<p>"But it is a mad scheme of the prince's," Malcolm said +gravely. "If his father did not succeed in '15 how can he expect +to succeed now?"</p> + +<p>"The country has had all the longer time to get sick of the +Hanoverians, and the gallantry of the enterprise will appeal to +the people. Besides, Malcolm, I am not so sure that he will not +do better coming alone than if he brought the fifteen thousand +men he had at Dunkirk last year with him. Fifteen thousand men +would not win him a kingdom, and many who would join him if he +came alone would not do so if he came backed by an army of +foreigners. It was the French, you will remember, who ruined his +grandfather's cause in Ireland. Their arrogance and interference +disgusted the Irish, and their troops never did any fighting to +speak of. For myself, I would a thousand times rather follow +Prince Charles fighting with an army of Scotsmen for the crown of +Scotland than fight for him with a French army against +Englishmen."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you are right, Ronald; it went against the +grain at Fontenoy; for after all, as you said, we are closely +akin in blood and language to the English, and although Scotland +and France have always been allies it is very little good France +has ever done us. She has always been glad enough to get our +kings to make war on England whenever she wanted a diversion +made, but she has never put herself out of the way to return the +favour. It has been a one sided alliance all along. Scotland has +for centuries been sending some of her best blood to fight as +soldiers in France, but with a few exceptions no Frenchman has +ever drawn his sword for Scotland.</p> + +<p>"No, I am inclined to think you are right, Ronald, and +especially after what we saw at Fontenoy I have no wish ever to +draw sword again against the English, and am willing to be the +best friends in the world with them if they will but let us Scots +have our own king and go away peacefully. I don't want to force +Prince Charles upon them if they will but let us have him for +ourselves. If they won't, you know, it is they who are +responsible for the quarrel, not us."</p> + +<p>"That is one way of putting it, certainly," Ronald laughed. "I +am afraid after having been one kingdom since King James went to +London, they won't let us go our own way without making an effort +to keep us; but here is a crossroad, we will strike off here and +make for the west."</p> + +<p>They avoided the towns on their routes, for although they felt +certain that they were ahead of any messengers who might be sent +out with orders for their arrest, they knew that they might be +detained for some little time at Nantes, and were therefore +anxious to leave no clue of their passage in that direction. On +the evening of the third day after starting they approached their +destination.</p> + +<p>On the first morning after leaving Versailles they had halted +in wood a short distance from Chartres, and Malcolm had ridden in +alone and had purchased a suit of citizen's clothes for Ronald, +as the latter's uniform as an officer of the Scotch Dragoons +would at once have attracted notice. Henceforward, whenever they +stopped, Malcolm had taken an opportunity to mention to the +stable boy that he was accompanying his master, the son of an +advocate of Paris, on a visit to some relatives in La Vendee. +This story he repeated at the inn where they put up at +Nantes.</p> + +<p>The next morning Malcolm went round to all the inns in the +town, but could hear nothing of the Duke of Athole, so he +returned at noon with the news of his want of success.</p> + +<p>"They may have hired a private lodging to avoid observation," +Ronald said, "or, not improbably, may have taken another name. +The best thing we can do is to go down to the river side, inquire +what vessels are likely to leave port soon, and then, if we see +anyone going off to them, to accost them. We may hear of them in +that way."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they made their way down to the river. There were +several vessels lying in the stream, in readiness to sail when +the wind served, and the mouth of the river was reported to be +clear of any English cruisers. They made inquiries as to the +destination of the vessels. All the large ones were sailing for +Bordeaux or the Mediterranean ports of France.</p> + +<p>"What is that little vessel lying apart from the rest?" +Malcolm asked. "She looks a saucy little craft."</p> + +<p>"That is the privateer La Doutelle, one of the fastest little +vessels on the coast. She has brought in more than one English +merchantman as a prize."</p> + +<p>As they were speaking a boat was seen to leave her side and +make for the shore. With a glance at Malcolm to break off his +conversation with the sailor and follow him, Ronald strode along +the bank towards the spot where the boat would land. Two +gentlemen got out and advanced along the quay. As they passed +Ronald said to Malcolm:</p> + +<p>"I know one of those men's faces."</p> + +<p>"Do you, Ronald? I cannot recall having seen them."</p> + +<p>Ronald stood for a moment in thought.</p> + +<p>"I know now!" he exclaimed. "And he is one of our men, sure +enough."</p> + +<p>"I think, sir," he said as he came up to them, "that I have +had the honour of meeting you before."</p> + +<p>A look of displeasure came across the gentleman's face.</p> + +<p>"I think you are mistaken, sir," he said coldly. "You must +take me for some one else. My name is Verbois -- Monsieur Verbois +of Le Mans."</p> + +<p>"I have not the pleasure of knowing Monsieur Verbois," Ronald +said with a slight smile; "but I hardly think, sir, that that is +the name that you went by when I had the honour of meeting you in +Glasgow more than two years ago?"</p> + +<p>"In Glasgow!" the gentleman said, looking earnestly at Ronald. +"In Glasgow! I do not remember you."</p> + +<p>"I had the pleasure of doing you some slight service, +nevertheless," Ronald said quietly, "when I brought you news that +your enemies were upon you, and managed to detain them while you +made your escape through the attic window."</p> + +<p>"A thousand pardons!" the gentleman exclaimed, speaking in +English. "How could I have forgotten you? But I saw you for such +a short time, and two years have changed you greatly. This is the +young gentleman, marquis, to whom I am indebted for my escape +when I was so nearly captured at Glasgow, as you have heard me +say. It was to his kindly warning in the first place, and to his +courage in the second, that I owed my liberty. It is wonderful +that you should remember me."</p> + +<p>"Two years have not changed you as much as they have changed +me," Ronald said; "besides, you were busy in destroying papers, +while I had nothing to do but to watch you."</p> + +<p>"That is so," the gentleman agreed. "At any rate I am heartily +glad of the happy chance which has thrown us together, and has +given me an opportunity of expressing to you the deep gratitude +which I have felt for your warning and assistance. Had it not +been for that, not only should I myself have been taken, but they +would have got possession of those papers, which might have +brought the heads of a score of the best blood of Scotland to the +scaffold. I took a boat that was lying in readiness, and making +down the river got on board a ship which was cruising there +awaiting me, and got off. It has always been a matter of bitter +regret to me that I never learned so much as the name of the +brave young gentleman to whom I owed so much, or what had +happened to him for his share in that night's work."</p> + +<p>"My name is Ronald Leslie, sir. I am the son of Leslie of +Glenlyon, who fought with the Chevalier in '15, and afterwards +entered the service of the King of France, and was colonel of the +2nd Scorch Dragoons."</p> + +<p>"Of course I knew him well," the gentleman said, "and with +others endeavoured to obtain his pardon when he fell under the +king's displeasure some fifteen years ago, although I regret to +say without success. Believe me, if Prince Charles --" He stopped +suddenly as his companion touched him.</p> + +<p>"You would say, sir," Ronald said with a smile, "If Prince +Charles succeeds in his present enterprise, and regains his +throne, you will get him to exert his influence to obtain my +father's release."</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen gave an exclamation of astonishment.</p> + +<p>"How do you know of any enterprise that is meditated?"</p> + +<p>"I was told of it as a secret by a Scotch officer in Paris, +and am the bearer of a message from him to the Duke of Athole, to +ask him to allow me to join the prince."</p> + +<p>"I am the duke," the other gentleman said.</p> + +<p>"Since it is you, sir, I may tell you that the officer I spoke +of is Colonel Hume, and that he bade me show you this ring, which +he said you would know, as a token that my story was a correct +one."</p> + +<p>"Hume is my greatest friend," the duke exclaimed, "and his +introduction would be sufficient, even if you had not already +proved your devotion to the cause of the Stuarts. I will take you +at once to the prince. But," he said, "before I do so, I must +tell you that the enterprise upon which we are about to embark is +a desperate one. The prince has but five companions with him, and +we embark on board that little privateer lying in the stream. It +is true that we shall be escorted by a man of war, which will +convey the arms which Prince Charles has purchased for the +enterprise; but not a man goes with us, and the prince is about +to trust wholly to the loyalty of Scotland."</p> + +<p>"I shall be ready to accompany him in any case, sir," Ronald +said, "and I beg to introduce to you a faithful friend of my +father and myself. His name is Malcolm Anderson. He fought for +the Chevalier in '15, and accompanied my father in his flight to +France, and served under him in the French service. Upon the +occasion of my father's arrest he carried me to Scotland, and has +been my faithful friend ever since."</p> + +<p>So saying he called Malcolm up and presented him to the duke, +and the party then proceeded to the lodging where Prince Charles +was staying.</p> + +<p>"I have the misfortune to be still ignorant of your name, +sir," Ronald said to his acquaintance of Glasgow.</p> + +<p>"What!" the gentleman said in surprise. "You do not know my +name, after doing so much for me! I thought, as a matter of +course, that when you were captured for aiding my escape you +would have heard it, hence my remissness in not introducing +myself. I am Colonel Macdonald. When you met me I was engaged in +a tour through the Highland clans, sounding the chiefs and +obtaining additions to the seven who had signed a declaration in +favour of the prince three years before. The English government +had obtained, through one of their spies about the person of the +Chevalier, news of my mission, and had set a vigilant watch for +me."</p> + +<p>"But is it possible that there can be spies among those near +the Chevalier!" Ronald exclaimed in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Aye, there are spies everywhere," Macdonald said bitterly. +"All sorts of people come and go round the Chevalier and round +Prince Charles. Every Scotch or Irish vagabond who has made his +native country too hot to hold him, come to them and pretend that +they are martyrs to their loyalty to the Stuarts; and the worst +of it is their story is believed. They flatter and fawn, they say +just what they are wanted to say, and have no opinion of their +own, and the consequence is that the Chevalier looks upon these +fellows as his friends, and often turns his back upon Scottish +gentlemen who have risked and lost all in his service, but who +are too honest to flatter him or to descend to the arts of +courtiers. Look at the men who are here with the prince now."</p> + +<p>"Macdonald! Macdonald!" the duke said warmly.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," the other broke off impatiently; "no doubt it is +better to hold one's tongue. But it is monstrous, that when there +are a score, ay, a hundred of Scottish gentlemen of family, many +of them officers with a high knowledge of war, who would gladly +have accompanied him at the first whisper of his intentions, the +prince should be starting on such a venture as this with yourself +only, duke, as a representative of the Scottish nobles and +chiefs, and six or eight mongrels -- Irish, English, and Scotch +-- the sort of men who haunt the pot houses of Flanders, and +spend their time in telling what they have suffered in the Stuart +cause to any who will pay for their liquor."</p> + +<p>"Not quite so bad as that, Macdonald," the duke said. "Still I +admit that I could have wished that Prince Charles should have +landed in Scotland surrounded by men with names known and +honoured there, rather than by those he has selected to accompany +him."</p> + +<p>"But you are going, are you not, sir?" Ronald asked Colonel +Macdonald.</p> + +<p>"No, I do not accompany the prince; but I hope to follow +shortly. As soon as the prince has sailed it is my mission to see +all his friends and followers in France, and urge them to join +him in Scotland; while we bring all the influence we have to bear +upon Louis, to induce him to furnish arms and assistance for the +expedition."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XIII_Prince_Charles_"></a>CHAPTER XIII: Prince +Charles.</h1> + +<p>Upon arriving at the prince's lodgings Macdonald remained +without, the Duke of Athole entering, accompanied only by +Ronald.</p> + +<p>"The prince is in disguise," he said, "and but one or two of +us visit him here in order that no suspicion may be incited among +the people of the house that he is anything beyond what he +appears to be -- a young student of the Scotch college at +Paris."</p> + +<p>They ascended the stairs to the upper story, and on the +marquis knocking, a door was opened. The duke entered, followed +by Ronald.</p> + +<p>"Well, duke, what is the news?"</p> + +<p>The question was asked by a young man, who was pacing +restlessly up and down the room, of which he was, with the +exception of his valet de chambre, an Italian named Michel, the +person who had opened the door, the only occupant.</p> + +<p>"Ah! whom have you here?"</p> + +<p>"Allow me to present to your royal highness Lieutenant Leslie. +He is the son of Leslie of Glenlyon, who fought by my side in +your father's cause in '15, and has, like myself, been an exile +ever since. This is the young gentleman who, two years since, +saved Macdonald from arrest in Glasgow."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I remember the adventure," the prince said courteously, +"and right gallant action it was; but how did you hear that I was +here, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I was told by my good friend and commanding officer, Colonel +Hume of the 2nd Scottish Dragoons, your royal highness."</p> + +<p>"I revealed it to Hume before leaving Paris," the duke said, +"he being a great friend of mine and as staunch as steel, and I +knew that he could be trusted to keep a secret."</p> + +<p>"It seems that in the last particular you were wrong," the +prince remarked with a slight smile.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume only revealed it to me, sir," Ronald said, +anxious to save his friend from the suspicion of having betrayed +a secret confided to him, "for very special reasons. I had the +misfortune to kill in a duel the Duke of Chateaurouge, and as we +fought just outside the park of Versailles, and the duke was a +favourite of the king's, I had to ride for it; then Colonel Hume, +knowing my devotion to the cause of your highness, whispered to +me the secret of your intention, and gave me a message to his +friend the Duke of Athole."</p> + +<p>"Do you say that you have killed the Duke of Chateaurouge in a +duel?" the duke exclaimed in astonishment. "Why, he has the +reputation of being one of the best swordsmen in France, and has +a most evil name as a dangerous and unscrupulous man. I met him +constantly at court, and his arrogance and haughtiness were well +nigh insufferable. And you have killed him?"</p> + +<p>"I knew him well too," the prince said, "and his reputation. +We do not doubt what you say, young gentleman," he added quickiy, +seeing a flush mount into Ronald's face; "but in truth it seems +strange that such should have been the case."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume did me the honour to be my second," Ronald said +quietly, "and the Marquis de Vallecourt was second to the duke; +some other officers of the Scottish regiment were present, as +were two other French noblemen, De Lisle and St. Aignan."</p> + +<p>"We doubt you not, sir," the duke said warmly. "You will +understand that it cannot but seem strange that you at your age +-- for it seems to me that you cannot be more than nineteen -- +should have been able to stand for a moment against one of the +best swordsmen in France, to say nothing of having slain +him."</p> + +<p>"Colonel Hume would scarcely have consented to act as my +second had he thought that the contest was a wholly unequal one," +Ronald said with a slight smile; "indeed I may say that he +regarded it as almost certain that I should have the best of the +fray."</p> + +<p>"Why, you must be a very Paladin," the prince said admiringly; +"but sit down and tell us all about it. Upon my word I am so sick +of being cooped up for four days in this wretched den that I +regard your coming as a godsend. Now tell me how it was that the +Duc de Chateaurouge condescended to quarrel with a young officer +in the Scottish Horse."</p> + +<p>"It was a family quarrel, sir, which I had inherited from my +father."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I remember now," the Duke of Athole broke in. "It +is an old story now; but I heard all about it at the time, and +did what I could, as did all Leslie's friends, to set the matter +right, but in vain. Leslie of Glenlyon, prince, was colonel of +the Scottish Dragoons, and as gallant and dashing a soldier as +ever was in the service of the King of France, and as good +looking a one too; and the result was, the daughter of the +Marquis de Recambours, one of the richest heiresses in France, +whom her father and the king destined as the bride of this Duke +of Chateaurouge, who was then quite a young man, fell in love +with Leslie, and a secret marriage took place between them. For +three years no one suspected it; but the young lady's obstinacy +in refusing to obey her father's orders caused her to be shut up +in a convent. Somehow the truth came out. Leslie was arrested and +thrown into the Bastille, and he has never been heard of since. +What became of the child which was said to have been born no one +ever heard; but it was generally supposed that it had been put +out of the way. We in vain endeavoured to soften the king's anger +against Leslie, but the influence of Recambours and Chateaurouge +was too great for us. Hume told me some time since that Leslie's +son had been carried off to Scotland by one of his troopers, and +had returned, and was riding as a gentleman volunteer in his +regiment; but we have had no further talk on the subject."</p> + +<p>"You will be glad to hear, sir," Ronald said, "that my father +and mother have within the last few weeks been released, and are +now living on a small estate of my mother's in the south. They +were ordered to retire there by the king."</p> + +<p>"I am glad, indeed," the duke said cordially; "and how is your +father?"</p> + +<p>"He is sadly crippled by rheumatism, and can scarce walk," +Ronald said, "and I fear that his health is altogether shaken +with what he had to go through."</p> + +<p>"How did you obtain their release, Leslie?" the prince +asked.</p> + +<p>"Marshal Saxe obtained it for me," Ronald answered. "Colonel +Hume first introduced me to him, and as he too had known my +father he promised that should he obtain a victory he would ask +as a boon from the king the release of my father, and he did so +after Fontenoy, where the Marquis de Recambours was killed, and +the king thereby freed from his influence. The Duke of +Chateaurouge, whose hostility against my father had always been +bitter, was doubtless greatly irritated at his release, and took +the first opportunity, on meeting me, of grossly insulting me. On +my replying in terms in accordance with the insult, he drew, and +would have fought me in the palace grounds had not Colonel Hume +and his friends interfered; then we adjourned outside the park. +The duke doubtless thought that he would kill me without +difficulty, and so rushed in so carelessly that at the very first +thrust I ran him through."</p> + +<p>"And served him right," the prince said heartily. "Now since +both your father's enemies are gone, it may be hoped that his +troubles are over, and that your mother will recover the estates +to which she is entitled. And now, duke, what is your news? When +are we going to sail?"</p> + +<p>"The Doutelle is already by this time on her way down the +river, and it is proposed that we shall start this evening and +board her there. The stores and arms are all safely on board the +Elizabeth, and she is lying off Belleisle; so far as Mr. Walsh +has heard, no suspicion has been excited as to their purpose or +destination, so that we may hope in twenty-four hours to be +fairly on board."</p> + +<p>"That is the best news I have heard for months," the prince +said; "thank goodness the time for action is at last at +hand!"</p> + +<p>"I have, I trust, your royal highness' permission to accompany +you," Ronald said; "together with my follower, Anderson. He is +the trooper who carried me over to Scotland as a child, and has +been my faithful friend ever since."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Leslie. I shall be glad indeed to have a member of +a family who have proved so faithful to my father's cause with me +in the adventure upon which I am embarking."</p> + +<p>Ronald with a few words of thanks bowed and took his leave, +after receiving instructions from the duke to start shortly and +to ride down the river towards Lorient.</p> + +<p>"You can halt for a few hours on the road, and then ride on +again; we shall overtake you before you reach the port. We shall +all leave singly or in pairs, to avoid attracting any +attention."</p> + +<p>Ronald left, delighted with the kindness of the prince's +manner. Prince Charles was indeed possessed of all the attributes +which win men's hearts and devotion. In figure he was tall and +well formed, and endowed both with strength and activity. He +excelled in all manly exercises, and was an excellent walker, +having applied himself ardently to field sports during his +residence in Italy.</p> + +<p>He was strikingly handsome, his face was of a perfect oval, +his features high and noble, his complexion was fair, his eyes +light blue, and, contrary to the custom of the time, when wigs +were almost universally worn, he allowed his hair to fall in long +ringlets on his neck. His manner was graceful, and although he +always bore himself with a sort of royal dignity he had the +peculiar talent of pleasing and attracting all with whom he came +in contact, and had the art of adapting his conversation to the +taste or station of those whom he addressed.</p> + +<p>His education had been intrusted to Sir Thomas Sheridan, an +Irish Roman Catholic, who had grossly neglected his duties, and +who indeed has been more than suspected of acting as an agent in +the pay of the British government. The weakness in the prince's +character was that he was a bad judge of men, and inclined on all +occasions to take the advice of designing knaves who flattered +and paid deference to him, rather than that of the Scottish +nobles who were risking their lives for his cause, but who at +times gave their advice with a bluntness and warmth which were +displeasing to him. It was this weakness which brought an +enterprise, which at one time had the fairest prospect of +success, to destruction and ruin.</p> + +<p>On leaving the house Ronald was joined by Malcolm, and half an +hour later they mounted their horses and rode for the mouth of +the Loire. The whole party arrived on the following day at St. +Nazaire, embarking separately on board the Doutelle, where Prince +Charles, who had come down from Nantes in a fishing boat, was +received by Mr. Walsh, the owner of the vessel. Ronald now saw +gathered together the various persons who were to accompany +Prince Charles on this adventurous expedition. These were +Sheridan, the former tutor of the prince; Kelly, a non-juring +clergyman, and Sullivan -- both, like Sheridan, Irishmen; +Strickland, a personage so unimportant that while some writers +call him an Englishman, others assert that he was Irish; Aeneas +Macdonald, a Scotchman; Sir John Macdonald, an officer in the +Spanish service; the prince's valet, Michel; and the Duke of +Athole, or, as he is more generally called, the Marquis of +Tullibardine, the last named being the only man of high standing +or reputation. Never did a prince start to fight for a kingdom +with such a following.</p> + +<p>The Doutelle weighed anchor as soon as the last of the party +arrived on deck, and under easy sail proceeded to Belleisle. Here +she lay for some days awaiting the arrival of the Elizabeth. Mr. +Rutledge, a merchant at Nantes, had obtained an order from the +French court that this man of war should proceed to cruise on the +coast of Scotland, and had then arranged with the captain of the +ship to take on board the arms that had been purchased by the +prince with the proceeds of the sale of some of the family +jewels.</p> + +<p>These consisted of fifteen hundred muskets, eighteen hundred +broadswords, twenty small field pieces, and some ammunition. The +captain had also agreed that the Doutelle, which only mounted +eighteen small guns, should sail in company with the Elizabeth to +Scotland. As soon as the Elizabeth was seen the Doutelle spread +her sails, and keeping a short distance from each other, the two +vessels sailed north. So great was the necessity for prudence +that the prince still maintained his disguise as a Scottish +student, and, with the exception of Mr. Walsh, none of the +officers and crew of the Doutelle were acquainted with his real +rank, and the various members of his party treated him and each +other as strangers.</p> + +<p>Four days after leaving Belleisle a British man of war of +fifty-eight guns hove in sight, and crowding on all sail rapidly +came up. The Elizabeth at once prepared to engage her, signalling +to the Doutelle to do the same. The prince urged Mr. Walsh to aid +the Elizabeth, but the latter steadily refused.</p> + +<p>He had undertaken, he said, to carry the prince to Scotland, +and would do nothing to endanger the success of the enterprise. +The two vessels were well matched, and he would not allow the +Doutelle to engage in the affair. The prince continued to urge +the point, until at last Mr. Walsh said "that unless he abstained +from interference he should be forced to order him below."</p> + +<p>The Doutelle, therefore, stood aloof from the engagement, +which lasted for five or six hours, and sailed quietly on her +course, in order to be beyond the risk of capture should the +English ship prove victorious; neither of the vessels, however, +obtained any decided advantage. Both were so crippled in the +encounter that the Elizabeth returned to France, the Lion to +Plymouth to refit. Thus the small supply of arms and artillery +which the prince had with such great trouble got together was +lost.</p> + +<p>"Well, Ronald," Malcolm said that evening as they leant over +the taffrail together, "I do think that such a mad headed +expedition as this was never undertaken. An exiled prince, an +outlawed duke, six adventurers, a valet, and our two selves. One +could laugh if one was not almost ready to cry at the folly of +invading a country like England in such a fashion."</p> + +<p>"That is only one way of looking at it, Malcolm. We are not an +army of invasion. The prince is simply travelling with a few +personal followers to put himself at the head of an army. The +affair depends, not upon us, but upon the country. If the clans +turn out to support him as they did in '15 he will soon be at the +head of some twenty thousand men. Not enough, I grant you, to +conquer England, but enough for a nucleus round which the Lowland +and English Jacobites can gather."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it depends upon the ifs, Ronald. If all the Highland +clans join, and if there are sufficient Jacobites in the Lowlands +and England to make a large army, we may do. I have some hopes of +the clans, but after what we saw of the apathy of the English +Jacobites in '15 I have no shadow of faith in them. However, I +fought for the Chevalier in '15, and I am ready to fight for +Prince Charles now as long as there is any fighting to be done, +and when that is over I shall be as ready to make for France as I +was before."</p> + +<p>Ronald laughed.</p> + +<p>"You are certainly not enthusiastic about it, Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"When one gets to my age, Ronald, common sense takes the place +of enthusiasm, and I have seen enough of wars to know that for +business a well appointed and well disciplined army is required. +If Prince Charles does get what you call an army, but which I +should call an armed mob, together, there will be the same +dissensions, the same bickerings, the same want of plan that +there was before; and unless something like a miracle happens it +will end as the last did at Preston, in defeat and ruin. However, +lad, here we are, and we will go through with it to the end. By +the time we get back to France we must hope that King Louis will +have got over the killing of his favourite. However, I tell you +frankly that my hope is that when the Highland chiefs see that +the prince has come without arms, without men, and without even +promises of support by France, they will refuse to risk liberty +and life and to bring ruin upon their people by joining in such a +mad brained adventure."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, Malcolm," Ronald said, as he looked at the prince +as he was pacing up and down the deck with the Duke of Athole, +talking rapidly, his face flushed with enthusiasm, his clustering +hair blown backward by the wind. "He is a noble young prince. He +is fighting for his own. He has justice and right on his side, +and God grant that he may succeed!"</p> + +<p>"Amen to that, Ronald, with all my heart! But so far as my +experience goes, strength and discipline and generalship and +resources go a great deal further than right in deciding the +issue of a war."</p> + +<p>Two days later another English man of war came in sight and +gave chase to the Doutelle, but the latter was a fast sailer and +soon left her pursuer behind, and without further adventure +arrived among the Western Isles, and dropped anchor near the +little islet of Erisca, between Barra and South Uist. As they +approached the island an eagle sailed out from the rocky shore +and hovered over the vessel, and the Duke of Athole pointed it +out as a favourable augury to the prince.</p> + +<p>Charles and his companions landed at Erisca and passed the +night on shore. They found on inquiry that this cluster of +islands belonged to Macdonald of Clanranald, a young chief who +was known to be attached to the Jacobite cause. He was at present +absent on the mainland, but his uncle and principal adviser, +Macdonald of Boisdale, was in South Uist. The prince sent off one +of his followers in a boat to summon him, and he came aboard the +Doutelle the next morning; but when he heard from the prince that +he had come alone and unattended he refused to have anything to +do with the enterprise, which he asserted was rash to the point +of insanity, and would bring ruin and destruction on all who took +part in it.</p> + +<p>The prince employed all his efforts to persuade the old chief, +but in vain, and the latter returned to his isle in a boat, while +the Doutelle pursued her voyage to the mainland and entered the +Bay of Lochnanuagh, in Inverness shire, and immediately sent a +messenger to Clanranald, who came on board shortly with Macdonald +of Kinloch Moidart, and several other Macdonalds.</p> + +<p>They received the prince with the greatest respect, but, like +Macdonald of Boisdale, the two chiefs refused to take up arms in +an enterprise which they believed to be absolutely hopeless. In +vain Prince Charles argued and implored. The two chiefs remained +firm, until the prince suddenly turned to a younger brother of +Moidart, who stood listening to the conversation, and with his +fingers clutching the hilt of his broadsword as he heard the +young prince, whom he regarded as his future king, in vain +imploring the assistance of his brother and kinsmen.</p> + +<p>"Will you at least not assist me?" the prince exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I will, I will!" Ranald Macdonald exclaimed. "Though no other +man in the Highlands shall draw a sword, I am ready to die for +you."</p> + +<p>The enthusiasm of the young man was catching, and throwing to +the winds their own convictions and forebodings, the two +Macdonalds declared that they also would join, and use every +exertion to engage their countrymen. The clansmen who had come on +board the ship without knowing the object of the visit were now +told who the prince was, and they expressed their readiness to +follow to the death. Two or three days later, on the 25th of +July, Prince Charles landed and was conducted to Borodale, a +farmhouse belonging to Clanranald.</p> + +<p>Charles at once sent off letters to the Highland chiefs whom +he knew to be favourable to the Stuart cause. Among these the +principal were Cameron of Locheil, Sir Alexander Macdonald, and +Macleod. Locheil immediately obeyed the summons, but being +convinced of the madness of the enterprise he came, not to join +the prince, but to dissuade him from embarking in it. On his way +he called upon his brother, Cameron of Fassefern, who agreed with +his opinion as to the hopelessness of success, and urged him to +write to the prince instead of going to see him.</p> + +<p>"I know you better than you know yourself," he said. "If the +prince once sets eyes upon you, he will make you do whatever he +pleases."</p> + +<p>Locheil, however, persisted in going, convinced that the +prince would, on his representation, abandon the design. For a +long time he stood firm, until the prince exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"I am resolved to put all to the hazard. In a few days I will +erect the royal standard and proclaim to the people of Britain +that Charles Stuart is come over to claim the crown of his +ancestors or perish in the attempt. Locheil, who my father has +often told me was our firmest friend, may stay at home and learn +from the newspapers the fate of his prince."</p> + +<p>Locheil's resolution melted at once at these words, and he +said:</p> + +<p>"Not so. I will share the fate of my prince whatsoever it be, +and so shall every man over whom nature or fortune hath given me +power."</p> + +<p>The conversion of Locheil was the turning point of the +enterprise. Upon the news of the prince's landing spreading, most +of the other chiefs had agreed that if Locheil stood aloof they +would not move; and had he remained firm not a man would have +joined the prince's standard, and he would have been forced to +abandon the enterprise. Sir Alexander Macdonald and Macleod, +instead of going to see the prince, had gone off together, on the +receipt of his letter, to the Isle of Skye, so as to avoid an +interview. Clanranald was despatched by Prince Charles to see +them, but they declined to join, urging with the truth that the +promises which they had given to join in a rising were contingent +upon the prince arriving at the head of a strong French force +with arms and supplies. They therefore refused at present to +move. Others, however, were not so cautious. Fired by the example +of Locheil, and by their own traditions of loyalty to the +Stuarts' cause, many of the lesser chiefs at once summoned their +followers to the field. With the majority the absence of French +troops had the exactly opposite effect that it had had with Sir +Alexander Macdonald and Macleod. Had the prince landed with a +French army they might have stood aloof and suffered him to fight +out his quarrel unaided; but his arrival alone and unattended, +trusting solely and wholly to the loyalty of the Scottish people, +made an irresistible appeal to their generous feelings, and +although there were probably but few who did not foresee that +failure, ruin, and death would be the result of the enterprise, +they embarked in the cause with as much ardour as if their +success had been certain.</p> + +<p>From Borodale, after disembarking the scanty treasure of four +thousand louis d'or which he had brought with him and a few +stands of arms from the Doutelle, Charles proceeded by water to +Kinloch Moidart.</p> + +<p>Mr. Walsh sailed in the Doutelle, after receiving the prince's +warmest thanks, and a letter to his father in Rome begging him to +grant Mr. Walsh an Irish earldom as a reward for the services he +had rendered, a recommendation which was complied with.</p> + +<p>The chiefs soon began to assemble at Moidart, and the house +became the centre of a picturesque gathering.</p> + +<p>Ronald had now put aside the remembrance of Malcolm's +forebodings, and entered heart and soul into the enterprise. He +had in Glasgow frequently seen Highlanders in their native dress, +but he had not before witnessed any large gathering, and he was +delighted with the aspect of the sturdy mountaineers in their +picturesque garb.</p> + +<p>The prince had at once laid aside the attire in which he had +landed and had assumed Highland costume, and by the charm and +geniality of his manner he completely won the hearts of all who +came in contact with him. Among those who joined him at Moidart +was Murray of Broughton, a man who was destined to exercise as +destructive an influence on the prince's fortune as had Mr. +Forster over that of his father. Murray had hurried from his seat +in the south, having first had a large number of manifestoes for +future distribution printed. He was at once appointed by Charles +his secretary of state.</p> + +<p>While the gathering at Moidart was daily growing, the English +remained in ignorance of the storm which was preparing. It was +not until the 30th of July that the fact that the prince had +sailed from Nantes was known in London, and as late as the 8th of +August, nearly three weeks after Charles first appeared on the +coast, the fact of his landing was unknown to the authorities in +Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>On the 16th of August the English governor at Fort Augustus, +alarmed at the vague reports which reached him, and the sudden +news that bodies of armed Highlanders were hurrying west, sent a +detachment of two companies under Captain Scott to reinforce the +advance post of Fort William.</p> + +<p>After marching twenty miles the troops entered the narrow +ravine of Spean Bridge, when they were suddenly attacked by a +party of Keppoch's clansmen who were on their way to join the +prince when they saw the English troops on their march. They were +joined by some of Locheil's clansmen, and so heavy a fire was +kept up from the heights that the English, after having five or +six men killed and many more wounded, among them their commanding +officer, were forced to lay down their arms.</p> + +<p>They were treated with great humanity by their captors, and +the wounded were well cared for. The news of this success reached +the prince on the day before that fixed for the raising of his +standard, the 19th of August, and added to the enthusiasm which +prevailed among the little force gathered in Glenfinnan, where +the ceremony took place. The glen lay about halfway between +Borodale and Fort William, both being about fifteen miles +distant. The gathering consisted principally of the Camerons of +Locheil, some six hundred strong, and they brought with them two +English companies captured on the 16th, disarmed and +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Athole performed the ceremony of unfurling the +banner. He was the heir to the dukedom of Athole, but had been +exiled for taking part in the rising of '15 and the dukedom +bestowed by the English government upon his brother; thus among +the English he was still spoken of as the Marquis of +Tullibardine, while at the French court and among the followers +of the Stuarts he was regarded as the rightful Duke of +Athole.</p> + +<p>The unfurling of the standard was greeted with loud shouts, +and the clansmen threw their bonnets high in the air. The duke +then read the manifesto of the Chevalier, and the commission of +regency granted by him to Prince Charles. After this the prince +himself made an inspiring speech, and declared that at the head +of his faithful Highlanders he was resolved to conquer or to +perish.</p> + +<p>Among the spectators of the ceremony was Captain Swetenham, an +English officer taken prisoner a few days before while on his way +to assume the command of Fort William. He had been treated with +great courtesy and kindness by the prince, who, after the +ceremony, dismissed him with the words, "You may now return to +your general; tell him what you have seen, and add that I am +about to give him battle."</p> + +<p>Soon after the conclusion of the ceremony Keppoch marched in +with three hundred of his clan, and some smaller parties also +arrived. The next morning the force marched to Locheil's house at +Auchnacarrie, where the prince was joined by the Macdonalds of +Glencoe, a hundred and fifty strong, two hundred Stuarts of Appin +under their chief, and by the younger Glengarry with two hundred +more, so that the force had now swelled to sixteen hundred +men.</p> + +<p>"We begin to look like an army," Ronald said to Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," the latter replied drily, "we are rather stronger +than one regiment and not quite so strong as two; still, if +things go on like this we shall ere very long have mounted up to +the strength of a brigade; but even a brigade, Ronald, does nor +go very far towards the conquest of a kingdom, especially when +only about one man in three has got a musket, and so far there +are neither cavalry nor artillery. Still, you know, these things +may come."</p> + +<p>Ronald laughed gaily at his companion's want of faith. He +himself had now caught the enthusiasm which pervaded all around. +It was true that as yet the prince's adherents were but a +handful, but it was not to be expected that an army would spring +from the ground. Promises of assistance had come from all +quarters, and if the army was a small one the English army in +Scotland was but little larger, and if a first success could be +achieved, all Scotland might be expected to rise, and the news +would surely influence the Jacobites of England to declare for +the prince.</p> + +<p>Sir John Cope, the English officer commanding the English +forces in Scotland, at the first rumour of troubles had ordered +his troops to assemble at Stirling. He had with him two regiments +of dragoons, Gardiner's and Hamilton's, both young regiments, and +the whole force at his disposal, exclusive of troops in garrison, +did not exceed three thousand men. With these he proposed to +march at once to the west, and crush the rebellion before it +gained strength. The English government approved of his proposal, +and sent him a proclamation offering a reward of thirty thousand +pounds to any person who should seize and secure the pretended +Prince of Wales.</p> + +<p>On the day of the raising of the standard Cope set out from +Edinburgh for Stirling and the next day commenced his march at +the head of fifteen hundred infantry, leaving the dragoons behind +him, as these could be of but little service among the mountains, +where they would have found it next to impossible to obtain +forage for their horses. He took with him a large quantity of +baggage, a drove of black cattle for food, and a thousand stand +of arms to distribute among the volunteers who he expected would +join him. As, however, none of these came in, he sent back seven +hundred muskets to Crieff.</p> + +<p>The first object of the march was Fort Augustus, which he +intended to make his central post. As he advanced he was met by +Captain Swetenham, who informed him of the raising of the +standard and the gathering he had witnessed. As, however, only +Locheil's clansmen had arrived before Swetenham left, Cope +considered his force ample for the purpose, and continued his +march. In order to reach Fort Augustus, however, he had to pass +over Corry Arrack, a lofty and precipitous mountain which was +ascended by a military road with fifteen zigzags, known to the +country as the devil's staircase.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles, who had received early news of the advance +from Stirling, had recognized the importance of the position, and +having burned and destroyed all baggage that would impede his +progress, made a forced march and reached Corry Arrack on the +27th, before Sir John Cope had commenced his ascent. As Sir John +saw that the formidable position was in the hands of the enemy he +felt that it would be in vain to endeavour to force it. Each +zigzag would have to be carried in turn, and the enterprise would +be a desperate one. Success would be of no great advantage, as +the Highlanders, lightly clad and active, would make off and defy +pursuit; defeat would be disastrous. He, therefore, called a +council of war and asked his officers to decide whether it would +be best to remain at Dalwhinnie at the foot of the mountain, to +return to Sterling, or to march to Inverness, where they would be +joined by the well affected clans. He himself strongly urged the +last course, believing that the prince would not venture to +descend into the Lowlands while he remained in his rear. The +council of war adopted his opinion. No officer advocated +remaining inactive at Dalwhinnie, one only supported the +alternative of the retreat to Stirling, the rest agreed upon an +advance to Inverness.</p> + +<p>When it was found that Cope's army had moved away without +fighting, the exultation of the Highlanders was great. Most of +the chiefs wished to follow at once and give battle, urging that +it would be hazardous to advance south and leave the enemy to cut +off their retreat; but the prince himself saw the supreme +importance of a descent into the Lowlands, and that plan of +action was decided upon.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIV_Prestonpans_"></a>CHAPTER +XIV: Prestonpans.</h1> + +<p>Advancing in high spirits through the mountains of Badenoch, +Prince Charles with his army came down into the vale of Athole, +and visited, with Tullibardine, the castle of Blair Athole, the +noble property of which the marquis had so long been deprived, +owing to his constancy to the cause of the Stuarts, but which +would again be his own were this great enterprise successful.</p> + +<p>From Blair Athole the little army moved on to Perth. Here they +were joined by powerful friends, of whom the principal were the +young Duke of Perth, Lord Nairn, and Lord George Murray, the +younger brother of the Marquis of Tullibardine. Lord George +Murray was but ten years of age when the events of 1715 had taken +place, but four years later he came over with the marquis with a +handful of Spaniards and was wounded at the battle of Glenshiels. +The influence of the family obtained his pardon on the plea of +his extreme youth, but he remained at heart a Jacobite, and, +going to the Continent, entered the service of Sardinia, then a +portion of the possessions of the Duke of Savoy. For many years +he served abroad, and acquired a considerable reputation as an +excellent officer and a most gallant soldier.</p> + +<p>He had, indeed, a natural genius for military operations, and +had he not been thwarted at every turn by the jealousy of Murray +of Broughton, it is by no means improbable that he would have +brought the enterprise to a successful termination and seated the +Stuarts upon the throne of England. The accession of such an +officer was of the highest value to the prince.</p> + +<p>Hitherto the army had consisted merely of wild clansmen, full +of valour and devotion but wholly undisciplined; while among +those who accompanied him, or who had joined him in Scotland, +there was not a single officer of any experience in war or any +military capacity whatever. Lord George Murray and the Duke of +Perth were at once named generals in the prince's army; but the +command in reality remained entirely in the hands of Murray, for +Lord Perth, though an estimable young nobleman possessed of +considerable ability, had no military experience and was of a +quiet and retiring disposition.</p> + +<p>Lord George Murray at once set about raising the tenantry of +his brother the Hanoverian Duke of Athole, who was absent in +England, and as these had always remained attached to the Stuart +cause, and still regarded the Marquis of Tullibardine as their +rightful head, they willingly took up arms upon Lord George +Murray's bidding. Lord George decided at once that it would be +useless to attempt to drill the Highlanders into regular +soldiers, but that they must be allowed to use their national +style of fighting and trust to their desperate charge with +broadsword and target to break the enemy's ranks.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately dissensions commenced among the leaders from the +very first. Secretary Murray, who desired to be all powerful with +the prince, saw that he should not succeed in gaining any +influence over so firm and energetic a character as Lord George +Murray, while it would be easy for him to sway the young Duke of +Perth, and he was not long in poisoning the ear of the latter +against his companion in arms by representing to him that Lord +George treated him as a mere cipher, although of equal rank in +the army. The secretary's purpose was even more easily carried +out with Prince Charles. The latter was no judge of character, +and fell readily under the influence of the wily and unscrupulous +Murray, who flattered his weaknesses and assumed an air of +deference to his opinions. Lord George Murray, on the other hand, +was but too prone to give offence. He was haughty and overbearing +in manner, expressed his opinions with a directness and bluntness +which were very displeasing to the prince, and, conscious of his +own military genius and experience, put aside with open contempt +the suggestions of those who were in truth ignorant of military +matters. Loyal, straightforward, and upright, he scorned to +descend to the arts of the courtier, and while devoting his whole +time to his military work, suffered his enemies to obtain the +entire command of the ear of the prince.</p> + +<p>Ronald was introduced to him as soon as he joined at Perth, +and finding that young Leslie had had some military experience, +Lord George at once appointed him one of his aides de camp, and +soon took a warm liking to the active and energetic young +officer, whose whole soul was in his work, and who cared nothing +for the courtly gatherings around the person of the prince.</p> + +<p>Malcolm rode as Ronald's orderly, and during the few days of +their stay in Perth, Ronald was at work from morning till night +riding through the country with messages from Lord George, and in +the intervals of such duty in trying to inculcate some idea of +discipline into the wild Highland levies. At this time Charles +was using all his efforts to persuade Lord Lovat, one of the most +powerful of the northern noblemen, to join him, offering him his +patent as Duke of Fraser and the lord lieutenancy of the northern +counties.</p> + +<p>Lovat, however, an utterly unscrupulous man, refused openly to +join, although he sent repeatedly assurances of his devotion. +Throughout the struggle he continued to act a double part, trying +to keep friends with both parties, but declaring for the prince +at the moment when his fortunes were at their highest. The result +was that while he afforded the prince but little real assistance, +his conduct cost him his head.</p> + +<p>Sir John Cope, finding that his march to Inverness had failed +to draw the prince after him, and had left the Lowlands and the +capital open to the insurgents, directed his march to Aberdeen, +and sent to Edinburgh for transports to bring down his army to +cover that city. But Prince Charles determined to forestall him, +and on the 11th of September commenced his march south. The age +and infirmities of the Marquis of Tullibardine prevented his +accompanying Prince Charles during active operations.</p> + +<p>It was impossible for the army to march direct against +Edinburgh, as the magistrates of that town had taken the +precaution to withdraw every ship and boat from the northern side +of the Forth, and the prince was consequently obliged to make a +detour and to cross the river at the fords eight miles above +Stirling, and then marching rapidly towards Edinburgh, arrived on +the evening of the 16th within three miles of that town.</p> + +<p>So long as the coming of the prince was doubtful the citizens +of Edinburgh had declared their willingness to defend the town to +the last. Volunteer regiments had been formed and guns placed on +the walls; but when the volunteers were ordered to march out with +Hamilton's regiment of dragoons, to oppose the advance of the +insurgents, the men quitted their ranks and stole away to their +houses, leaving the dragoons to march out alone. The latter, +however, showed no greater courage than that of their citizen +allies, when on the following day they came in contact with a +party of mounted gentlemen from the prince's army, who fired +their pistols at their pickets. These rode off in haste, their +panic was communicated to the main body, whose officers in vain +endeavoured to check them, and the whole regiment galloped away +in wild confusion, and passing close under the walls of Edinburgh +continued their flight, without halting, to Preston. There they +halted for the night; but one of the troopers happening in the +dark to fall into a disused well, his shouts for assistance +caused an alarm that they were attacked, and mounting their +horses the regiment continued their flight to Dunbar, where they +joined General Cope's army, which had just landed there.</p> + +<p>This disgraceful panic added to the terror of the citizens of +Edinburgh, and when, late in the afternoon, a summons to +surrender came in from Prince Charles, the council could arrive +at no decision, but sent a deputation to the prince asking for +delay, hoping thereby that Cope's army would arrive in time to +save them. But the prince was also well aware of the importance +of time, and that night he sent forward Lochiel with five hundred +Camerons to lie in ambush near the Netherbow Gate. They took with +them a barrel of powder to blow it in if necessary; but in the +morning the gate was opened to admit a carriage, and the +Highlanders at once rushed in and overpowered the guard, and +sending parties through the streets they secured these also +without disturbance or bloodshed, and when the citizens awoke in +the morning they found, to their surprise, that Prince Charles +was master of the city.</p> + +<p>The Jacobite portion of the population turned out with delight +to greet the prince, while the rest thought it politic to imitate +their enthusiasm. The Highlanders behaved with perfect order and +discipline, and although the town had, as it were, been taken by +storm, no single article of property was touched. An hour later +Prince Charles, at the head of his troops, entered the royal +palace of Holyrod, being met by a crowd of enthusiastic +supporters from the city, who received him with royal shouts and +tears of joy.</p> + +<p>In the evening a grand ball was held in the palace, in spite +of the fact that it was within range of the guns of Edinburgh +Castle, which still held out. But one day was spent in Edinburgh. +This was occupied in serving out about a thousand muskets found +in the magazines to the Highlanders, and in obtaining tents, +shoes, and cooking vessels, which the town was ordered to supply. +They were joined during the day by many gentlemen, and on the +night of the 19th the army, two thousand five hundred strong, of +whom only fifty were mounted, moved out to the village of +Duddingston. There the prince that evening called a council of +war, and proposed to march next morning to meet the enemy +halfway, and declared that he would himself lead his troops and +charge in the first ranks.</p> + +<p>The chiefs, however, exclaimed against this, urging that if +any accident happened to him ruin must fall upon the whole, +whether they gained or lost the battle; and upon the prince +persisting they declared that they would return home and make the +best terms they could for themselves. He was therefore obliged to +give way, declaring, however, that he would lead the second line. +The next morning the army commenced its march. They had with them +only one cannon, so old that it was quite useless, and it was +only taken forward as an encouragement to the Highlanders, who +had the greatest respect for artillery.</p> + +<p>Sir John Cope, who had received intelligence of all that had +happened at Edinburgh, had also moved forward on the 19th, and on +the 20th the two armies came in sight of each other. The +Highlanders, after passing the bridge of Musselburgh, left the +road, and turning to the right took up their position on the brow +of Carberry Hill, and there waited the attack. The English forces +were marching forward with high spirit, and believed that the +Highlanders would not even wait their assault. Cope had with him +two thousand two hundred men, including the six hundred runaway +dragoons. The numbers, therefore, were nearly equal; but as the +English were well armed, disciplined, and equipped, while only +about half the Highlanders had muskets, and as they had, +moreover, six pieces of artillery against the one unserviceable +gun of Prince Charles, they had every reason to consider the +victory to be certain.</p> + +<p>On seeing the Highland array Cope drew up his troops in order +of battle -- his infantry in the centre, with a regiment of +dragoons and three pieces of artillery on each flank. His right +was covered by a park wall and by the village of Preston. On his +left stood Seaton House, and in his rear lay the sea, with the +villages of Prestonpans and Cockenzie. Their front was covered by +a deep and difficult morass.</p> + +<p>It was now about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the +Highlanders, seeing that the English did not advance against +them, clamoured to be led to the attack. Prince Charles was +himself eager to fight, but his generals persuaded him to abstain +from attacking the English in such a formidable position. The +Highlanders, however, fearing that the English would again avoid +a battle, were not satisfied until Lord Nairn with five hundred +men was detached to the westward to prevent the English from +marching off towards Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>During the night the two armies lay upon the ground. Cope +retired to sleep at Cockenzie, the prince lay down in the middle +of his soldiers. Before doing so, however, he held a council, and +determined to attack next morning in spite of the difficulty of +the morass. But in the course of the night Anderson of Whitburg, +a gentleman well acquainted with the country, bethought himself +of a path from the height towards their right by the farm of +Ruigan Head, which in a great measure avoided the morass. This +important fact he imparted to Lord George Murray, who at once +awoke the prince.</p> + +<p>Locheil and some other chiefs were sent for, and it was +determined to undertake the enterprise at once. An aide de camp +was sent to recall Lord Nairn and his detachment, and under the +guidance of Anderson the troops made their way across the morass. +This was not, however, accomplished without great difficulty, as +in some places they sank knee deep. The march was unopposed, and +covered by the darkness they made their way across to firm ground +just as the day was breaking dull and foggy. As they did so, +however, the dragoon outposts heard the sound of their march, and +firing their pistols galloped off to give the alarm. Sir John +Cope lost no time facing his troops about, and forming them in +order of battle. He was undisturbed while doing so, for the +Highlanders were similarly occupied.</p> + +<p>As the sun rose the mist cleared away, and the two armies +stood face to face. The Macdonalds had been granted the post of +honour on the Highland right, the line being completed by the +Camerons and Stuarts, Prince Charles with the second line being +close behind. The Highlanders uncovered their heads, uttered a +short prayer, and then as the pipers blew the signal they rushed +forward, each clan in a separate mass, and raising their war cry, +the Camerons and Stuarts rushed straight at the cannon on the +left.</p> + +<p>These guns were served, not by Royal Artillerymen, but by some +seamen brought by Cope from the fleet. They, panic struck by the +wild rush of the Highlanders, deserted their guns and fled in all +directions. Colonel Gardiner called upon his dragoons to follow +him, and with his officers led them to the charge. But the +Stuarts and Camerons, pouring in a volley from their muskets, +charged them with their broadswords, and the dragoons, panic +stricken, turned their horses and galloped off.</p> + +<p>The Macdonalds on the right had similarly captured three guns, +and charging with similar fury upon Hamilton's regiment of +dragoons, drove them off the field; Macgregor's company, who, for +want of other weapons were armed with scythes, doing terrible +execution among the horses and their riders. The English +infantry, deserted by their cavalry, and with their guns lost, +still stood firm, and poured a heavy fire into the Highlanders; +but these, as soon as they had defeated the cavalry, faced round +and charged with fury upon both flanks of the infantry. Their +onslaught was irresistible. The heavy masses of the clans broke +right through the long line of the English infantry, and drove +the latter backward in utter confusion. But the retreat was +impeded by the inclosure and park wall of Preston, and the +Highlanders pressing on, the greater portion of the English +infantry were killed or taken prisoners.</p> + +<p>A hundred and seventy of the infantry alone succeeded in +making their escape, four hundred were killed, and the rest +captured. Colonel Gardiner and many of his officers were killed +fighting bravely, but the loss of the dragoons was small. Only +thirty of the Highlanders were killed, and seventy wounded. The +battle lasted but six minutes, and the moment it had terminated +Prince Charles exerted himself to the utmost to obtain mercy for +the vanquished.</p> + +<p>He treated the prisoners with the greatest kindness and +consideration, and the wounded were relieved without any +distinction of friend or foe. The dragoons fled to Edinburgh, and +dashed up the hill to the castle; but the governor refused to +admit them, and threatened to open his guns upon them as cowards +who had deserted their colours. Later on in the day the greater +portion were rallied by Sir John Cope and the Earls of Loudon and +Home; but being seized with a fresh panic they galloped on again +at full speed as far as Coldstream, and the next morning +continued their flight in a state of disgraceful disorder as far +as Berwick. The contents of the treasure chest, consisting of two +thousand five hundred pounds, with the standards and other +trophies, were brought to Prince Charles. The rest of the spoil +was divided among the Highlanders, of whom a great number +immediately set off towards their homes to place the articles +they had gathered in safety.</p> + +<p>So greatly was the Highland army weakened by the number of men +who thus left the ranks that the prince was unable to carry out +his wish for an instant advance into England. His advisers, +indeed, were opposed to this measure, urging that in a short time +his force would be swelled by thousands from all parts of +Scotland; but unquestionably his own view was the correct one, +and had he marched south he would probably have met with no +resistance whatever on his march to London. There were but few +troops in England. A requisition had been sent to the Dutch by +King George for the six thousand auxiliaries they were bound to +furnish, and a resolution was taken to recall ten English +regiments home from Flanders.</p> + +<p>Marshal Wade was directed to collect as many troops as he +could at Newcastle, and the militia of several counties was +called out; but the people in no degree responded to the efforts +of the government. They looked on coldly, not indeed apparently +favouring the rebellion, but as little disposed to take part +against it. The state of public feeling was described at the time +by a member of the administration, Henry Fox, in a private +letter.</p> + +<p>"England, Wade says, and I believe, is for the first comer, +and if you can tell me whether these six thousand Dutch and the +ten battalions of England, or five thousand French or Spaniards, +will be here first, you know our fate. The French are not come, +God be thanked; but had five thousand landed in any part of this +island a week ago, I verily believe the entire conquest would not +have cost a battle."</p> + +<p>The prince indeed was doing his best to obtain assistance from +France, conscious how much his final success depended upon French +succour.</p> + +<p>King Louis for a time appeared favourable. The prince's +brother, Henry of York, had arrived from Rome, and the king +proposed to place him at the head of the Irish regiments in the +king's service and several others to enable him to effect a +landing in England; but with his usual insincerity the French +king continued to raise difficulties and cause delays until it +was too late, and he thus lost for ever the chance of placing the +family who had always been warm friends of France, and who would +in the event of success have been his natural friends and allies, +on the throne of England.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Prince Charles had taken up his abode in +Edinburgh, where he was joined by most of the gentry of Scotland. +He was proclaimed king in almost every town of the Tweed, and was +master of all Scotland, save some districts beyond Inverness, the +Highland forts, and the castles of Edinburgh and Stirling.. +Prince Charles behaved with the greatest moderation. He forbade +all public rejoicing for victory, saying that he could not +rejoice over the loss which his father's misguided subjects had +sustained. He abstained from any attempt to capture Edinburgh +Castle, or even to cut off its supplies, because the general of +the castle threatened that unless he were allowed to obtain +provisions he would fire upon the city and lay it in ruins, and +he even refused to interfere with a Scotch minister who continued +from his pulpit to pray for King George.</p> + +<p>In one respect he carried his generosity so far as to excite +discontent among his followers. It was proposed to send one of +the prisoners taken at Preston to London with a demand for the +exchange of prisoners taken or to be taken in the war, and with +the declaration that if this were refused, and if the prince's +friends who fell into the enemy's hands were put to death as +rebels, the prince would be compelled to treat his captives in +the same way. It was evident that this step would be of great +utility, as many of the prince's adherents hesitated to take up +arms, not from fear of death in battle, but of execution if taken +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The prince, however, steadily refused, saying, "It is beneath +me to make empty threats, and I will never put such as this into +execution. I cannot in cold blood take away lives which I have +saved in the heat of action."</p> + +<p>Six weeks after the victory the prince's army mustered nearly +six thousand men; but Macleod, Macdonald, and Lovat, who could +have brought a further force of four thousand men, still held +aloof. Had these three powerful chiefs joined at once after the +battle of Prestonpans, Prince Charles could have marched to +London, and would probably have succeeded in placing his father +on the throne, without having occasion to strike another blow; +but they came not, and the delay caused during the fruitless +negotiations enabled the English troops to be brought over from +Flanders, while Prince Charles on his side only received a few +small consignments of arms and money from France.</p> + +<p>But in the meantime Edinburgh was as gay as if the Stuart +cause had been already won. Receptions and balls followed each +other in close succession, and Prince Charles won the hearts of +all alike by his courtesy and kindness, and by the care which he +showed for the comfort of his troops.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of the campaign Lord George Murray had but +one aide de camp besides Ronald. This was an officer known as the +Chevalier de Johnstone, who afterwards wrote a history of the +campaign. After the battle of Prestonpans he received a captain's +commission, and immediately raised a company, with which he +joined the Duke of Perth's regiment. Two other gentlemen of +family were then appointed aides de camp, and this afforded some +relief to Ronald, whose duties had been extremely heavy.</p> + +<p>A week after the battle Lord George said to Ronald:</p> + +<p>"As there is now no chance of a movement at present, and I +know that you care nothing for the court festivities here, I +propose sending you with the officers who are riding into Glasgow +tomorrow, with the orders of the council that the city shall pay +a subsidy of five thousand pounds towards the necessities of the +state. The citizens are Hanoverians to a man, and may think +themselves well off that no heavier charge is levied upon them. +Do you take an account of what warlike stores there are in the +magazines there, and see that all muskets and ammunition are +packed up and forwarded."</p> + +<p>The next morning Ronald started at daybreak with several other +mounted gentlemen and an escort of a hundred of Clanranald's men, +under the command of the eldest son of that chief, for Glasgow, +and late the same evening entered that city. They were received +with acclamation by a part of the population; but the larger +portion of the citizens gazed at them from their doorways as they +passed in sullen hostility. They marched direct to the barracks +lately occupied by the English troops, the gentlemen taking the +quarters occupied by the officers. A notification was at once +sent to the provost to assemble the city council at nine o'clock +in the morning, to hear a communication from the royal +council.</p> + +<p>As soon as Malcolm had put up Ronald's horse and his own in +the stables, and seen to their comfort, he and Ronald sallied +out. It was now dark, but they wrapped themselves up in their +cloaks so as not to be noticed, as in the hostile state of the +town they might have been insulted and a quarrel forced upon +them, had they been recognized as two of the new arrivals. The +night, however, was dark, and they passed without recognition +through the ill lighted streets to the house of Andrew Anderson. +They rang at the bell. A minute later the grille was opened, and +a voice, which they recognized as that of Elspeth, asked who was +there, and what was their business.</p> + +<p>"We come to arrest one Elspeth Dow, as one who troubles the +state and is a traitor to his majesty."</p> + +<p>There was an exclamation from within and the door suddenly +opened.</p> + +<p>"I know your voice, bairn. The Lord be praised that you have +come back home again!" and she was about to run forward, when she +checked herself. "Is it yourself, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"It is no one else, Elspeth," he replied, giving the old woman +a hearty kiss.</p> + +<p>"And such a man as you have grown!" she exclaimed in surprise. +For the two years had added several inches to Ronald's stature, +and he now stood over six feet in height.</p> + +<p>"And have you no welcome for me, Elspeth?" Malcolm asked, +coming forward.</p> + +<p>"The Lord preserve us!" Elspeth exclaimed. "Why, it's my boy +Malcolm!"</p> + +<p>"Turned up again like a bad penny, you see, Elspeth."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Elspeth?" Andrew's voice called from above. "Who +are these men you are talking to, and what do they want at this +time of night?"</p> + +<p>"They want some supper, Andrew," Malcolm called back, "and +that badly."</p> + +<p>In a moment Andrew ran down and clasped his brother's hand. In +the darkness he did not notice Malcolm's companion, and after the +first greeting with his brother led the way up stairs.</p> + +<p>"It is my brother Malcolm," he said to his wife as he entered +the room.</p> + +<p>Ronald followed Malcolm forward. As the light fell on his face +Andrew started, and, as Ronald smiled, ran forward and clasped +him in his arms.</p> + +<p>"It is Ronald, wife! Ah, my boy, have you come back to us +again?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Anderson received Ronald with motherly kindness.</p> + +<p>"We had heard of your escape before your letter came to us +from Paris. Our city constables brought back the news of how you +had jumped overboard, and had been pulled into a boat and +disappeared. And finely they were laughed at when they told their +tale. Then came your letter saying that it was Malcolm who had +met you with the boat, and how you had sailed away and been +wrecked on the coast of France; but since then we have heard +nothing."</p> + +<p>"I wrote twice," Ronald said; "but owing to the war there have +been no regular communications, and I suppose my letters got +lost."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you have both come over to have a hand in this +mad enterprise?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it is mad or not, Andrew; but we have +certainly come over to have a hand in it," Malcolm said. "And +now, before we have a regular talk, let me tell you that we are +famishing. I know your supper is long since over, but doubtless +Elspeth has still something to eat in her cupboard. Oh, here she +comes!"</p> + +<p>Elspeth soon placed a joint of cold meat upon the table, and +Ronald and Malcolm set to at once to satisfy their hunger. Then a +jar of whiskey and glasses were set upon the table, and pipes +lighted, and Ronald began a detailed narration of all that had +taken place since they had last met.</p> + +<p>"Had my father and mother known that I was coming to Scotland, +and should have an opportunity of seeing you both, they would +have sent you their warmest thanks and gratitude for your +kindness to me," he concluded. "For over and over again have I +heard them say how deeply they felt indebted to you for your care +of me during so many years, and how they wished that they could +see you and thank you in person."</p> + +<p>"What we did was done, in the first place, for my brother +Malcolm, and afterwards for love of you, Ronald; and right glad I +am to hear that you obtained the freedom of your parents and a +commission as an officer in the service of the King of France. I +would be glad that you had come over here on any other errand +than that which brings you. Things have gone on well with you so +far; but how will they end? I hear that the Jacobites of England +are not stirring, and you do not think that with a few thousand +Highland clansmen you are going to conquer the English army that +beat the French at Dettingen, and well nigh overcame them at +Fontenoy. Ah, lad, it will prove a sore day for Scotland when +Charles Stuart set foot on our soil!"</p> + +<p>"We won't talk about that now, Andrew," Malcolm said good +temperedly. "The matter has got to be fought out with the sword, +and if our tongues were to wag all night they could make no +difference one way or another. So let us not touch upon politics. +But I must say, that as far as Ronald and I are concerned, we did +not embark on this expedition because we had at the moment any +great intention of turning Hanoverian George off his throne; but +simply because Ronald had made France too hot to hold him, and +this was the simplest way that presented itself of getting out of +the country. As long as there are blows to be struck we shall do +our best. When there is no more fighting to be done, either +because King James is seated on his throne in London, or because +the clans are scattered and broken, we shall make for France +again, where by that time I hope the king will have got over the +breach of his edict and the killing of his favourite, and where +Ronald's father and mother will be longing for his presence."</p> + +<p>"Eh, but it's awful, sirs," Elspeth, who as an old and +favourite servant had remained in the room after laying the +supper and listened to the conversation, put in, "to think that a +young gallant like our Ronald should have slain a man! He who +ought not yet to have done with his learning, to be going about +into wars and battles, and to have stood up against a great +French noble and slain him. Eh, but it's awful to think of!"</p> + +<p>"It would be much more awful, Elspeth, if the French noble had +killed me, at least from the light in which I look at it."</p> + +<p>"That's true enough," Elspeth said. "And if he wanted to kill +you, and it does seem from what you say that he did want, of +course I cannot blame you for killing him; but to us quiet bodies +here in Glasgow it seems an awful affair; though, after you got +in a broil here and drew on the city watch, I ought not to be +surprised at anything."</p> + +<p>"And now we must go," Ronald said, rising. "It is well nigh +midnight, and time for all decent people to be in bed."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XV_A_Mission_"></a>CHAPTER +XV: A Mission.</h1> + +<p>The next morning early Ronald proceeded to take an inventory +of the arms and ammunition left behind by the troops when they +had marched to join Sir John Cope at Stirling. Having done this +he saw that they were all packed up in readiness to be sent off +the next day under the escort, who were also to convey the money +which the city was required to pay. For the provost and council, +knowing that it was useless to resist the order, and perhaps +anxious in the present doubtful state of affairs to stand well +with Prince Charles, had arranged that the money should be +forthcoming of the following morning. After his work was over +Ronald again spent the evening at Andrew Anderson's.</p> + +<p>The next morning he returned to Edinburgh with the arms and +escort. It was late when he arrived; but as he knew that Lord +George Murray would be at work in his tent, he repaired there at +once.</p> + +<p>"We have brought back the money and arms, Lord George. I have +handed over the arms and ammunition at the magazine tent, and +those in charge of the money have gone into the town with a part +of the escort to give it over to the treasurer."</p> + +<p>"How many arms did you get?"</p> + +<p>"Two hundred and twenty-three muskets and eighty pistols, +fourteen kegs of gunpowder, and well nigh a ton of lead."</p> + +<p>"That is more than I had expected. And now, Leslie, I have an +important mission for you. The prince this morning asked me whom +I could recommend, as a sure and careful person likely to do the +business well, to go down into Lancashire to visit the leading +Jacobites there, and urge them to take up arms. I said that I +knew of none who would be more likely to succeed than yourself. +Your residence of two years in France has rubbed off any Scotch +dialect you may have had, and at any rate you could pass for a +northern Englishman. In the next place, your youth would enable +you to pass unsuspected where an older man might be questioned. +The prince agreed at once, and took shame to himself that he had +not before given promotion to one who was his companion on his +voyage to Scotland, the more so as he had made Johnstone a +captain. Your claims are far greater than his, and moreover you +have served as an officer in the French army. But, in truth, the +fault is in some degree your own, for you spend all your time in +carrying out your duties, and do not show yourself at any of the +levees or festivities. And you know, with princes, as with other +people, out of sight is out of mind. However, the prince at once +took steps to repair the omission, and has signed your commission +as captain. Here it is. You will understand, of course, that it +is for past services, and that you are perfectly free to decline +this mission to the south if you would rather not undertake it. +It is unquestionably a dangerous one."</p> + +<p>"I will undertake it readily, sir," Ronald said, "and I thank +you sincerely for bringing my name before the prince, and the +prince himself for his kindness in granting me his commission, +which so far I have done but little to win. I shall be able, I +trust, to carry out this mission to his satisfaction; and +although I am ignorant of the country I shall have the advantage +of taking with me my brave follower, Malcolm Anderson, who for +years was in the habit of going with droves of cattle down into +Lancashire, and will not only know the country but have +acquaintances there, and being known as a drover would pass +without suspicion of his being engaged with politics."</p> + +<p>"That will do well," Lord George said. "I will get the list of +persons on whom you should call prepared tomorrow. You had best +go to Sir Thomas Sheridan and Francis Strickland, who came over +with you, and get them to present you to Secretary Murray and +recommend you to him. If he hears that your mission is of my +recommendation he will do all he can to set the prince against +you. Everything that I do is wrong in his eyes, and I do believe +that he would ruin the cause in order to injure me, did he see no +other way to accomplish that end. Therefore, if he mentions my +name, as he is like to do, knowing that you have been my aide de +camp, be sure that you say nought in my favour, or it will ruin +you with him. You will, of course, attend the prince's levee +tomorrow, and had best make preparation to start at +nightfall."</p> + +<p>The next day, accordingly, Ronald called upon Sir Thomas +Sheridan and Strickland, and telling them that the prince had +determined to send him on a mission into Lancashire, asked them +to present him to Secretary Murray, from whom he would receive +orders for his guidance and instruction as to the persons whom he +was to visit. The two gentlemen proceeded with him to the house +in which Secretary Murray had taken up his abode, and introduced +him, with much warmth, as a fellow passenger on board the +Doutelle.</p> + +<p>"You have been serving since as Lord Murray's aide de +camp?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, the prince recommended me to him at Perth, and I +have since had the honour to carry his orders."</p> + +<p>"Captain Leslie, for so the prince has granted him a +commission," Sir Thomas said, "has served two years in the French +army, and was present at Dettingen and Fontenoy. He mentioned to +me on the voyage that he had the honour of being presented by +Marshal Saxe to the King of France, and that he received his +commission from the marshal, to whom he had acted as aide de camp +at Fontenoy."</p> + +<p>"You have begun well, indeed, young sir," Murray said, "to +have received at your age, for I judge that you are not yet +twenty, commissions in the French army and ours."</p> + +<p>Ronald bowed.</p> + +<p>"He has another claim upon all you Scottish gentlemen," Sir +Thomas said, "for Colonel Macdonald told us, when he introduced +him to us at Nantes, that it was through his interference and aid +alone that he escaped safely from Glasgow, and that all his +papers, with the names of the king's friends in Scotland, did not +fall into George's hands. He was taken prisoner for his share in +that affair, but escaped from the ship in the Thames, and +succeeded in crossing to France. So you see, young as he is, he +has rendered good service to the cause."</p> + +<p>The expression of the secretary's face, which had before been +cold and distant, changed at once. He had been aware that Ronald +had been chosen for this business on the recommendation of Lord +George Murray, and his jealousy of that nobleman had at once set +him against Ronald, of whose antecedents he was entirely +ignorant; but what he now heard entirely altered the case, and +disposed him most favourably towards him, especially as his own +name would have been one of the most prominent in the list, he +having been in constant communication with Colonel Macdonald +during the stay of the latter in Scotland.</p> + +<p>"I had no idea it was to you that we are all so indebted," he +said warmly. "I heard from Colonel Macdonald, after his return +from France, that he owed his escape entirely to the quickness +and bravery of a young gentleman of whose name he was ignorant, +but who, he feared, would suffer for his interference on his +behalf, and prayed me and all other loyal gentlemen of Scotland +to befriend you should they ever discover your name, for that we +assuredly owed it to you that we escaped imprisonment, if not +worse. I am truly glad to meet you and thank you in person. And +so you are going on this mission?"</p> + +<p>"I have undertaken to do my best, sir. Fortunately I have a +faithful follower who fought beside my father in '15, followed +him to France and fought by his side in the Scottish Dragoons for +fifteen years, and who has since been my best friend. He worked +for years, when I was a child, as a drover of cattle from the +Highlands into England. He knows Cumberland and Lancashire well, +and would be known at every wayside inn. He will accompany me, +and I shall pass as his nephew, therefore no suspicion will be +likely to light upon me."</p> + +<p>"And you set out tonight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, if my orders and letters are ready."</p> + +<p>"There will not be many letters," the secretary said. "It +would not do for you to have documents upon you which might +betray you and our friends there should you be arrested. I will +give you a list of the gentlemen on whom you have to call, which +you had best learn by heart and destroy before you cross the +frontier. You shall have one paper only, and that written so +small that it can be carried in a quill. This you can show to one +after the other. If you find you are in danger of arrest you can +destroy or swallow it. I will give them to you at the prince's +levee this afternoon, and will send to your tent a purse of gold +for your expenses."</p> + +<p>"I shall need but little for that, sir," Ronald said +smiling.</p> + +<p>"For your expenses, no," the secretary said; "but one never +can say what money may be required for. You may have to buy fresh +horses, you may want it to bribe someone to conceal you. Money is +always useful, my young friend. By the way, what family of +Leslies do you belong to? I heard that one of your name had +accompanied the prince, but no more."</p> + +<p>"My father was Leslie of Glenlyon."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" the secretary exclaimed. "Of course, I know the name +well. The lands were confiscated; but we shall soon set that +right, and I will see that they are added to when the time comes +to reward the king's friends and punish his foes."</p> + +<p>Ronald now took his leave and returned to Malcolm, who was +making preparation for the enterprise. He had already purchased +two suits of clothes, such as would be worn by Lowland drovers, +and was in high spirits, being more elated than was Ronald +himself at the latter's promotion. In the course of the day he +bought two rough ponies, as being more suitable for the position +they were to assume than the horses with which they had been +furnished at Perth. Ronald attended the levee, and thanked the +prince for the favour which he bestowed upon him.</p> + +<p>"You are a young gentleman after my own heart," Prince Charles +said, "and I promised myself on shipboard that we should be great +friends; but I have been so busy since I landed, and you have +been so occupied in my service, that I have seen but little of +you. On your return I hope that I shall be able to have you near +my person. I am half jealous of you, for while you are younger +than I am you have seen good service and taken part in great +battles, but hitherto I have led a life almost of idleness."</p> + +<p>Ronald bowed deeply at the prince's gracious speech. On his +return to his tent he found a messenger from the secretary with a +purse which, on counting its contents, they found to amount to a +hundred guineas.</p> + +<p>They started immediately, and travelled twenty miles before +stopping for the night at a small wayside inn.</p> + +<p>"This seems like old times to me," Malcolm said as, after +eating supper, they sat by a turf fire, "except that on my way +down I had the herd to look after. There is no fear of our being +questioned or suspected till we reach the border, for there is +not an English soldier between the Forth and the Tweed; nor is it +likely that we shall meet with any difficulty whatever till we +get to Carlisle. Cope's forces, or what remain of them, are at +Newcastle, and it will be there that the English will gather, and +the western road is likely to be open until, at any rate, Prince +Charles moves south. George's troops have plenty to think about +without interfering with the Lowlands drovers. At the same time, +after we have once crossed the Tweed, we may as well leave the +high road. I know every bypath over the fells."</p> + +<p>On the third day after starting they crossed the border and +were among the hills of Cumberland. They found that among the +villages great apprehension existed. The tales of the rapine and +destruction wrought in the old times by the Scottish forays had +been handed down from father to son, and nothing less than the +destruction of their homes and the loss of their flocks and herds +was looked for. Malcolm was welcomed warmly at the little village +inn where they put up for the night.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's well nigh three years since I saw you last," the +host said, "and before that it was seldom two months without our +seeing you. What have you been doing with yourself?"</p> + +<p>"I have been gathering the herds in the Highlands," Malcolm +said, "while others have driven them down for sale; but at +present my occupation is gone. The Highlanders are swarming like +angry bees whose hive has been disturbed, and even if we could +collect a herd it would not be safe to drive it south; it would +be seized and despatched to Edinburgh for the use of the clans +there."</p> + +<p>"Is it true that there are fifty thousand of them, and that +they have sworn to kill every English man, woman, and child?"</p> + +<p>"No, they are not so strong as that," Malcolm said. "From what +I hear I should say they were not more than half; and I do not +think there is any occasion for peaceful people to be afraid, for +they say that the prince has treated all the prisoners who fell +into his hands in the kindest manner, and that he said that the +English are his father's subjects as well as the Scots, and that +he will see that harm is done to no man."</p> + +<p>"I am right glad to hear it," the innkeeper said. "I don't +know that I am much afraid myself; but my wife and daughter are +in a terrible fright, and wanted me to quit the house and go +south till it is all over."</p> + +<p>"There is no occasion for that, man," Malcolm said; "you will +have no reason for fear were the whole of the clans to march +through your village, unless you took it into your head to stand +at the door and shout, `God bless King George.'"</p> + +<p>"I care not a fig about King George or King James," the man +said. "It's nought to me who is king at London, and as far as I +know that's the way with all here. Let them fight it out +together, and leave us hard working folks to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose either James or George would care for that," +Malcolm said laughing; "but from what I have heard of Prince +Charles I should say that there is nothing in the world that he +would like better than to stand with broadsword or dagger against +the Duke of Cumberland, and so settle the dispute."</p> + +<p>"That would be the most sensible thing to my mind," the +innkeeper said; "but what brings you here, Anderson, since you +have no herd with you?"</p> + +<p>"I am just getting out of it all," Malcolm said. "I have had +my share of hard knocks, and want no more of them. I don't want +to quarrel with Highlanders or Lowlanders, and as trade is at a +standstill at present, and there's nothing for me to do in the +Highlands, I thought I would come south till it was all over. +There is money to collect and things to look after, and I have to +notify to our regular customers that the herds will come down +again as soon as the tempest is over; and between ourselves," he +said in a lower voice, "I wanted to get my nephew out of harm's +way. He has a hankering to join the prince's army, and I don't +want to let him get his brains knocked out in a quarrel which +isn't his, so I have brought him along with me."</p> + +<p>"He is a good looking young fellow, I can see, and a strong +one. I don't wonder that he wanted to mount the white cockade; +lads are always wanting to run their heads into danger. You have +had your share of it, as you say; still you are wise to keep the +lad out of it. I don't hold with soldiering, or fighting in +quarrels that don't concern you.</p> + +<p>Malcolm and Ronald travelled through Cumberland and +Westmoreland, calling upon many of the gentlemen to whom the +latter had been charged to deliver Prince Charles's messages. +They could not, however, flatter themselves that their mission +was a success, for from few of those on whom they called did they +receive assurances that they were prepared to take action; all +the gentlemen professed affection for the Stuarts, but deprecated +a descent into England unless the prince were accompanied by a +strong body of French troops.</p> + +<p>The rising of '15 had been disastrous for the Jacobites of the +North of England, and though all declared that they were ready +again to take up arms and risk all for the cause of the Stuarts, +if the prince was at the head of a force which rendered success +probable, they were unanimously of opinion that it would be +nothing short of madness to rise until at any rate the prince had +marched into England at the head of a strong army.</p> + +<p>The principal personage upon whom they called was Mr. +Ratcliff, a brother of the Earl of Derwentwater, who had been +executed after the rising of '15. That gentleman assured them +that he himself was ready to join the prince as soon as he came +south, but that he wished the prince to know that in his opinion +no large number of English would join.</p> + +<p>"The memory of ' 15 is still too fresh," he said; "while the +Stuarts have been absent so long that, although there are great +numbers who would prefer them to the Hanoverians, I do not +believe that men have the cause sufficiently at heart to risk +life and property for it. Many will give their good wishes, but +few will draw their swords. That is what I wish you to say to +Prince Charles. Among gentlemen like myself the feeling of +respect and loyalty to his father's house is as strong as ever, +and we shall join him, however desperate, in our opinion, the +chances of success may be; but he will see that the common people +will stand aloof, and leave the battle to be fought out by the +clansmen on our side and George's troops on the other."</p> + +<p>Some weeks were passed in traversing the country to and fro, +for the desired interviews were often only obtained after +considerable loss of time. They could not ride up as two Highland +drovers to a gentleman's house, and had to wait their chances of +meeting those they wished to see on the high road, or of sending +notes requesting an interview, couched in such terms that while +they would be understood by those to whom they were addressed +they would compromise no one if they fell into other hands. There +was indeed the greatest necessity for caution, for the +authorities in all the towns and villages had received orders +from the government to be on the lookout for emissaries from the +north, and they were frequently exposed to sharp examination and +questioning. Indeed it was only Malcolm's familiarity with the +country, and the fact that he had so many acquaintances ready to +testify that he was, as he said, a Scotch drover, in the habit +for many years of journeying down from the north with cattle, +that enabled them to escape arrest.</p> + +<p>After much thought they had decided upon a place of +concealment for the quill containing Ronald's credentials, which +would, they thought, defy the strictest scrutiny. A hole had been +bored from the back into the heel of Ronald's boot deep enough to +contain the quill, and after this was inserted in the hiding +place the hole was filled up with cobbler's wax, so that it would +need a close examination indeed to discover its existence. Thus, +although they were several times closely searched, no document of +a suspicious nature was found upon them.</p> + +<p>Their money was the greatest trouble, as the mere fact of so +large a sum being carried by two drovers would in itself have +given rise to suspicions, although had they been on their return +towards Scotland the possession of such an amount would have been +easily explained as the proceeds of the sale of the cattle they +had brought down. They had therefore left the greater part of it +with a butcher in Carlisle, with whom Malcolm had often had +dealings, retaining only ten pounds for their necessary +expenses.</p> + +<p>The day after they reached Manchester four constables came to +the little inn where they were stopping and told them that they +were to accompany them before the magistrates.</p> + +<p>"I should like to know what offence we are charged with," +Malcolm said angrily. "Things have come to a pretty pass, indeed, +when quiet drovers are to be hauled before magistrates without +rhyme or reason."</p> + +<p>"You will hear the charge quickly enough when you are before +their worships," the constable said; "but that is no affair of +mine -- my orders are simply to take you there."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course we must go," Malcolm said grumblingly; "but +here we have been well nigh twenty years travelling to and fro +between England and Scotland, as my host here can testify, +without such a thing happening before. I suppose somebody has +been robbed on the highway, and so you sharp sighted gentlemen +clap hands on the first people you come across."</p> + +<p>Three magistrates were sitting when Ronald and Malcolm were +brought into the courthouse. They were first asked the usual +questions as to their names and business, and then one of the +magistrates said:</p> + +<p>"Your story is a very plausible one; but it happens that I +have here before me the reports, sent in from a score of +different places, for in times like these it is needful to know +what kinds of persons are travelling through the country, and two +men answering to your description are reported to have visited +almost every one of these places. It is stated in nearly every +report that you are drovers ordinarily engaged in bringing down +herds of Highland cattle, and it is added that in every case this +account was verified by persons who have previously known you. +All this would seem natural enough, but you seem to have +journeyed hither and thither without any fixed object. Sometimes +you have stopped for two days at little villages, where you could +have had no business, and, in short, you seem for upwards of a +month to have been engaged in wandering to and fro in such a way +as is wholly incompatible with the affairs upon which you say you +were engaged."</p> + +<p>"But you will observe, sir," Malcolm said quietly, "that I +have not said I am engaged upon any affairs whatever. I am not +come to England on business, but solely to escape from the +troubles which have put a stop to my trade in the Highlands, and +as for fifteen years I was engaged in journeying backwards and +forwards, and had many friends and acquaintances, I came down +partly, as I have said, to avoid being mixed up in the trouble, +partly to call upon old acquaintances, and partly to introduce to +them my nephew, who is new to the work, and will shortly be +engaged in bringing down cattle here. I thought the present was a +good opportunity to show him all the roads and halting places in +order that he might the better carry out the business."</p> + +<p>"Your story has been well got up," one of the magistrates +said, "though I doubt whether there be a single word of truth in +it. However, you will be at present searched, and detained until +we get to the bottom of the matter. This is not a time when men +can travel to and fro through the country without exciting a +suspicion that they are engaged upon other than lawful business. +At present I tell you that in our eyes your conduct appears to be +extremely suspicious."</p> + +<p>The prisoners were then taken to a cell and searched with the +utmost rigour. Their clothes were examined with scrupulous care, +many of the seams being cut open and the linings slit, to see if +any documents were concealed there. Their shoes were also +carefully examined; but the mud had dried over the opening where +the quill was concealed, and the officials failed to discover it. +Even their sticks were carefully examined to see if they +contained any hollow place; but at last, convinced that had they +been the bearers of any documents these must have been +discovered, the officials permitted them to resume their clothes, +and then paying no heed to the angry complaints of Malcolm at the +state to which the garments had been reduced, they left the +prisoners to themselves.</p> + +<p>"Be careful what you say," Malcolm whispered to Ronald. "Many +of these places have cracks or peepholes, so that the prisoners +can be watched and their conversation overheard."</p> + +<p>Having said this Malcolm indulged in a long and violent tirade +on the hardship of peaceful men being arrested and maltreated in +this way, and at the gross stupidity of magistrates in taking an +honest drover known to half the countryside for a Jacobite spy. +Ronald replied in similar strains, and any listeners there might +have been would certainly have gained nothing from the +conversation they overheard.</p> + +<p>"I should not be surprised," Malcolm said in low tones when +night had come and all was quiet, "if some of our friends outside +try to help us. The news will speedily spread that two men of the +appearance of drovers have been taken on suspicion of being +emissaries from Scotland, and it will cause no little uneasiness +among all those on whom we have called. They cannot tell whether +any papers have been found upon us, nor what we may reveal to +save ourselves, so they will have a strong interest in getting us +free if possible."</p> + +<p>"If we do get free, Malcolm, the sooner we return to Scotland +the better. We have seen almost all those whom we are charged to +call upon, and we are certainly in a position to assure the +prince that he need hope for no rising in his favour here before +he comes, and that it is very doubtful that any numbers will join +him if he marches south."</p> + +<p>The next morning they were removed from the cell in which they +had been placed to the city jail, and on the following day were +again brought before the magistrates.</p> + +<p>"You say that you have been calling on people who know you," +one of the magistrates began; "and as I told you the other day we +know that you have been wandering about the country in a strange +way, I now requite that you shall tell us the names of all the +persons with whom you have had communication."</p> + +<p>The question was addressed to Malcolm as the oldest of the +prisoners. Ronald looked round the court, which was crowded with +people, and thought that in several places he could detect an +expression of anxiety rather than curiosity.</p> + +<p>"It will be a long story," Malcolm said in a drawling voice, +"and I would not say for sure but that I may forget one or two, +seeing that I have spoken with so many. We came across the hills, +and the first person we spoke to was Master Fenwick, who keeps +the Collie Dog at Appleswade. I don't know whether your worship +knows the village. I greeted him as usual, and asked him how the +wife and children had been faring since I saw him last. He said +they were doing brawly, save that the eldest boy had twisted his +ankle sorely among the fells."</p> + +<p>"We don't want to hear all this nonsense," the magistrate said +angrily. "We want a list of persons, not what you said to +them."</p> + +<p>"It will be a hard task," Malcolm said simply; "but I will do +the best I can, your worship, and I can do no more. Let me think, +there was Joseph Repton and Nat Somner -- at least I think it was +Nat, but I won't be sure to his Christian name -- and John Dykes, +and a chap they called Pitman, but I don't know his right +name."</p> + +<p>"Who were all these people?" the magistrate asked.</p> + +<p>"Joe Repton, he is a wheelwright by trade, and Nat Somner he +keeps the village shop. I think the others are both labouring +men. Anyhow they were all sitting at the tap of the Collie Dog +when I went in."</p> + +<p>"But what have we to do with these fellows?" the magistrate +exclaimed angrily.</p> + +<p>"I don't know no more than a child," Malcolm said; "but your +worship ordered me to tell you just the names of the persons I +met, and I am doing so to the best of my ability."</p> + +<p>"Take care, prisoner," the magistrate said sternly; "you are +trifling with the court. You know what I want you to tell me. You +have been to these villages," and he read out some fifteen names. +"What did you go there for, and whom did you see?"</p> + +<p>"That is just what I was trying to tell your worship in +regular order, but directly I begin you stop me. I have been +going through this district for fifteen years, and I am known in +pretty well every village in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and +Lancashire. Having been away for three years, and my trade being +stopped by the war, as your worship well knows, I have been going +round having a crack with the people I know. Such as were +butchers I promised some fine animals next time I came south; +such as were innkeepers I stayed a night with and talked of old +times. If your worship will have patience with me I can tell you +all the names and what I said to each of them, and what they said +to me, and all about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to know about these things. I am asking you +whether you have not been calling on some of the gentry."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, now," Malcolm said with an air of astonishment, "and +this is the first time that I have heard a word about the gentry +since I came into the court. Well, let me think now, I did meet +Squire Ringwood, and he stopped his horse and said to me: 'Is +that you, Malcolm Anderson, you rascal;' and I said, 'It's me, +sure enough, squire;' and he said, 'You rascal, that last score +of beasts I bought of you --'"</p> + +<p>"Silence!" shouted the magistrate as a titter ran through the +court. "All this fooling will do you no good, I can tell you. We +believe that you are a traitor to the king and an emissary of the +Pretender. If you make a clean breast of it, and tell me the +names of those with whom you have been having dealings, there may +be a hope of mercy for you; but if not, we shall get at the truth +other ways, and then your meanness of condition will not save you +from punishment."</p> + +<p>"Your worship must do as you like," Malcolm said doggedly. "I +have done my best to answer your questions, and you jump down my +throat as soon as I open my mouth. What should a man of my +condition have to do with kings or pretenders? They have ruined +my trade between them, and I care not whether King George or King +James get the best of it, so that they do but make an end of it +as soon as possible, and let me bring down my herds again. +There's half a dozen butchers in the town who know me, and can +speak for me. I have sold thousands of beasts to Master Tregold; +but if this is the treatment an honest man meets with I ain't +likely to sell them any more, for as soon as I am let free and +get the money the constables have taken from me I am off to +Glasgow and if I ever come south of the border again, may I be +hung and quartered."</p> + +<p>Finding that nothing was to be made out of the prisoners, the +magistrate ordered them to be taken back to jail.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XVI_The_March_to_Derby_"></a>CHAPTER XVI: The March to +Derby.</h1> + +<p>Two days later when the jailer brought in breakfast to their +cell he dropped on the table by the side of the loaf a tiny ball +of paper, and then without a word went out and locked the back +door. Malcolm put his finger to his lips as Ronald was about to +utter an exclamation of joy.</p> + +<p>"One's appetite is not as good here as it was when we were +tramping the hills, Ronald; but one looks forward to one's meals; +they form a break in the time."</p> + +<p>So saying, he took up one of the lumps of bread and began to +ear, securing at the same time the pellet of paper. "We can't be +too careful," he said in a whisper. "It is quite possible that +they may be able to overhear us."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," Ronald replied in the same tone; "I see no +crack or crevice through which sound could pass."</p> + +<p>"You may not see one," Malcolm said, "but it may exist for all +that. One of the boards of the ceiling may be as thin as paper, +and anyone listening through could hear every word we say when we +speak in our natural voices. The magistrates evidently believe +that they have made a valuable capture, and would give anything +to prove that their suspicions are correct. Now, I will go and +stand at that grated opening and look at this paper, if they are +watching us they will see nothing then."</p> + +<p>The little piece of paper when unfolded contained but a few +words: "Keep up your courage. You have friends without working +for you. Destroy this."</p> + +<p>Malcolm at once again rolled up the pellet, put it into his +mouth and swallowed it, and then whispered to Ronald what he had +just read.</p> + +<p>"I thought," he whispered, "that we should soon get a message +of some sort. The news of our arrest will have set the hearts of +a score of people quaking, and they would do anything now to get +us out from this prison. They have already, you see, succeeded in +bribing our warder."</p> + +<p>At his evening visit the warder passed into Ronald's hand a +small parcel, and then, as before, went out without speaking.</p> + +<p>"I am confirmed in the belief that we can be overheard," +Malcolm said. "Had the man not been afraid of listeners he would +have spoken to us. Now let us see what he has brought us this +time."</p> + +<p>The parcel contained a small file, a saw made of watch spring, +and a tiny phial of oil.</p> + +<p>"So far so good," Malcolm said quietly. "Our way through these +bars is clear enough now. But that is only the beginning of our +difficulties. This window looks into the prison yard, and there +is a drop of some forty feet to begin with. However, I have no +doubt our friends will send us the means of overcoming these +difficulties in due course. All we have to concern ourselves +about now is the sawing through of these bars."</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark they began the work, relieving each +other in turns. The oil prevented much sound being made, but to +deaden it still further they wrapped a handkerchief over the +file. The bars had been but a short time in position and the iron +was new and strong. It was consequently some hours before they +completed their work. When they had done, the grating was left in +the position it before occupied, the cuts being concealed from +any but close observation by kneading up small pieces of bread +and pressing them into them, and then rubbing the edges with iron +filings.</p> + +<p>"That will do for tonight," Malcolm said. "No one is likely to +pay us a visit; but if they did, they would not notice the bars +unless they went up and shook them. Tomorrow morning we can put a +finishing touch to the work."</p> + +<p>As soon as it was daylight they were upon their feet.</p> + +<p>"It does very well as it is," Malcolm said, examining the +grating. "It is good enough to pass, and we need not trouble +further about it. Now collect every grain of those iron filings. +No, don't do that on any account," he broke in, as Ronald was +preparing to blow some of it from the lower stonework through the +opening. "Were you to do that, it would be quite possible that +one of the prisoners walking in the yard might see it, and would +as likely as not report the circumstance to one of the warders in +order to curry favour and perhaps obtain a remission of his +sentence. Scrape it inside and pour every atom down the crevices +in the floor. That done, we are safe unless anyone touches the +grating."</p> + +<p>They watched their warder attentively when he next came into +the cell, but this time he had no message for them. "We must not +be impatient," Malcolm said; "our friends have a good many +arrangements to make, for they will have to provide for our +getting away when we are once out; besides, they will probably +have to bribe other warders, and that kind of thing can't be done +in a hurry."</p> + +<p>It was not for another two days that the warder made any fresh +sign. Then, as on the first occasion, he placed a pellet of paper +on the table with their bread.</p> + +<p>"This is a good deal larger than the last," Ronald +whispered.</p> + +<p>It was not until some little time after they had finished +their meal that Ronald moved to the grating and unrolled the +little ball of paper; it contained only the words:</p> + +<p>"You will receive a rope this evening. With this lower +yourselves from your window into the courtyard. Start when you +hear the church bells strike midnight, cross the court and stand +against the wall near the right hand corner of the opposite side. +The third window on the second floor will be opened, and a rope +lowered to you. Attach yourselves to this, and you will be pulled +up from above."</p> + +<p>After reading the note Ronald passed it on to Malcolm, who, as +before, swallowed it, but had this time to tear it into several +pieces before doing so. The warder was later bringing their +supper than usual that evening, and it was dark when he came in. +As he entered the room he let the lamp fall which he carried.</p> + +<p>"Confound the thing!" he said roughly. "Here, take hold of +this bread, and let me feel for the lamp. I can't be bothered +with going down to get another light. You can eat your supper in +the dark just as well, I have no doubt."</p> + +<p>As he handed Ronald the bread he also pushed into his hand the +end of the rope, and while he pretended to search for the lamp he +turned round and round rapidly, and so unwound the rope, which +was twisted many times round his body. As soon as this was done +he picked up the lamp, and with a rough "Goodnight," left +them.</p> + +<p>"It is just as I suspected," Malcolm said in Ronald's ear. +"There is a peephole somewhere, otherwise there could be no +occasion for him to have dropped the lamp. It is well that we +have always been on our guard."</p> + +<p>They ate their bread in silence, and then after a short talk +on the stupidity of the English in taking two drovers for +messengers of Prince Charles, they lay down on their rough +pallets to pass with what patience they could the long hours +before midnight, for it was late in October, and it was little +after five o'clock when the warder visited them. They felt but +slight anxiety as to the success of the enterprise, for they had +no doubt that every detail had been carefully arranged by their +friends without, although certainly it seemed a strange method of +escape that after lowering themselves from a third floor window +they should afterwards be hauled up into a second. At last, after +what seemed almost an endless watch, they heard the church clocks +strike twelve, and simultaneously rose to their feet. Not a word +was spoken, for although it was improbable in the extreme that +any watcher would be listening at that hour of the night, it was +well to take every precaution. The grating was lifted out and +laid down on one of the couches so that all noise should be +avoided. The rope was then strongly fastened to the stump of one +of the iron bars.</p> + +<p>"Now, Malcolm, I will give you a leg up; I am younger and more +active than you are, so you had better go first."</p> + +<p>Without debating the question, Malcolm put his foot on +Ronald's hand, and in a moment was seated in the opening of the +window. Grasping the rope he let himself quietly out, and lowered +himself to the ground, reaching it so noiselessly that Ronald, +who was listening, did nor hear a sound. After waiting a minute, +however, he sprang up on to the sill, and feeling that the rope +was slack, was soon by Malcolm's side below. Then both removed +their shoes and hung them round their necks, and walking +noiselessly across the court they took up their post under the +window indicated in the note. In less than a minute the end of a +rope was dropped upon their heads.</p> + +<p>"You go first this time, Ronald," Malcolm said, and fastened +it beneath Ronald's arms. Then he gave a pull at the rope to show +that they were ready. The rope tightened, and Ronald found +himself swinging in the air. He kept himself from scraping +against the walls by his hands and feet, and was especially +careful as he passed the window on the first floor. In a minute +he was pulled into the room on the second floor by the men who +had hoisted him up. A low "Hush!" warned him that there was still +a necessity for silence. The rope was lowered again, and Ronald +lent his aid to hoist Malcolm up to the window. As soon as he was +in, it was as slowly and carefully closed.</p> + +<p>"You are mighty heavy, both of you," a voice whispered. "I +should not have thought it would have been such hard work to lift +a man up this height. Now, follow us, and be sure you make no +noise."</p> + +<p>Two flights of stairs were descended, and then they stood +before a small but heavy door; some bolts were drawn and a key +turned in the lock, this being done so noiselessly that Ronald +was sure they must have been carefully oiled. The two men passed +through with them, locking the door behind them.</p> + +<p>"Thank God we are out!" Malcolm said fervently. "I have been +in a watch house more than once in my young days, but I can't say +I like it better as I grow older." They walked for some minutes, +and then their guides opened a door and they entered a small +house.</p> + +<p>"Stir up those peats, Jack," one of the men said, "and blow +them a bit, while I feel for a candle."</p> + +<p>In a minute or two a light was obtained.</p> + +<p>"That's very neatly done, I think, gentlemen," laughed the man +addressed as Jack, and who they now saw was the warder who had +attended upon them. "We had rare trouble in hitting upon that +plan. The cell you were in opened upon a corridor, the doors to +which are always locked by the chief constable himself; and even +if we could have got at his key, and opened one of them, we +should have been no nearer escape, for two of the warders sleep +in the lodge, and there would be no getting out without waking +them, and they could not be got at. They are both of them married +men, with families, and that sort of man does not care about +running risks, unless he happens to be tired of his wife and +wanting a change. Nat here and I have no incumbrances, and +weren't sorry of a chance to shift. Anyhow, there was no way, as +far as we could see, of passing you out through that part of the +prison, and at last the idea struck us of getting you out the way +we did. That wing of the jail is only used for debtors, and they +are nothing like so strict on that side as they are on the other. +Some of the warders sleep there, so there was no difficulty in +getting hold of the key for an hour and having a duplicate made. +Till yesterday all the cells were full, and we had to wait till a +man, whose time was just up, moved out. After that it was clear +sailing."</p> + +<p>"Well, we are immensely obliged to you," Ronald said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't be obliged to us," the warder replied; "we +are well paid for the job, and have a promise of good berths if +Prince Charles gets the best of it. Anyhow, we shall both make +for London, where we have acquaintances. Now we are going to +dress up; there's no time to be lost talking. There is a light +cart waiting for us and horses for you half a mile outside the +town."</p> + +<p>He opened a cupboard and took our two long smock frocks, which +he and his companion put on.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, will you put on these two suits of soldiers' +clothes. I think they will about fit you."</p> + +<p>Ronald and Malcolm were soon attired as dragoons.</p> + +<p>"There's a regiment of them here," the man said, "so there was +no difficulty in buying a cast off suit and getting these made +from it. As to the helmets, I guess there will be a stir about +them in the morning. We got hold of a soldier today and told him +we wanted a couple of helmets for a lark, and he said, for a +bottle of brandy he would drop them out of a barrack window at +ten o'clock tonight; and he kept his word. Two of them will be +surprised in the morning when they find that their helmets have +disappeared; as to the swords and belts, I don't know that they +are quite right; they were bought at an old shop, and I believe +they are yeomanry swords, but I expect they are neat enough. I +was to give you this letter to take with you; it is, as you see, +directed to General Wade at Newcastle, and purports to come from +the colonel of your regiment here, so that if by any chance you +are questioned on the way, that will serve as a reason for your +journeying north. Here is a purse of twenty guineas; I think +that's about all."</p> + +<p>"But are we not to see those who have done us such service," +Ronald asked, "in order that we may thank them in person?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know who it is any more than the man in the moon," +the warder replied. "It was a woman dressed as a serving wench, +though I doubt it was only a disguise, who came to me. She met me +in the street and asked me if I should like to earn fifty pounds. +I said I had no objection, and then after a good deal of beating +about the bush it came out that what was wanted was that I should +aid in your escape. I didn't see my way to working it alone, and +I told her so. She said she was authorized to offer the same sum +to another, so I said I would talk it over with Nat. He agreed to +stand in, and between us we thought about the arrangements; but I +never got to know any more about her. It was nothing to me whom +the money came from, as long as it was all right. We have had +half down, and are to have the other half when we get to the cart +with you. And now if you are ready we will be starting. The +further we get away from here before morning the better."</p> + +<p>They made their way quietly along the streets. The town was in +total darkness, and they did not meet a single person abroad, and +in a quarter of an hour they were in the open country. Another +ten minutes and they came upon the cart and horses. Three men +were standing beside them, and the impatient stamp of a horse's +hoof showed that the horses were tied up closely. A lantern was +held up as the party came up.</p> + +<p>"All safe?"</p> + +<p>"All safe," Ronald replied. "Thanks, many thanks to you for +our freedom."</p> + +<p>The man holding the lantern was masked, so they could not see +his face. He first turned to the two warders, and placed a bag of +money in their hand.</p> + +<p>"You have done your work well," he said; "the cart will take +you thirty miles on your road, and then drop you. I wish you a +safe journey. You had best hide your money in your boots, unless +you wish it to fall into the hands of highwaymen. The London road +is infested with them."</p> + +<p>With a word of farewell to Ronald and Malcolm, the two warders +climbed into the cart, one of them mounted beside them and took +the reins, and in another minute the cart drove away in the +darkness. As soon as it had started the man with the lantern +removed his mask.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ratcliff!" Ronald exclaimed in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is myself. There are half a dozen of us engaged in +the matter. As soon as we heard of your arrest we determined to +get you out. I was only afraid you would have been taken up to +London before we could get all our plans arranged, for I knew +they had sent up for instructions. It was well that we were ready +to act tonight, for orders were received this afternoon that you +should be sent up under an escort tomorrow. You puzzled them +rarely at your examination, and they could make nothing of you. +Our greatest fear was that you might betray yourselves in the +prison when you fancied you were alone, for we learned from the +men who have just left us that you were placed in a special cell +where all that you said could be overheard, and your movements to +some extent watched through a tiny hole in the wall communicating +with the cell next to it. It widens out on that side so that a +man can get his ear or his eye to the hole, which is high up upon +the wall, and but a quarter of an inch across, so that it could +scarcely be observed unless by one who knew of its existence. The +warder said that they could hear plainly enough through this +hole, but could see very little. However, they do not seem to +have gathered much that way."</p> + +<p>"We were on guard, sir; my friend Malcolm thought it possible +that there might be some such contrivance."</p> + +<p>"And now, my young friend," Mr. Ratcliff said, "you had best +mount at once; follow this road for half a mile, and then take +the broad road to the left; you cannot mistake it. It goes +straight to Penrith. You have got the letter to General +Wade?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, and the money; we are indeed in every way greatly +indebted to you."</p> + +<p>"Say nothing about it," Mr. Ratcliff said. "I am risking my +life as well as my fortune in the cause of Prince Charles, and +this money is on his service. I hear he is already on the march +south. Repeat to him when you join him what I have already told +you, namely, that I and other gentlemen will assuredly join him; +but that I am convinced there will be no general rising in his +favour unless a French army arrive to his assistance. The delay +which has taken place has, in my opinion, entirely destroyed his +chances, unless he receives foreign assistance. Wade has ten +thousand men at Newcastle, the Duke of Cumberland has gathered +eight thousand in the Midlands, and there is a third army forming +to cover London. Already many of the best regiments have returned +from Holland, and each day adds to their number. Do all you can +to dissuade him from advancing until French aid arrives; but tell +him also that if he comes with but half a dozen followers, +Charles Ratcliff will join him and share his fate, whatever it +be."</p> + +<p>With a hearty shake of the hand he leapt on his horse, and, +followed by his servant, galloped off in one direction, while +Ronald and Malcolm set out in the other.</p> + +<p>"This is a grand disguise," Ronald said. "We might ride +straight into Wade's camp at Newcastle without being +suspected."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt we could," Malcolm agreed. "Still, it will be +wiser to keep away from the neighbourhood of any English troops. +Awkward questions might be asked, and although the letter you +have for the general may do very well to impress any officers of +militia or newly raised troops we may meet on the road, and would +certainly pass us as two orderlies conveying despatches, it would +be just as well not to have to appear before the general himself. +Our swords and belts would probably be noticed at once by any +cavalry officers. I know nothing about the English army, and do +not know how much the yeomanry swords and belts may differ from +those of the line. However, it is certain the less observation we +attract from the soldiers the better; but as to civilians we can +ride straight on through towns and villages with light +hearts."</p> + +<p>"We may as well breathe our horses a bit, Malcolm, now there +is no occasion for haste, and we can jog along at our own pace. +There is no probability of pursuit, for when they find that we +and the warders are missing and see the rope from our window they +will be sure that we shall have started early and are far away by +the time they find out we are gone."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they travelled quietly north, boldly riding +through small towns and villages, putting up at little inns, and +chatting freely with the villagers who came in to talk over the +news, for the north was all excitement. Orders had been issued +for all the militia to turn out, but there was little response, +for although few had any desire to risk their lives in the cause +of the Stuarts, fewer still had any intention of fighting for the +Hanoverians.</p> + +<p>When they arrived within a few miles of Newcastle they left +the main road and struck across country, their object being to +come down upon the road running north from Carlisle, for they +thought it likely that parties of General Wade's troops would be +scattered far over the country north of Newcastle. At a farm +house they succeeded in buying some civilian clothes, giving out +that they were deserters, and as they were willing to pay well, +the farmer, who had no goodwill towards the Hanoverians, had no +difficulty in parting with two of his best suits.</p> + +<p>They were now in a country perfectly well known to Malcolm, +and travelling by byways across the hills they crossed the +Cheviots a few miles south of Carter Fell, and then rode down the +wild valleys to Castletown and thence to Canobie of the Esk. As +they entered the little town they found the wildest excitement +prevailing. An officer with two orderlies had just ridden in to +say that quarters were to be prepared for Prince Charles, and a +quantity of bullocks and meal got in readiness for the use of the +army, which would arrive late that evening. Ronald soon found the +officer who had brought the order and recognized him as one of +Lord Perth's aides de camp. He did not know Ronald in his present +dress, but greeted him heartily as soon as he discovered who he +was.</p> + +<p>"How is it the troops are coming this way?" Ronald asked.</p> + +<p>"They are marching through Liddesdale from Kelso. We halted +there for two days, and orders were sent forward to Wooler to +prepare quarters. This was to throw Wade off the scent and induce +him to march north from Newcastle to oppose us on that road, +while, as you see, we have turned west and shall cross into +Cumberland and make a dash at Carlisle."</p> + +<p>A few hours later the prince arrived with his army, and as +soon as he entered the quarters prepared for him Ronald proceeded +there and made his report.</p> + +<p>"I could wish it had been better, Captain Leslie," the prince +said; "but the die is cast now, and I cannot think that our +friends in the north, who proved so loyal to our cause in '15, +will hang back when we are among them. When they see that Charles +Ratcliff and other gentlemen whom you have visited range +themselves under our banner I believe the common people will join +us also. Now give me a full account of your mission."</p> + +<p>Ronald gave the list of the gentry he had visited, and +described his arrest and imprisonment in Manchester and the +manner in which Mr. Ratcliff had contrived his escape.</p> + +<p>"You have done all that is possible, sir," the prince said, +"and at an early opportunity I will show you I appreciate your +services."</p> + +<p>On the next day, the 8th of November, the corps crossed the +border; on the 9th they were joined by another column, which had +marched from Edinburgh by the western road, and the united force +marched to Carlisle and sat down before it. The walls of the city +were old and in bad condition, the garrison was ill prepared for +a siege. It consisted of a company of invalids in the castle, +under the command of Colonel Durand, and a considerable body of +Cumberland Militia. The walls, however, old as they were, could +for some time have resisted the battery of four pounder guns +which formed the prince's sole artillery.</p> + +<p>The mayor returned no answer to the prince's summons and +orders were issued to begin to throw up trench works, but +scarcely had the operations begun when news arrived that Marshal +Wade was marching from Newcastle to relieve the city. The siege +was at once abandoned, and the prince marched out with the army +to Brampton and took up a favourable position there to give +battle. The news proved incorrect, and the Duke of Perth with +several regiments were sent back to resume the siege.</p> + +<p>On the 13th the duke began to raise a battery on the east side +of the town, but after a few shots had been fired from the walls +the courage of the besieged failed them. The white flag was hung +out, and the town and castle surrendered on the condition that +the soldiers and militia might march away, leaving their arms and +horses behind and engaging not to serve again for a year. On the +17th the prince made a triumphal entry into the place, but was +received with but little show of warmth on the part of the +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>A halt was made at Carlisle and a council was held to +determine upon the next step to be taken. The news which had been +received from Scotland was very unfavourable. Lord Strathallan, +who had been appointed by the prince as commander in chief, and +directed to raise as many troops as possible, had collected +between two and three thousand men at Perth, and Lord Lewis +Gordon had raised three battalions in Aberdeenshire; but on the +other hand a considerable force had been collected at Inverness +for King George. The towns of Glasgow, Paisley, and Dumfries had +turned out their militia for the house of Hanover. The officers +of the crown had re-entered Edinburgh and two regiments of +cavalry had been sent forward by Marshal Wade to their +support.</p> + +<p>While even Scotland was thus wavering it seemed almost madness +for the little army to advance into England. The greater portion +of the Highlanders had from the first objected strongly to leave +their country, and upwards of a thousand had deserted and gone +home on the march down from Edinburgh. They had started less than +six thousand strong, and after leaving a garrison of two hundred +men in Carlisle, but four thousand five hundred were available +for the advance south, while Wade, with his ten thousand men, +would be in their rear and two English armies of nearly equal +strength be waiting to receive them. At the council the opinions +of the leaders were almost unanimous against an advance, but upon +Lord George Murray saying that if Prince Charles decided upon +advancing the army would follow him, he determined upon pressing +forward.</p> + +<p>The army began its advance on the 20th of November, and halted +a day at Penrith, upon the news that Marshal Wade was moving to +attack them; but the English general had not made any move, and +the Scotch again pushed on through Shap, Kendal, and Lancaster, +to Preston. During the march Prince Charles marched with his +troops clad in Highland garb, and with his target thrown across +his shoulder. He seldom stopped for dinner, but ate his food as +he walked, chatting gaily with the Highlanders, and by his +cheerfulness and example kept up their spirits. The strictest +discipline was enforced, and everything required by the troops +was paid for. At Preston the prince on his entry was cheered by +the mob, and a few men enlisted.</p> + +<p>From Preston the army marched to Wigan, and thence to +Manchester. The road was thronged with people, who expressed the +warmest wishes for the prince's success; but when asked to +enlist, they all hung back, saying they knew nothing about +fighting. Still the feeling in favour of the prince's cause +became stronger as he advanced south, and at Manchester he was +received with the acclamations of the inhabitants, the ringing of +the bells, and an illumination of the city in the evening. The +people mounted white cockades, and the next day about two hundred +men enlisted and were enrolled under the name of the Manchester +Regiment, the command of which was given to Mr. Francis Townley, +a Roman Catholic belonging to an old Lancashire family, who, with +Mr. Ratcliff and a few other gentlemen, had joined the army on +the advance.</p> + +<p>The leaders, however, of the prince's army were bitterly +disappointed at the general apathy of the people. Lancashire had +in '15 been the stronghold of the Jacobites, and the mere +accession of two or three hundred men was evident that nothing +like a popular rising was to be looked for, and they had but +themselves to rely upon in the struggle against the whole +strength of England. Marshal Wade was in full march behind them. +The Duke of Cumberland lay at Lichfield in their front with a +force of eight thousand veteran troops; while a third army, of +which the Royal Guards were the nucleus, was being formed at +Finchley. Large bodies of militia had been raised in several +districts. Liverpool had declared against them; Chester was in +the hands of the Earl of Cholmondeley; the bridges of the Mersey +had been broken down; difficulties and dangers multiplied on all +sides.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles, ever sanguine, was confident that he should be +joined by large numbers as he advanced south; but his officers +were now thoroughly alarmed, and the leaders in a body +remonstrated with Lord George Murray against any further advance. +He advised them, however, to offer no further opposition to the +prince's wishes until they came to Derby, promising that, unless +by that time they were joined by the Jacobites in considerable +numbers, he would himself, as general, propose and insist upon a +retreat. Ronald utilized the short halt at Manchester to obtain +new uniforms for himself and Malcolm, which he was glad to +exchange for the farmer's garb, which had been the occasion of a +good deal of joking and mirth among his fellow officers on the +downward march.</p> + +<p>On the first of December, Prince Charles, at the head of one +division, forded the Mersey near Stockport, where the water was +waist deep. The other division, with the baggage and artillery, +crossed lower down, at Cheadle, on a hastily constructed bridge, +and the two columns joined that evening at Macclesfield. Here +Lord George Murray succeeded in misleading the Duke of Cumberland +as to his intentions by a dexterous manoeuvre. Advancing with a +portion of his force he dislodged and drove before him the Duke +of Kingston and a small party of English horse posted at +Congleton, and pursued them some distance along the road towards +Newcastle under Tyne.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Cumberland, supposing that the prince's army were +on their march either to give him battle or to make their way +into Wales, where the Jacobite party were extremely strong, +pushed forward with his main body to Stone. Lord George Murray, +however, having gained his object, turned sharp off to the left, +and after a long march arrived at Ashborne, where the prince, +with the other division of the army, had marched direct. The next +afternoon they arrived at Derby, having thus altogether evaded +the Duke of Cumberland, and being nearly three days' march nearer +London than was his army.</p> + +<p>The prince that night was in high spirits at the fact that he +was now within a hundred and thirty miles of London, and that +neither Wade's nor Cumberland's forces interposed between him and +the capital. But his delight was by no means shared by his +followers, and early next morning he was waited upon by Lord +George Murray and all the commanders of battalions and squadrons, +and a council being held, they laid before the prince their +earnest and unanimous opinion that an immediate retreat to +Scotland was necessary.</p> + +<p>They had marched, they said, so far on the promise either of +an English rising or a French descent upon England. Neither had +yet occurred. Their five thousand fighting men were insufficient +to give battle to even one of the three armies that surrounded +them -- scarcely adequate, indeed, to take possession of London +were there no army at Finchley to protect it. Even did they gain +London, how could they hold it against the united armies of Wade +and Cumberland? Defeat so far from home would mean destruction, +and not a man would ever regain Scotland.</p> + +<p>In vain the prince replied to their arguments, in vain +expostulated, and even implored them to yield to his wishes. +After several hours of stormy debate the council broke up without +having arrived at any decision. The prince at one time thought of +calling upon the soldiers to follow him without regard to their +officers; for the Highlanders, reluctant as they had been to +march into England, were now burning for a fight, and were +longing for nothing so much as to meet one or other of the +hostile armies opposed to them. The prince's private advisers, +however, Sheridan and Secretary Murray, urged him to yield to the +opinion of his officers, since they were sure that the clansmen +would never fight well if they knew that their chiefs were +unanimously opposed to their giving battle. Accordingly the +prince, heartbroken at the destruction of his hopes, agreed to +yield to the wishes of his officers, and at a council in the +evening gave his formal consent to a retreat.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name= +"CHAPTER_XVII_A_Baffled_Plot_"></a>CHAPTER XVII: A Baffled +Plot.</h1> + +<p>Utterly disheartened and dispirited the army commenced its +march north. The prince himself was even more disappointed than +his soldiers, and showed by his manner how bitterly he resented +the decision at which his officers had arrived. It had seemed to +him that success was within his grasp, and that he had but to +march to London to overthrow the Hanoverian dynasty. And it is by +no means improbable that his instincts were more correct than the +calculations of his advisers. The news of his rapid march south +had sent a thrill through the country; and although so far the +number of those who had joined him was exceedingly small, at that +moment numbers of gentlemen in Wales and other parts of the +country were arming their tenants, and preparing to take the +field.</p> + +<p>There was no hostile force between himself and London, for the +force at Finchley was not yet organized, and could have offered +no effectual opposition. A panic reigned in the metropolis, and +the king was preparing to take ship and leave the country. Had +the little army marched forward there is small doubt that James +would have been proclaimed king in London. But it may be doubted +whether Prince Charles could have maintained the advantage he had +gained. Two armies, both superior to his own, were pressing on +his rear, and would have arrived in London but a few days after +himself; and although the Londoners might have accepted him, they +would hardly have risen in arms to aid him against Cumberland's +army. Had this halted at a distance, the reinforcements which +might have joined the prince would have been more than +counterbalanced by the regiments of English and Hanoverian troops +which the king could have sent over, and although the strife +might have been lengthened the result would in all probability +have been the same.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles had no ability in governing. His notions of the +absolute power of kings were as strong as those of his ancestors, +and, surrounded as he was by hotheaded Highlanders, he would +speedily have caused discontent and disgust even among those most +favourably inclined by hereditary tradition to the cause of the +Stuarts. But of all this he was ignorant, and in the retreat from +Derby he saw the destruction of his hopes.</p> + +<p>Hitherto he had marched on foot with the Highlanders, chatting +gaily as he went. Now he rode in rear of the column, and scarce +exchanged a word with even his most intimate advisers. The +Highlanders no longer preserved the discipline which had +characterized their southward march. Villages were plundered and +in some cases burned, and in retaliation the peasantry killed or +took prisoners stragglers and those left behind. Even at +Manchester, where the reception of the army had been so warm a +few days before, its passage was opposed by a violent mob, and +the prince was so offended at the conduct of the townspeople that +he imposed a fine of five thousand pounds upon the city.</p> + +<p>The next morning the march was continued. The Highlanders laid +hands on every horse they could find, and so all pressed on at +the top of their speed for the border. The Duke of Cumberland, +who had fallen back in all haste for the protection of London, +was close to Coventry when he heard that the Scotch had retreated +northward. With all his cavalry, and a thousand foot whom he +mounted on horses supplied by the neighbouring gentry, he set out +in pursuit. At Preston he was joined by another body of horse, +sent across the country from the army of Marshal Wade; but it was +not until he entered Westmoreland that he came up with the rear +guard of the insurgents, which was commanded by Lord George +Murray.</p> + +<p>Defeating some local volunteers who molested him, Lord George +learned from the prisoners that the duke with four thousand men +was close at hand, and he sent on the news to the prince, who +despatched two regiments, the Stuarts of Appin and the +Macphersons of Cluny, to reinforce him. It was nearly dark when +by the light of the moon Lord George saw the English infantry, +who had now dismounted, advancing. He at once charged them at the +head of the Macphersons and Stuarts, and in a few minutes the +English were completely defeated, their commander, Colonel +Honeywood, being left severely wounded on the field, with a +hundred killed or disabled men, while the loss of the Scotch was +but twelve.</p> + +<p>It was with great difficulty that the Highlanders could be +recalled from the pursuit, and Lord George himself sent an urgent +message to the prince begging for a further reinforcement, in +order that he might maintain his ground and defeat the whole +force of the duke. As usual his wishes were disregarded, and he +was ordered to fall back and join the main body at Penrith. The +check, however, was so effective that the duke made no further +attempt to harass the retreat of the Highlanders.</p> + +<p>Passing through Carlisle, some men of a Lowland regiment, and +Colonel Twonley with his regiment raised at Manchester, were left +there as a garrison, so that the road should be kept open for +another and, as the prince hoped, not far distant invasion. The +step was, however, a cruel one, for the Duke of Cumberland at +once laid siege to the place, battered a breach in its ancient +wall, and the garrison were forced to surrender. Many of them +were afterwards executed and imprisoned, and ruin fell upon +all.</p> + +<p>Charles with his army marched north to Glasgow, where they +remained eight days, requisitioning supplies from the town. +During their stay Ronald and Malcolm put up at the house of +Andrew Anderson.</p> + +<p>"What think you of the chances now, Malcolm?" Andrew asked his +brother, after hearing what had taken place since he had last +seen him.</p> + +<p>"I think no better and no worse of it than I did before, +brother. They have had more success than I looked for. I did not +think they would ever have got as far south as Derby. Who would +have thought that a few thousand Highlanders could have marched +half through England? But I see no prospect of success. The +prince is badly advised. He has but one really good soldier with +him, and he is set against him by the intrigues and spite of +Secretary Murray and his friends, and partly, it may be, by Lord +George's own frankness of speech. He has at his back but half the +Highlands, for the other portion stand aloof from him. In the +Lowlands he has found scarce an adherent, and but a handful in +England. The Highlanders are brave; but it is surely beyond human +expectation that five or six thousand Highlanders can vanquish a +kingdom with a brave and well trained army with abundant +artillery. Ronald and I mean to fight it out to the end; but I do +not think the end will be very far off."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for the young prince," Andrew said. "He is a fine +fellow, certainly -- handsome and brave and courteous, and +assuredly clement. For three times his life has been attempted, +and each time he has released those who did it without +punishment. I could not but think, as I saw him ride down the +street today, that it was sad that so fine a young man should be +doomed either to the block or to a lifelong imprisonment, and +that for fighting for what he has been doubtless taught to +consider his right. There are many here who are bitter against +him; but I am not one of them, and I am sorry for him, sorry for +all these brave gentlemen and clansmen, for I fear that there +will be a terrible vengeance for all that has been done. They +have frightened the English king and his ministers too sorely to +be ever forgiven, and we shall have sad times in Scotland when +this is all over."</p> + +<p>Two evenings later Ronald noticed that Andrew, who had been +absent for some time, and had only returned just in time for +supper, looked worried and abstracted, and replied almost at +random to any questions put to him.</p> + +<p>"It is of no use," he said suddenly when his wife had left the +room after the conclusion of the meal. "I am a loyal subject of +King George, and I wish him every success in battle, and am +confident that he will crush out this rebellion without +difficulty, but I cannot go as far as some. I cannot stand by and +see murder done on a poor lad who, whatever his faults, is +merciful and generous to his enemies. Malcolm, I will tell you +all I know, only bidding you keep secret as to how you got the +news, for it would cost me my life were it known that the matter +had leaked out through me."</p> + +<p>"This evening five of the council, knowing that I am a staunch +king's man, took me aside after the meeting was over, and told me +that there was a plan on foot to put an end to all the trouble by +the carrying off or slaying of Prince Charles. I was about to +protest against it, when I saw that by so doing I should, in the, +first place, do no good; in the second, be looked upon as a +Jacobite; and in the third, be unable to learn the details of +what they were proposing. So I said that doubtless it was a good +thing to lay by the heels the author of all these troubles, and +that the life of one man was as nought in the balance compared to +the prosperity of the whole country. Whereupon they revealed to +me their plan, asking me for a subscription of a hundred pounds +to carry it out, and saying truly that I should get back the +money and great honour from the king when he learned I had done +him such service. After some bargaining I agreed for fifty +pounds."</p> + +<p>"But what is the plot, Andrew?" Malcolm said anxiously.</p> + +<p>"It is just this. The prince, as you know, goes about with +scant attendance, and though there are guards in front of his +house, there are but two or three beside himself who sleep there. +There is a back entrance to which no attention is paid, and it +will be easy for those who know the house to enter by that door, +to make their way silently to his chamber, and either to kill or +carry him off. I threw my voice in against killing, pointing out +that the king would rather have him alive than dead, so that he +might be tried and executed in due form. This was also their +opinion, for they had already hired a vessel which is lying in +the stream. The plan is to seize and gag him and tie his arms. +There will be no difficulty in getting him along through the +streets. There are few folks abroad after ten o'clock, and should +they meet anyone he will conclude that it is but a drunken +Highlander being carried home. You see, Malcolm, there is not +only honour to be gained from the king, but the thirty thousand +pounds offered for the prince's person. I pretended to fall in +with the plan, and gave them the fifty pounds which they lacked +for the hire of the vessel, the captain refusing to let them have +it save for money paid down. Now, Malcolm, I have told you and +Ronald all I know about the matter, and it is for you to see how +a stop may be put to it."</p> + +<p>"The scoundrels!" Malcolm said. "Their loyalty to the king is +but a veil to hide their covetousness for the reward. When is it +to take place, and how many men are likely to be engaged in +it?"</p> + +<p>"Six trusty men of the city watch and their five selves. I +said I would subscribe the money, but would have no active share +in the business. They might have all the honour, I would be +content with my share of the reward offered. Two of them with +four of the guards will enter the house and carry off the prince. +The rest will wait outside and follow closely on the way down to +the port ready to give aid if the others should meet with any +obstruction. The whole will embark and sail to London with +him."</p> + +<p>"And when is this plot to be carried out?" Malcolm asked.</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow at midnight. Tide will be high half an hour later; +they will drop down the river as soon as it turns, and will be +well out to sea by the morning. And now I have told you all, I +will only ask you to act so that as little trouble as possible +may arise. Do not bring my name into the matter if you can avoid +doing so; but in any case I would rather run the risk of the ruin +and death which would alight upon me when this rebellion is over +than have such a foul deed of treachery carried out. There is not +a Scotchman but to this day curses the name of the traitor +Menteith, who betrayed Wallace. My name is a humble one, but I +would not have it go down to all ages as that of a man who +betrayed Charles Stuart for English gold."</p> + +<p>"Make yourself easy, brother; Ronald and I will see to that. +When once treachery is known it is easy to defeat, and Ronald and +I will see that your name does not appear in the matter."</p> + +<p>"Thank God that is off my mind!" Andrew said. "And I will off +to bed, or Janet will wonder what I am talking about so long. I +will leave you two to settle how you can best manage the affair, +which you can do without my help, for matters of this kind are +far more in your way than in mine."</p> + +<p>"This is a villainous business, Ronald," Malcolm said when +they were alone; "and yet I am not surprised. Thirty thousand +pounds would not tempt a Highlander who has naught in the world +save the plaid in which he stands up; but these money grubbing +citizens of Glasgow would sell their souls for gain. And now what +do you think had best be done in the matter, so that the plot may +be put a stop to, and that without suspicion falling upon Andrew? +It would be easy to have a dozen men hiding in the yard behind +the house and cut down the fellows as they enter."</p> + +<p>"I do not think that would do, Malcolm; it would cause a +tumult, and the fact could not be hidden. And besides, you know +what these Highlanders are; they already loathe and despise the +citizens of Glasgow, and did they know that there had been a plot +on foot to capture and slay the prince, nothing could prevent +their laying the town in ashes."</p> + +<p>"That is true enough. What do you propose then, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"I think it best that if there should be any fighting it +should be on board the ship, but possibly we may avoid even that. +I should say that with eight or ten men we can easily seize the +vessel, and then when the boat comes alongside capture the +fellows as they step on to the deck without trouble, and leave it +to the prince to settle what is to be done with them."</p> + +<p>"That is certainly the best plan, Ronald. I will get together +tomorrow half a dozen trusty lads who will ask no questions as to +what I want them to do, and will be silent about the matter +afterwards. We must get from Andrew tomorrow morning the name of +the vessel, and see where she is lying in the stream, and where +the boat will be waiting for the prince."</p> + +<p>The next night Ronald and Malcolm with six men made their way +one by one through the streets so as not to attract the attention +of the watch, and assembled near the strand. Not until the clock +struck twelve did they approach the stairs at the foot of which +the boat was lying. There were two men in it.</p> + +<p>"You are earlier than we expected," one said as they descended +the steps. "The captain said a quarter past twelve."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we are a little early," Malcolm replied as he stepped +into the boat; "we are ready earlier than we expected."</p> + +<p>A moment later Malcolm suddenly seized one of the sailors by +the throat and dragged him down to the bottom of the boat, a +handkerchief was stuffed into his mouth, and his hands and feet +tied. The other was at the same time similarly secured.</p> + +<p>So suddenly and unexpected had been the attack that the +sailors had had no time to cry out or to offer any resistance, +and their capture was effected without the slightest sound being +heard. The oars were at once got out and the boat was rowed out +towards the vessel lying out in the middle of the stream with a +light burning at her peak. As they approached the side the +captain appeared at the gangway.</p> + +<p>"All is well, I hope?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Could not be better," Malcolm replied as he seized the rope +and mounted the gangway, the others closely following him. As he +sprang upon the deck he presented a pistol at the captain's +head.</p> + +<p>"Speak a word and you die," he said sternly.</p> + +<p>Taken by surprise, the captain offered no resistance, but +suffered himself to be bound. Two or three sailors on deck were +similarly seized and secured, the hatchway was fastened to +prevent the rest of the crew from coming on deck, and the ship +being thus in their possession two of the men at once took their +places in the boat and rowed back to the stairs.</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour later those on board heard a murmur of +voices on shore, and two or three minutes later the splash of +oars as the boat rowed back to the ship. Ronald put on the +captain's cap and stood at the gangway with a lantern.</p> + +<p>"All right, I hope?" he asked as the boat came alongside.</p> + +<p>"All right, captain! You can get up your anchor as soon as you +like."</p> + +<p>Two men mounted on to the deck, and then four others carried +up a figure and were followed by the rest. As the last one +touched the deck Ronald lifted the lantern above his head, and, +to the astonishment of the newcomers, they saw themselves +confronted by eight armed men.</p> + +<p>The six men of the watch, furious at the prospect of losing +the reward upon which they had reckoned, drew their swords and +rushed forward; but they were struck down with handspikes and +swords, for Ronald had impressed upon his men the importance of +not using their pistols, save in the last extremity. In two +minutes the fight was over. The five citizens had taken little +part in it, save as the recipients of blows; for Malcolm, furious +at their treachery, had bade the men make no distinction between +them and the watch, and had himself dealt them one or two heavy +blows with his handspike after he had seen that the guard was +overpowered.</p> + +<p>The whole of them were then bound, and warned that their +throats would be cut if they made the least noise. The prince was +released from his bonds, and he was at once conducted by Malcolm +and Ronald to the cabin, where a light was burning.</p> + +<p>The prince was so much bewildered by the events that had +occurred that he did not yet understand the state of the case. He +had. been awoke by a gag being roughly forced into his mouth, +while at the same moment his hands were tightly bound. Then he +was lifted from his bed, some clothes were thrown on to him, a +man took his place on either side, and, thrusting their arms into +his, threatened him with instant death if he did not come along +with them without resistance. Then he had been hurried down +stairs and along the streets, two men keeping a little ahead and +others following behind. He had been forced into a boat and rowed +up to a ship, and on reaching the deck a desperate combat had +suddenly commenced all round him. Then the gag had been removed +and the bonds cut. Bewildered and amazed he gazed at the two men +who had accompanied him to the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Why, Captain Leslie!" he exclaimed. "Is it you? What means +all this scene through which I have passed?"</p> + +<p>"It means, your royal highness," Ronald said respectfully, +"that I and my friend Malcolm obtained information of a plot on +the part of some of the citizens to carry you off and sell you to +the English. We could have stopped it by attacking them as they +entered the house to seize you; but had we done so an alarm must +have been raised, and we feared that the Highlanders, when they +knew of the treachery that had been attempted against you, might +have fallen upon the citizens, and that a terrible uproar would +have taken place. Therefore we carried out another plan. We first +of all obtained possession of the ship in which you were to have +been taken away, and then overcame your captors as they brought +you on board. All this has been done without any alarm having +been given, and it now rests with you to determine what shall be +done with these wretches."</p> + +<p>"You have done well, indeed, Captain Leslie, and I thank you +and your friend not only for the great service you have rendered +me, but for the manner in which you have done it. I ought to have +foreseen this. Did not the Lowlanders sell King Charles to the +English? I might have expected that some at least would be +tempted by the reward offered me. As for punishment for these +men, they are beneath me. And, moreover, if I can trust my eyes +and my ears, the knocks which you gave them will be punishment +enough even did I wish to punish them, which I do not. I could +not do so without the story of the attempt being known, and in +that case there would be no keeping my Highlanders within bounds. +As it is they are continually reproaching me with what they call +my mistaken clemency, and there would be no restraining them did +they know of this. No, we had best leave them to themselves. We +will order the captain to put to sea with them at once, and tell +him he had best not return to Glasgow until I have left it. They +will have time to reflect there at leisure, and as, doubtless, +they have each of them given reasons at home for an absence of +some duration there will be no anxiety respecting them. And now, +gentlemen, will you fetch in those who have aided in my rescue. I +would thank every one of them for the service they have rendered, +and impress upon them my urgent desire that they should say +nothing to anyone of this night's work."</p> + +<p>While the prince was speaking to the men, Malcolm went out, +and having unbound the captain, ordered him to deliver up the sum +which he had received for the conveyance of the prince and his +captors to England.</p> + +<p>The captain did as he was ordered.</p> + +<p>"How much is there here?" Malcolm asked.</p> + +<p>"Three hundred pounds."</p> + +<p>Malcolm counted out fifty of it and placed them in his pocket, +saying to Ronald:</p> + +<p>"There is no reason Andrew should be a loser by the +transaction. That will leave two hundred and fifty, which I will +divide among our men when we get ashore."</p> + +<p>Malcolm then gave the prince's orders to the captain; that he +must, immediately they left the ship, get up his anchor as before +intended, and make out to sea; and that under pain of being tried +and executed for his share in this treacherous business, he was +not to return to Glasgow with his eleven passengers for the space +of a week.</p> + +<p>The prince and his rescuers then entered the boats and rowed +to shore, and the prince regained his apartment without anyone in +the house being aware that he had been absent from it. The next +day the prince sent for Ronald and Malcolm, and in a private +interview again expressed to them his gratitude for his rescue +from the hands of his enemies.</p> + +<p>"I have none but empty honour to bestow now," he said; "but +believe me, if I ever mount the throne of England you shall see +that Charles Edward Stuart is not ungrateful."</p> + +<p>The incident was kept a close secret, only two or three of the +prince's most intimate advisers ever informed of it. These were +unanimous in urging that an absolute silence should be maintained +on the subject, for the fact that the attempt would have +certainly been crowned with success had it not been for the +measures Ronald had taken, might encourage others to attempt a +repetition of it.</p> + +<p>Having rested his army by a stay of eight days at Glasgow, +Prince Charles set out on the 3rd of January, 1746, for Stirling, +where he was joined by Lords John Drummond, Lewis Gordon, and +Strathallan, the first named of whom had brought some battering +guns and engineers from France. Their following raised the force +to nearly nine thousand men -- the largest army that Charles +mustered during the course of the campaign. The siege of Stirling +was at once commenced; but the castle was strong and well +defended, and the siege made but little progress.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland had been recalled with +the greater part of his force to guard the southern coasts of +England, which were threatened by an invasion by a French force +now assembled at Dunkirk, and which, had it sailed before the +Highlanders commenced their retreat from Derby, might have +altogether altered the situation of affairs. The command of the +English army in the north was handed by the duke to General +Hawley, a man after his own heart, violent in temper, brutal and +cruel in conduct.</p> + +<p>He collected at Edinburgh an army of nearly the same strength +as that of Prince Charles, and with these he matched out as far +as Falkirk to raise the siege of Stirling, and, as he confidently +boasted, to drive the rebels before him. Prince Charles, leaving +a few hundred men to continue the siege, matched out to +Bannockburn. The English did not move out from Falkirk, and the +prince, after waiting for a day, determined to take the +initiative.</p> + +<p>Hawley himself was stopping at Callendar House at some +distance from his army and General Huske remained in command of +the camp. To occupy his attention the prince despatched Lord John +Drummond, with all the cavalry, by the straight road by Stirling +to Falkirk, which ran north of the English camp. They displayed, +as they marched, the royal standard and other colours, which had +the desired effect of impressing Huske with the idea that the +prince with all his army was moving that way. In the meantime +Charles with his main force had crossed the river Carron to the +south and was only separated from the English by Falkirk Muir, a +rugged and rigid upland covered with heath.</p> + +<p>Just as the English were about to take their dinner some +country people brought in the news of the approach of the +Highlanders. Huske at once got his men under arms, but he had no +authority, in the absence of Hawley, to set them in motion. +Messengers, however, were sent off on horseback at once to +Callendar House, and the general presently galloped up in +breathless haste, and putting himself at the head of his three +regiments of dragoons, started for Falkirk Muir, which he hoped +to gain before the Highlanders could take possession of it. He +ordered the infantry to follow as fast as possible. A storm of +wind and rain beat in the face of the soldiers, and before they +could gain the crest of the muir the Highlanders had obtained +possession. The English then halted and drew up on somewhat lower +ground.</p> + +<p>Between them was a ravine which formed but a small depression +opposite the centre of the English line, but deepened towards the +plain on their right. The English artillery, in the hurry of +their advance, had stuck fast in a morass, but as the Highlanders +had brought no guns with them the forces were equal in this +respect. Lord John Drummond had from a distance been watching the +movements of the English, and as soon as he saw that they had +taken the alarm and were advancing against the prince, he made a +detour, and, riding round the English, joined the Highland +infantry. The prince's army was divided into two lines: its right +was commanded by Lord George Murray, the left by Lord John +Drummond; the prince, as at Preston, took up his station in the +centre of the second line on a conspicuous mound, still known by +the name of Charlie's Hill.</p> + +<p>The English infantry were also drawn up in two lines, with the +Argyle militia and the Glasgow regiment in reserve behind the +second line. The cavalry were in front under Colonel Ligonier, +who, at the death of Colonel Gardiner, had succeeded to the +command of his regiment. General Hawley commanded the centre and +General Huske the right.</p> + +<p>The battle commenced by a charge of Ligonier with his cavalry +upon the Highland right. Here the Macdonald clansmen were posted, +and these, at Lord George Murray's order, reserved their fire +until the dragoons were within ten yards, and then poured in a +scathing volley, under which numbers of the horsemen went down. +The two dragoon regiments, which had fled so shamefully at +Preston and Coltbridge, turned and galloped at once from the +field; but Cobham's regiment fought well, and when compelled to +retreat rallied behind the right of the line.</p> + +<p>Lord George Murray endeavoured to get the victorious +Macdonalds into line again; but these were beyond control and +rushing forward fell upon the flank of Hawley's two lines of +foot, which were at the same moment furiously assailed in front; +the Highlanders, after pouring in their fire, dropped their +muskets and charged broadsword in hand.</p> + +<p>The English, nearly blinded by the wind and rain, were unable +to withstand this combined assault. General Hawley, who at least +possessed the virtue of courage, rode hither and thither in their +front, trying to encourage them, but in vain, the whole centre +gave way and fled in confusion. On the right, however, the +English were defending themselves successfully. The three +regiments placed there, on the edge of the ravine, maintained so +steady a fire that the Highlanders were unable to cross it, and +Cobham's dragoons charged down upon the scattered and victorious +Highlanders in the centre and effectually checked their pursuit. +Prince Charles, seeing the danger, put himself at the head of the +second line and advanced against the three English regiments who +still stood firm.</p> + +<p>Unable to withstand so overwhelming a force these fell back +from the ground they had held, but did so in steady order, their +drums beating, and covering, in their retreat, the mingled mass +of fugitives. Had the Highlanders, at this critical moment, flung +themselves with their whole force upon these regiments the +English army would have been wholly destroyed; but night was +already setting in, and the Scottish leaders were ignorant how +complete was their victory, and feared an ambuscade. Lord John +Drummond, a general officer in the French service, especially +opposed the pursuit, saying, "These men behaved admirably at +Fontenoy; surely this must be a feint."</p> + +<p>The Highlanders remained stationary on the field until some +detachments, sent forward by the prince, brought back word that +the English had already retreated from Falkirk. They left behind +them on the field four hundred dead or dying, with a large +portion of officers, and a hundred prisoners; all their +artillery, ammunition, and baggage fell into the hands of the +Highlanders, whose total loss was only about a hundred. The +English, on their retreat, burned to the ground the royal palace +at Linlithgow.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII_Culloden_"></a>CHAPTER +XVIII: Culloden.</h1> + +<p>The victory of Falkirk brought but little advantage to Prince +Charles, and dissensions arose among the officers; Lord George +Murray being furious with Lord John Drummond for preventing the +complete destruction of the English army, while Lord John +Drummond severely criticised Lord George for the confusion which +had taken place among his troops after their success.</p> + +<p>Great numbers of the Highlanders, who had spent the night +after the battle in plundering the English camp and stripping the +slain, made off with their booty to the mountains, and the number +of desertions was increased by the withdrawal of the greater part +of Glengarry's clansmen. On the day after the battle the musket +of one of the Clanranald clansmen went off by accident and killed +the son of Glengarry. His clansmen loudly demanded life for life, +and Clanranald having reluctantly consented to surrender his +follower, the poor fellow was immediately led out and shot; but +even this savage act of vengeance was insufficient to satisfy the +Glengarry men, the greater part of whom at once left the army and +returned to their homes.</p> + +<p>After the battle the siege of Stirling was renewed; but owing +to the gross incompetence of a French engineer, who had come over +with Lord Drummond, the batteries were so badly placed that their +fire was easily silenced by that of the castle guns. The prince, +in spite of the advice of Lord George Murray and the other +competent authorities, and listening only to his favourite +councillors, Secretary Murray and Sir Thomas Sheridan, continued +the siege, although on the 3Oth of January the Duke of Cumberland +arrived in Edinburgh and took the command of the army.</p> + +<p>Never had Scotland a more bitter enemy. Relentless and savage +as General Hawley had been, his deeds were more than rivalled by +those of the Duke of Cumberland, who was justly branded by +contemporary historians with the name of "the butcher." He was, +however, an able general, of great activity and high personal +courage.</p> + +<p>After halting but one night in Edinburgh he set out at the +head of his army to meet the enemy; but these did not repeat +their tactics at Falkirk. Disgusted at the conduct of the prince +in slighting their advice and listening only to his unworthy +counsellors, Lord George Murray with all the principal military +leaders held a consultation, and presented a memorial to the +prince. In this they stated that, seeing the great numbers of +Highlanders who had gone home, they were of opinion that another +battle could not be fought with a chance of success, and +therefore recommended that the army should at once retire to the +Highlands, where a sufficient number of men could be kept +together to defy the efforts of the enemy at such a season of the +year, and that in the spring ten thousand Highlanders could be +got together to go wheresoever the prince might lead them. Prince +Charles was struck with grief and dismay at this decision, but as +all the military leaders had signed it he was forced to give +way.</p> + +<p>The army at once blew up its magazines, spiked its guns, and +marched for the north in two divisions with much confusion and +loss of order. The Duke of Cumberland pursued, but was unable to +come up to them, and halted at Perth.</p> + +<p>Ronald, who had, from the time he returned to the army, again +taken up his former appointment of aide de camp to Lord George +Murray, had during this time tried his best to reconcile the +differences which were constantly breaking out between that +general, the prince, and the clique who surrounded him. It was a +difficult task, for Lord George's impetuosity and outspoken +brusqueness, and his unconcealed contempt for Secretary Murray +and Sheridan, reopened the breach as fast as it was closed.</p> + +<p>Since the day when he had saved the prince from being carried +off at Glasgow the latter had shown a marked partiality for +Ronald's society, and the latter had therefore many opportunities +of intervening to prevent open quarrels from breaking out. The +prince himself was frequently greatly depressed in spirits, and +the light hearted gaiety which had distinguished him on the first +landing was now fitful and short lived. His disappointment at the +failure of a campaign in which he had won every battle was deep +and bitter. He had relied upon the aid of France, but no aid had +come. He had been grossly misinformed as to the willingness of +the Jacobites of England to take up arms in his favour; and +although a portion of the Highlanders of Scotland had warmly +embraced his cause, yet many on whom he had relied stood aloof or +were in arms against him, while in the Lowlands he had found but +few adherents.</p> + +<p>So far from gaining ground, he was losing it. Numbers of the +Highlanders had gone off to their homes. The retreat from Derby +had completely chilled the enthusiasm of his adherents, while the +waverers and time servers had been induced thereby to declare +against him. The Duke of Cumberland's army steadily increased, +and even had the advice of the Highland chiefs been followed and +the army dispersed to reassemble in the spring, the chances of +success would have been no more favourable than at present, for +now that the first surprise and panic were past England would put +forth her whole strength, and would by the spring have an army +assembled in Scotland against which the Highland clans, even if +unanimous, could not hope to cope.</p> + +<p>Ronald was perfectly alive to the hopelessness of final +success. He had seen the British infantry at Dettingen and +Fontenoy, and felt sure that although the wild Highland rush had +at first proved irresistible, this could nor continue, and that +discipline and training must eventually triumph over mere valour. +When he and Malcolm talked the matter over together they agreed +that there could be but one issue to the struggle, and that ruin +and disaster must fall upon all who had taken part in the +enterprise.</p> + +<p>"I feel thankful indeed," Ronald said one day, "that I am here +only as a private gentleman risking my own life. I do not know +what my feelings would be, if, like these Highland chiefs, I had +brought all my kinsmen and followers with me into the field. The +thought of the ruin and misery which would fall upon them would +be dreadful. I fear that the vengeance which will be taken after +this is over will be far greater and more widespread than that +which followed '15. All say that the Duke of Cumberland is brutal +and pitiless, and the fact that we were nearly successful will +naturally add to the severity with which the English government +will treat us if we fall into their power. Had the enterprise +been defeated at its commencement they could have afforded to be +lenient. As it is, I fear that they will determine to teach the +Highlands such a lesson as will ensure their never again +venturing to rise in arms against the house of Hanover."</p> + +<p>"And I don't know that they are altogether to be blamed," +Malcolm said. "I am not so young as I was, Ronald, and I see now +that I was wrong in teaching you to be a Jacobite. It is all very +well for men like Tullibardine, who knew the Stuarts on the +throne, to fight to put them back again; but to your generation, +Ronald, the Stuarts are after all only a tradition, and it is a +sort of generous madness for you to risk your life to set them +again on the throne of England. It cannot matter a brass pin to +you whether James or George rules at St. James's. It is not, as +in the case of the Royalists in England in Charles's time or of +the Covenanters of Scotland, that a great principle is involved +-- a principle for which men may well risk their lives and all +they hold dear. It is a question of persons only, and although I +may hold that by right of descent Charles Edward is Prince of +Wales and rightful heir to the throne of England, that is no +reason why I should risk my life to place him there; and after +all it seems to me that if the majority in these islands +determine that they will be ruled by the house of Hanover instead +of the house of Stuart they have some right to make their own +choice."</p> + +<p>"You argue like a philosopher, Malcolm," Ronald said laughing, +"and do not remind me in the slightest degree of the Malcolm who +used to chat with me in Glasgow."</p> + +<p>"You are right there, lad. You see I was brought up a +Jacobite, and I have been a soldier all my life, accustomed to +charge when I was told to charge and to kill those I was told to +kill; but I own that since I have been out now I have got to look +at matters differently. The sight of all these poor Highland +bodies blindly following their chiefs and risking life and all +for a cause in which they have no shadow of interest has made me +think. A soldier is a soldier, and if he were to sit down to +argue about the justice of every cause in which he is ordered to +fight there would be an end to all discipline. But these poor +fellows are not soldiers, and so I say to myself, What concern +have they in this matter? Their chiefs would gain honours and +rewards, patents of high nobility, and additions to their estates +if the Stuarts conquered, but their followers would gain nothing +whatever. No, lad, if we get over this scrape I have done with +fighting; and I hope that no Stuart will ever again succeed in +getting Scotland to take up his cause. I shall go on fighting for +Prince Charles as long as there is a man left with him; but after +that there is an end of it as far as I am concerned, and I hope +as far as Scotland is concerned."</p> + +<p>"I hope so too, Malcolm. When Scotland is herself divided, +Ireland passive, and all England hostile, success is hopeless. +The Stuarts will never get such another chance again as they had +on the day when we turned our backs on London at Derby, and I +hope that they will not again make the attempt, especially as it +is manifest now that France has only used them as tools against +England, and has no idea of giving them any effectual aid."</p> + +<p>Charles on approaching Inverness found it toughly fortified +and held by Lord Loudon with a force of two thousand men. The +prince halted ten miles from the town at Moy Castle, where he was +entertained by Lady M'Intosh, whose husband was serving with Lord +Loudon, but who had raised the clan for Prince Charles. The +prince had but a few personal attendants with him, the army +having been halted at some distance from the castle.</p> + +<p>One evening Ronald had ridden over to Moy Castle with some +despatches from Lord George Murray to the prince, and had +remained there to dine with him. It was late before he mounted +his horse. He was, as usual, accompanied by Malcolm. They had +ridden but a short distance through the wood which surrounded the +castle when a shot was fired, and almost immediately afterwards +four or five men came running through the trees.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" Malcolm shouted.</p> + +<p>"The English army are upon us!" one of the M'Intoshes -- for +they were clansmen who had been sleeping in the wood -- +answered.</p> + +<p>"They must intend to seize the prince," Ronald said, "and will +already have sent round a body of horse to cut off his retreat. +Scatter through the wood, men, and do each of you raise the war +cry of one of the clans as if the whole army were here. This may +cause a delay and enable the prince to ride off. Malcolm, do you +ride back with all speed to the castle and warn the prince of +Loudon's approach."</p> + +<p>The Highlanders at once obeyed Ronald's orders, and in a +minute or two the war cries of half a dozen of the principal +clans in Prince Charles's army rang through the woods, while at +the same time the Highlanders discharged their muskets. Ronald +also shouted orders, as to a large body of men.</p> + +<p>The English, who had made sure of effecting a successful +surprise, hesitated as they heard the war cries of the clans +ringing through the woods, and believing that the whole of Prince +Charles's army were at hand and they were about to be attacked in +overwhelming numbers, they retreated hastily to Inverness. No +sooner had Ronald discovered that they had fallen back than he +rode off to inform the prince that the danger was over.</p> + +<p>He found Prince Charles mounted, with Lady M'Intosh on +horseback by his side, and the retainers in the castle gathered +round, broadsword in hand, in readiness to cut their way through +any body of the enemy's horse who might intercept their retreat. +Charles laughed heartily when he heard of the strategy which +Ronald had employed to arrest the advance of the enemy, and +thanked him for again having saved him from falling into the +hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>The English made their retreat to Inverness in such confusion +and dismay that the affair became known in history as the "rout +of Moy."</p> + +<p>The next morning, the 17th of February, the prince called up +his army, and the next day advanced against Inverness. Lord +Loudon did not await his coming. The panic of his soldiers two +days before showed him that no reliance could be placed upon +them, and embarking with them in boats he crossed the Moray Frith +to Cromarty, where the troops shortly afterwards disbanded upon +hearing that the Earl of Cromarty was marching against them with +some Highland regiments.</p> + +<p>The town of Inverness was occupied at once, and the citadel +surrendered in a few days. The army, now in a barren and +mountainous region, were deprived of all resources. Many ships +with supplies were sent off from France, but few of them reached +their destination; several being captured by British cruisers, +and others compelled to go back to French ports.</p> + +<p>The supply of money in the treasury was reduced to the lowest +ebb, and Charles was obliged to pay his troops in meal, and even +this was frequently deficient, and the men suffered severely from +hunger. Many deserted, and others scattered over the country in +search of subsistence.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Duke of Cumberland's army was receiving +powerful reinforcements. In February Prince Frederick of Hesse +Cassel, with five thousand of his troops, who had been hired by +the British government, landed at Leith. These troops were placed +in garrison in all the towns in the south of Scotland, thus +enabling the Duke of Cumberland to draw together the whole of the +English forces for his advance into the Highlands.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of April he set out from Aberdeen with eight +thousand foot and nine hundred horse. He marched along the coast +accompanied by the fleet, which landed supplies as needed. At the +Spey, Lord John Drummond had prepared to defend the fords, and +some works had been thrown up to protect them; but the English +cannon were brought up in such numbers that Lord John, +considering the position untenable, retired to Inverness, while +the English army forded the Spey, and on the 14th entered Nairn, +where some skirmishing took place between their advance guard and +the Highland rear.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles and his principal officers rested that night at +Culloden House and the troops lay upon the adjacent moor. On the +morning of the 15th they drew up in order of battle. The English, +however, rested for the day at Nairn, and there celebrated the +Duke of Cumberland's birthday with much feasting, abundant +supplies being landed from the fleet.</p> + +<p>The Highlanders, on the other hand, fasted, only one biscuit +per man being issued during the day. Consequently many straggled +away to Inverness and other places in search of food. Lord +Cromarty, with the regiments under his command, were absent, so +that barely five thousand men were mustered in the ranks. At a +council of war Lord George Murray suggested that a night surprise +should be made on the duke's camp at Nairn, and as this was the +prince's own plan it was unanimously agreed to.</p> + +<p>Before, however, the straggling troops could be collected it +was eight o'clock at night. Nairn was twelve miles distant, and +the men, weakened by privation and hunger, marched so slowly +across the marshy ground that it was two o'clock in the morning +before the head of the columns arrived within four miles of the +British camp, while the rear was still far away, and many had +dropped out of the ranks from fatigue.</p> + +<p>It was now too late to hope that a surprise could be effected +before daylight, and the army retraced its steps to Culloden +Moor. Worn out and exhausted as they were, and wholly without +supplies of provisions, Lord George Murray and the other military +officers felt that the troops could not hope to contend +successfully against a vastly superior army, fresh, well fed, and +supported by a strong force of artillery, on the open ground, and +he proposed that the army should retire beyond the river Bairn, +and take up a position there on broken ground inaccessible to +cavalry.</p> + +<p>The prince, however, supported by Sir Thomas Sheridan and his +other evil advisers, overruled the opinion of the military +leaders, and decided to fight on level ground. The Highlanders +were now drawn up in order of battle in two lines. On the right +were the Athole brigade, the Camerons, the Stuarts, and some +other clans under Lord George Murray; on the left the Macdonald +regiments under Lord John Drummond. This arrangement, +unfortunately, caused great discontent among the Macdonalds, just +as their being given the post of honour at Falkirk had given +umbrage to the other clans.</p> + +<p>At eleven o'clock the English army was seen approaching. It +was formed in three lines, with cavalry on each wing, and two +pieces of cannon between every two regiments of the first line. +The battle began with an artillery duel, but in this the +advantage was all on the side of the English, the number of their +pieces and the skill of their gunners being greatly superior.</p> + +<p>Prince Charles rode along the front line to animate his men, +and as he did so several of his escort were killed by the English +cannonade. A storm of snow and hail had set in, blowing full in +the face of the Highlanders. At length Lord George Murray, +finding that he was suffering heavily from the enemy's artillery +fire, while his own guns inflicted but little damage upon them, +sent to Prince Charles for permission to charge.</p> + +<p>On receiving it he placed himself at the head of his men, and +with the whole of the right wing and centre charged the enemy. +They were received with a tremendous musketry fire, while the +English artillery swept the ranks with grape; but so furious was +their onslaught that they broke through Munro and Burrel's +regiments in the first line and captured two pieces of cannon. +But behind were the second line drawn up three deep, with the +front rank kneeling, and these, reserving their fire until the +Highlanders were close at hand, opened a rolling fire so +sustained and heavy that the Highlanders were thrown into +complete disorder.</p> + +<p>Before they could recover themselves they were charged by +horse and foot on both flanks, and driven together till they +became a confused mass. In vain did their chiefs attempt to rally +them. Exhausted and weakened in body, swept by the continuous +fire of the English, they could do no more, and at last broke and +fled. In the meantime the Macdonalds on the left remained +inactive. In vain Lord John Drummond and the Duke of Perth called +upon them to charge, in vain their chief, Keppoch, rushed forward +with a few of his clansmen and died in front of them. Nothing +would induce them to fight, and when the right and centre were +defeated they fell back in good order, and, joining the remnants +of the second line, retired from the field unbroken.</p> + +<p>Charles, from the heights on which he stood with a squadron of +horse, could scarce believe the evidence of his eyes when he saw +the hitherto victorious Highlanders broken and defeated, and +would have ridden down himself to share their fate had not +O'Sullivan and Sheridan seized his horse by the bridle and forced +him from the field. Being pressed by the English, the retreating +force broke into two divisions. The smaller retreated to +Inverness, where they next day laid down their arms to the Duke +of Cumberland; the other, still preserving some sort of order, +marched by way of Ruthven to Badenoch.</p> + +<p>Fourteen colours, two thousand three hundred muskets, and all +their cannon fell into the hands of the English. The loss of the +victors in killed and wounded amounted to three hundred and ten +men, that of the Highlanders to a thousand. No quarter was given +to the stragglers and fugitives who fell into the hands of the +English. Their wounded were left on the ground till the following +day without care or food, and the greater portion of them were +then put to death in cold blood, with a cruelty such as never +before or since disgraced an English army.</p> + +<p>Some were beaten to death by the soldiers with the stocks of +their muskets, some were dragged out from the thicket or caverns +to which they had crawled and shot, while one farm building, in +which some twenty wounded men had taken refuge, was deliberately +set on fire and burned with them to the ground. In any case such +conduct as this would have inflicted eternal discredit upon those +who perpetrated it; but it was all the more unjustifiable and +abominable after the extreme clemency and kindness with which +Prince Charles had, throughout the campaign, treated all +prisoners who fell into his hands.</p> + +<p>Ronald had ridden close beside Lord George Murray as he led +the Highlanders to the charge; but he had, as they approached the +first English line, received a ball in the shoulder, while almost +at the same instant Malcolm's horse was shot under him. Ronald +reeled in the saddle, and would have fallen had not Malcolm +extricated himself from his fallen horse and run up to him.</p> + +<p>"Where are you hit, lad?" he asked in extreme anxiety.</p> + +<p>"In the shoulder, Malcolm. Help me off my horse, and do you +take it and go on with the troops."</p> + +<p>"I shall do nothing of the kind," Malcolm said. "One man will +make no difference to them, and I am going to look after +you."</p> + +<p>So saying he sprang up behind Ronald, and placing one arm +round him to support him, took the reins in the other and rode to +the rear. He halted on rising ground, and for a short time +watched the conflict.</p> + +<p>"The battle is lost," he said at last. "Lord George's troops +are in utter confusion. The Macdonalds show no signs of moving, +though I can see their officers are urging them to charge. Now, +Ronald, the first thing is to get you out of this, and beyond the +reach of pursuit."</p> + +<p>So saying he turned the horse and rode away from the field of +battle.</p> + +<p>"Does your shoulder hurt much?" he asked after they had gone a +short distance.</p> + +<p>"It does hurt abominably," Ronald said faintly, for he was +feeling almost sick from the agony he was suffering from the +motion of the horse.</p> + +<p>"I am a fool," Malcolm said, "not to have seen to it before we +started. I can't do much now; but at least I can fasten it so as +to hurt you as little as possible."</p> + +<p>He took off his scarf, and, telling Ronald to place his arm in +the position which was most comfortable to him, he bound it +tightly against his body.</p> + +<p>"That is better, is it not?" he asked as he again set the +horse in motion.</p> + +<p>"Much better, Malcolm. I feel that I can go on now, whereas +before I could not have gone much further if all Cumberland's +cavalry had been close behind. How far are you thinking of going? +I don't think my horse can carry double much further. Poor beast, +he has had as short rations as his master, and was on the move +all last night."</p> + +<p>"No. But we shall not have to make a very long journey. The +English marched twelve miles before they attacked us, and I do +not think they are likely to closely pursue far tonight; besides, +I have no intention of riding now that there is no fear of +immediate pursuit. I think that in another two miles we shall be +safe from any fear of the English cavalry overtaking us, for we +shall then reach a forest. Once in that we shall be safe from +pursuit, and shall soon be in the heart of the hills."</p> + +<p>On reaching the forest Malcolm dismounted, and leading the +horse turned off from the road. Following a little trodden path +they were soon in the heart of the forest, and after keeping on +for two hours, and crossing several hills, he stopped by the side +of a stream.</p> + +<p>"We are perfectly safe here," he said, "and can sleep as +securely as if we were in a palace."</p> + +<p>The saddle was taken off and the horse turned loose to graze. +Malcolm then removed Ronald's coat and shirt, bathed the wound +for some time with water, cut some pieces of wood to act as +splints, and tearing some strips off his sash bound these +tightly.</p> + +<p>"The ball has regularly smashed the bone, Ronald, and we must +be careful to keep the shoulder in its proper position or you +will never look square again."</p> + +<p>"That does not seem very important to me just at present, +Malcolm."</p> + +<p>"No. Just at present the most important question is that of +getting something to eat. We have had nothing today and not much +yesterday, and now that we are no longer in danger of pursuit one +begins to feel one is hungry. You stay here while I go and +forage. There ought to be a village somewhere among the hills nor +far away."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the country, Malcolm?"</p> + +<p>"I never came by this path, lad; but I have travelled pretty +well all over the Highlands, and, just as you found to be the +case in Lancashire, there are few villages I do not know. I will +first pull you a couch of this dead bracken, and then be off; an +hour's sleep will do you almost as much good as a meal."</p> + +<p>Ronald lay down on the soft couch Malcolm prepared for him, +and before he had been alone for a minute he was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The sun was setting when he awoke. Malcolm stood beside +him.</p> + +<p>"Here is supper, lad. Not a very grand one, but there's enough +of it, which is more than has been the case for some weeks."</p> + +<p>So saying he laid down by Ronald's side a large loaf of black +bread, a cheese made of sheep's milk, and a bottle of +spirits.</p> + +<p>"The village is five miles away, which is farther than I +expected. However, I came back quicker than I went, for I had had +a bowl of milk and as much bread as I could eat. I found the +place in a state of wild excitement, for two or three of the men +had just come in from the battlefield, and brought the news with +them. They are all for the Stuarts there, and you would be well +entertained, but there is sure to be a search high and low, and +you would not be safe in any village. However, a lad has promised +to be here in the morning, and he will guide us to a lonely hut +in the heart of the hills, used by the shepherds in summer. You +will be perfectly safe there."</p> + +<p>"It is about three miles from the village, he said. So I can +go down two or three times a week and get food, and learn how +things are going on. The Highlanders may rally again and make +another fight of it; but I hardly expect they will. They are not +like regular troops, whose home is naturally with their colours, +and who, after the first rout, try to rejoin their regiments. +There is no discipline among these Highlanders. Each man does as +he likes, and their first impulse after a battle is to make for +their homes -- if it is a victory, to carry home their spoil; if +they are defeated, for rest and shelter. At any rate, whether +they gather again or not, you will have to keep perfectly quiet +for a time. When your shoulder is perfectly healed we can act +according to circumstances, and make for the army if there be an +army, or for the seacoast if there is not."</p> + +<p>Although he had eaten but a short time before, Malcolm was +quite ready for another meal, and sitting down beside Ronald he +joined him in his assault upon the black bread and cheese. Then +he collected some more of the bracken, mixed himself a strong +horn of whiskey and water, and a much weaker one for Ronald, +after which the two lay down and were fast asleep.</p> + +<p>They were awake at sunrise, and shortly afterwards the lad +whom Malcolm had engaged to act as guide made his appearance. The +horse was saddled, Ronald mounted, and they started at once for +their destination among the hills. They followed the path which +Malcolm had taken the afternoon before for some three miles, and +then struck off to the left. Half an hour took them out of the +forest, and they journeyed for an hour along the bare hillsides, +until, lying in a sheltered hollow, they saw the hut which was +their destination.</p> + +<p>"They are not likely to find us here," Malcolm said +cheerfully, "even were they to scour the mountains. They might +ride within fifty yards of this hollow without suspecting its +existence. Where are we to get water?" he asked the lad in +Gaelic.</p> + +<p>"A quarter of a mile away over that brow is the head of a +stream," the lad replied. "You cannot well miss it."</p> + +<p>"That is all right," Malcolm said. "I don't mind carrying up +provisions or a bottle of spirits now and then; but to drag all +the water we want three miles would be serious."</p> + +<p>The door of the hut was only fastened by a latch, and they +entered without ceremony. It consisted of but a single room. +There were two or three rough wooden stools, and a heap of +bracken in one corner. Nor a large amount of furniture, but, in +the opinion of a Highlander, amply sufficient.</p> + +<p>"We shall do here capitally," Malcolm said. "Now, what do you +think about the horse, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"Of course he might be useful if we were obliged to move +suddenly; but we have no food to give him, and if we let him +shift for himself he will wander about, and might easily be seen +by anyone crossing these hills. A horse is always a prize, and it +might bring troops out into our neighbourhood who would otherwise +not have a thought about coming in this direction."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with you, Ronald. The lad had better take him +down to the village, and give him to the head man there. He can +sell him, or keep him, or get rid of him as he likes. At any rate +he will be off our hands."</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XIX_Fugitives_"></a>CHAPTER +XIX: Fugitives.</h1> + +<p>For three weeks Ronald and Malcolm remained in hiding in the +hut among the hills. Every two or three days Malcolm went down to +the village and brought back food. He learned that the remains of +the army at Ruthven had entirely dispersed, the prince himself +seeing the hopelessness of any longer continuing the struggle. +Terrible tales of slaughter and devastation by Cumberland's +troops circulated through the hills. The duke had fixed his +headquarters at Fort Augustus, and thence his troops ravaged the +whole country of the clans lately in insurrection. Villages were +burned, cattle slaughtered, women subjected to the grossest +insult and ill treatment, and often wantonly slain, and the +fugitives among the mountains hunted like wild beasts, and slain +as pitilessly whenever overtaken.</p> + +<p>Ronald's arm was healing fast. Youth and a good constitution, +and the care and attention of Malcolm, aided perhaps by the pure +mountain air, did wonders for him. The splints had proved +efficacious, and although they had not yet been taken off, +Malcolm was confident that the injury would be completely +repaired. One morning Malcolm had left but half an hour for the +village when he returned.</p> + +<p>"The enemy are in the village," he said. "I can see clouds of +smoke rising in that direction. We had better be off at once. +They will be scouring all the hills here, as they have done +elsewhere, and we had better get out of the neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>There was no packing to be done, and taking with them what +remained of the food Malcolm had last brought, they started on +their way. They made first for the spring from which they had +drawn their water, and then followed the little stream on its way +down the hill, as it flowed in the opposite direction to the +village. An hour's walking took them into the forest.</p> + +<p>"Before we go further let us have a consultation," Malcolm +said. "We are safe now from pursuit, and had better settle upon +what course we intend to adopt. Shall we make for Glasgow, and +lie hid there until things blow over a little; or make for the +isles, and stay there until we get a chance of being taken off by +some French ship? That is what they say the prince has done; and +indeed as there would be no chance of his getting a ship on the +east coast, and all the Lowlands are against them, he is certain +to have made for the isles. The Clanranalds and most of the other +islemen are loyal to him, and would receive and shelter him. Skye +is hostile, but elsewhere he will be safe, and would move from +island to island or get across to the mainland by night if the +pursuit became too hot. What do you say, Ronald?"</p> + +<p>"I would not try Glasgow unless as a last resource, Malcolm; +you are known to many there, and as I was there as one of the +prince's officers on two occasions I might easily be recognized. +You may be sure that there is a very strict lookout for +fugitives, and every stranger who enters a town will be closely +examined. After some time, when Prince Charles and the principal +chiefs and the leaders will either have escaped across the water +or been hunted down, things will calm down; but at present we +must not try to pass through the Lowlands."</p> + +<p>"At any rate we cannot try to do so till your shoulder is +completely healed, and you can use your arm naturally; but I do +not think that we had better try and cross to the isles just at +present. If Prince Charles is there, or is believed by the +English to be there, the search will be so keen that every +stranger would be hunted down; and although the Highlanders might +risk imprisonment and death for the prince himself, they could +not be expected to run the same risk for anyone else. If the +prince escapes it will be because the whole population are with +him, and every man, woman, and child is trying to throw the +pursuers off the scent. No, I think we should be safer in +Edinburgh itself than in the isles. We will make a shift to live +as we can for a month or so; by that time I hope you will be able +to use one arm as well as the other, and we will then boldly go +down into the Lowlands in our old characters as two drovers."</p> + +<p>"That will be the best plan, no doubt," Ronald agreed; "the +difficulty will be the getting over the next month."</p> + +<p>"We shall manage that," Malcolm said; "fortunately you have +still got some money left."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have over fifty pounds; it was lucky I was able to +draw it, as we returned north, from the man I left it with at +Carlisle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and you wanted to give it back to the treasury," Malcolm +said, "and would have done it if I had not almost quarrelled with +you about it, saying that it had been given you for a certain +purpose, that you had carried out that purpose, and had, +therefore, a right to it, and that you would be only looked upon +as a fool if you offered to pay it back. However, there it is +now, and lucky it is you have got it. However hard the times, +however great the danger, a man will hardly starve in Scotland +with fifty pounds in his pocket; so now we will turn our faces +west, and make for the head of one of the lochs; there are plenty +of fish to be had for catching, and with them and a little +oatmeal and a bottle or two of whiskey we can live like +lords."</p> + +<p>They walked for some hours, and stopped for the night in the +hut of a shepherd, who received them hospitably, but could give +them but little food, his scanty supplies being almost exhausted, +for, as he told them, "the hills are full of fugitives, and those +who come all cry for meal; as for meat, there is no want of it. +Men won't starve as long as there are sheep and cattle to be had +for lifting them, and at present there are more of these than +usual in the hills, for they have all been driven up from the +villages lest they should fall into the hands of the troopers; +but meal is scarce, for men dare not go down to the villages to +buy, and we only get it when the women bring it up as they have a +chance."</p> + +<p>In the morning the shepherd gave them directions as to the way +they should take, and a few hours later they came down upon the +head of one of the many deep inlets on the western coast. A small +fishing boat stood on the shore, but they dared not descend into +this, but made their way to the point where, as the shepherd had +told them, a stream which flowed from a mountain tarn some miles +inland made its way down into the sea.</p> + +<p>The banks were thickly wooded for some two miles from its +outlet; beyond that was a moorland covered with heather. They +determined to encamp near the upper edge of the wood, and at once +set to with their swords to cut down branches and construct a +hut. This was completed before dusk, and Malcolm then started for +the village on the seashore. Ronald besought him to be most +careful.</p> + +<p>"There is likely," he said, "to be a party of soldiers in +every village round the coast, for they will know that all the +chiefs and officers would be making for the sea. The clansmen +have only to remain in the hills until this persecution dies out, +and then go quietly home again; but for the leaders the only hope +is escape by sea."</p> + +<p>"I will be careful, lad," Malcolm said. "I shall not enter the +village, but will hang about in its outskirts until I come across +someone, and with plenty of money in my pocket it is hard if I +cannot manage to get a bag of meal and a net, even if the place +is full of English soldiers."</p> + +<p>Three hours later Malcolm returned laden with a sack +containing forty pounds of meal, a jar with two gallons of +whiskey, and a net.</p> + +<p>"There," he said as he entered; "we can do for a month now, if +needs be. There is a party of militia in the village, and I hear +the whole coast is closely watched, and there are a number of +English cruisers among the islands."</p> + +<p>"How did you get the things?"</p> + +<p>"I waited till a woman came down with a bundle of faggots, and +told her what I wanted. She said at first it was impossible; but +when I said I was prepared to pay well she altered her tone, and +said she would send her husband out to me. He soon came, and +after some bargaining he agreed to bring me out the things I +wanted for three pounds, and here they are. I see you have got a +fire alight, so we will make some cakes at once. I have brought a +griddle and two horns with me."</p> + +<p>The next morning they set to work to fish. The net was +stretched across the lower end of a pool, and they then stripped +and waded in, splashing and throwing stones as they went. It was +just up to their necks in the deepest parts, shallowing to two +feet below. When they reached the net they found two fine salmon +caught there, and carrying these ashore they split one and placed +it above the fire. The net was then removed, and in half an hour +they were sitting down to a breakfast of grilled salmon and hot +oatmeal cakes, which Ronald thought the most delicious repast he +had ever tasted.</p> + +<p>For three weeks they remained at this spot. They were not +always alone, being sometimes joined for a day or two by other +fugitives, who, like themselves, were wandering near the sea +coast seeking escape. These seldom stayed long, for it was felt +unsafe to keep in parties of more than two or three at the +utmost. Some of the fugitives were in wretched condition, having +been wandering among the moors and forests for weeks, and as the +fishing was very successful, Ronald and Malcolm were able to give +them at parting a good supply of smoked salmon, and a portion of +meal, of which Malcolm from time to time brought a fresh supply +up from the village.</p> + +<p>The people there knew little of what was passing in the outer +world; but from the conversation of the soldiers they were sure +that Prince Charles had so far escaped capture, and an opinion +began to prevail that he had succeeded in making his escape by +sea, in spite of the vigilance of the English cruisers.</p> + +<p>By the end of the three weeks even Malcolm admitted that +Ronald's wound was completely cured. Two large blue scars showed +where the bullet had passed through, and beneath this could be +felt a lump where the broken bone had knitted together, and this +would in time become as strong as the rest of the shoulder. +Malcolm's splints had done their duty, and the eye could detect +no difference between the level or width of the two shoulders. +Ronald could move his arm freely in all directions, and, except +that he could not at present venture to put any strain upon the +arm, he might be considered as perfectly cured. They determined, +therefore, to continue their way. In the first place, however, it +was necessary to procure other clothes, for Ronald was still in +uniform, and although Malcolm's attire was not wholly military, +it yet differed materially from that of a countryman.</p> + +<p>"We shall have to get other clothes when we get south," +Malcolm said; "for a Highlander's dress would be looked upon with +as much suspicion in Glasgow as would that uniform of yours. But +until we get down to the Lowlands the native garb will be the +best."</p> + +<p>Accordingly he paid another visit to the village, and with the +utmost difficulty persuaded the man he had before dealt with to +bring him two suits of clothes, such as were worn by the +fishermen there. In these, although Malcolm's small stock of +Gaelic would betray them at once for other than they seemed to +the first clansman who might address them, they could pass muster +with any body of English troops they might meet by the way.</p> + +<p>Before starting they caught and smoked as many salmon as they +could carry, as the fishermen of the coast were in the habit of +exchanging fish for sheep with their inland neighbours. They cut +each a short pole, and slung some fish at each end, and then +placing it on their shoulder, started on their way. They kept +along the hillside until they struck the track -- for it could +scarcely be called a road -- leading from the village into the +interior, and then boldly followed this; for the difficulty of +travelling across the hilly and broken country was so great that +they preferred to run the slight extra risk of keeping to the +road, feeling certain that for the first day's march at least +their appearance and the fish they carried would answer for +themselves with any body of troops they might meet.</p> + +<p>Of this, however, they did not think there was much chance. +The authorities would have long since learned the futility of +hunting the fugitives among the hills, and would be confining +their efforts to the sea coast. They were now at a considerable +distance from the scene of the bloody persecutions of Cumberland +and Hawley, and although in other parts of Scotland severe +measures might be adopted against known adherents of the Stuarts, +it was among the Highland clans only that savage and wholesale +massacres were being carried into effect.</p> + +<p>Occasionally in the course of the day's walk they met with +clansmen passing along the road. These generally passed with a +brief word of greeting in Gaelic. One or two who stopped to speak +recognized at once by Malcolm's accent that the wayfarers were +not what they pretended to be; but they asked no questions, and +with a significant smile and an expression of good wishes went on +their way.</p> + +<p>At the village where they stopped, after a long day's journey, +the same line of conduct was observed towards them. The +inhabitants guessed at once that they were in disguise; but the +edicts against those who assisted fugitive insurgents were so +severe that none made any open sign of their recognition. They +paid for their night's lodging and food with a portion of their +fish, which they were indeed glad to get rid of.</p> + +<p>The next day they resumed their journey, and towards sunset +arrived at a village where they saw a party of English cavalry, +who had apparently but just arrived. The men were cleaning their +horses, and an officer was sitting on a bench in front of the +principal house in the village; for he had already made a close +inspection of every house in the village, and the angry faces of +the women and the sullen looks of a few men there were about +showed how they resented the disturbance of their households.</p> + +<p>It was too late to retreat, and Malcolm and Ronald walked +boldly to the public house in the centre of the village. The +officer at once rose and walked across to him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" he asked; "and where do you come from?"</p> + +<p>Malcolm shook his head and said in Gaelic:</p> + +<p>"I do not understand English."</p> + +<p>"What fools these people are!" the officer exclaimed. "Ho, +within there!"</p> + +<p>The landlady came to the door.</p> + +<p>"Do you speak English?"</p> + +<p>"I speak a little," the woman said.</p> + +<p>"Just ask these men who they are and where they come +from."</p> + +<p>The woman asked the question in Gaelic, and Malcolm +replied:</p> + +<p>"We are, as you see, fishermen, and we come from Huish."</p> + +<p>As he spoke there was a slight change in the woman's face; but +it passed away, and she translated Malcolm's answer to the +officer.</p> + +<p>"But that is forty miles away," the officer said. "What do +they do with their fish at this distance from their home?"</p> + +<p>The question being put in Gaelic by the woman, Malcolm replied +that owing to the boats being seized by the soldiers, and trade +being at a standstill, they could no longer make a living at +home, and were therefore on their way to Glasgow to ship as +sailors. They were carrying their fish with them to pay for their +food and lodging on the way.</p> + +<p>The story was probable enough, and the officer's suspicion was +allayed.</p> + +<p>"They are fine looking fellows, both of them," he said to +himself as he returned to his bench. "Father and son, I suppose. +The young one would make a strapping soldier. Like enough he was +at Culloden. However, thank goodness, I have no grounds for +suspecting or detaining them. I am sick of this brutal business +of fugitive hunting. We are officers and not butchers, and this +slaying of brave men who have met us fairly in battle is a +disgrace to the British name."</p> + +<p>Ronald and Malcolm followed the woman into the house.</p> + +<p>"I am ready to buy some of your fish," she said in a loud tone +of voice in Gaelic, "for there will be many to feed this evening; +as my house is full of soldiers I cannot take you in, but if you +like you can sleep in that shed over there. I can cook one of +your fish for you, and let you have some black bread; but that is +all I can do. Now, how much do you want for the fish?"</p> + +<p>Malcolm named a low price, and the woman took three or four of +the largest. For these she offered him the price he had asked. He +glanced round, and seeing that they were not overlooked, he shook +his head.</p> + +<p>"We don't want money," he said. "We are well provided. Many +thanks for keeping our secret."</p> + +<p>The woman nodded, and without another word the two went out +and sat down on a stone bench outside until the landlady brought +out a platter with a fish and some black bread. This they ate +where they sat. Malcolm then went in to get some tobacco, and +returned with his pipe alight, and sat with Ronald watching with +apparent interest the operations of the soldiers until night +closed in. Then they retired to the shed the landlady had pointed +out, and found that a large bundle of freshly gathered rushes had +been shaken out to form a bed. Carrying in their poles with their +now diminished load of fish, they closed the door and threw +themselves down upon the rushes.</p> + +<p>"That has passed off well," Malcolm said. "Tomorrow we will +only go a mile or so out of the village, and stop in the first +wood we come to, and go on at night. Thirty miles will take us +close down to Dumbarton, and there we must manage to get some +fresh clothes."</p> + +<p>"We shall be able to leave our poles behind us," Ronald said, +"and that will be a comfort. Although my load of fish was not +nearly as heavy as yours, still carrying it on one shoulder was +no joke, and I shall be heartily glad to get rid of it."</p> + +<p>"I shall not be sorry myself," Malcolm said; "but there will +be no occasion to waste the fish. We shall be up and away long +before the soldiers are stirring, and we may as well hand them +over as a present to the landlady."</p> + +<p>This was done, and at an early hour in the morning they were +upon the road again. After an hour's walking they stopped in a +wood till evening and then continued on their way until they +reached Dumbarton, where they threw themselves down beside some +boats drawn up upon the shore, and slept till the morning.</p> + +<p>They then boldly entered the town, and as their garb was +similar to that of the men who brought down the fish caught at +the villages on the coast, no attention whatever was paid to +them. They had no difficulty in purchasing the clothes they +required, and carrying them out of the town they changed in the +first retired spot they reached, and, as two Lowland drovers, +tramped on to Glasgow. With their bonnets pulled well down over +their eyes they entered the town. They had little fear of +discovery, for none would be likely to recognize in Ronald the +gaily dressed young officer of Prince Charles.</p> + +<p>As to Malcolm, he felt safe from molestation. He was, of +course, known to many drovers and others, but they would not +concern themselves with what he had been doing since they last +saw him, and even had they noticed him when he was there with +Ronald, would not denounce an old comrade. He went, therefore, +boldly to the little inn where he had been in the habit of +staying when in the city.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Malcolm, is that you, man?" the landlord said as he +entered. "I didna think o' seeing you again. I thought it likely +ye were laying stiff and stark somewhere out on the muirs. Eh, +man, you are a foolish fellow to be mixing yourself up in the +affairs of ithers."</p> + +<p>"I have done with it now, Jock, for good and all," Malcolm +said, "and am going back to my old trade again."</p> + +<p>"I think you are a fule to come back here so soon. There's +mony a one marked ye as ye rode in behind that young officer of +the prince's, and if they denounce you now they would soon clap +you in between four walls."</p> + +<p>"Hoots, man!" Malcolm laughed; "who would trouble themselves +about a body like me!"</p> + +<p>"There are bleudy doings up i' the Highlands," the landlord +said gravely, "if a' they say is true."</p> + +<p>"It is true, Jock, more shame to them; but they wouldn't do in +Glasgow what they are doing there. They are hunting down the +clansmen like wild beasts; but here in the Lowlands they will not +trouble themselves to ask who was for King George and who was +against him, except among those who have got estates they can +confiscate."</p> + +<p>"May be no," the landlord replied. "Still, Malcolm, if you +will take my advice you won't show yourself much in the streets, +nor your friend either," he added significantly. "You may be +safe, but the citizens are smarting yet over the requisitions +that were made upon them, and your friend had best keep in his +room as long as ye stay here."</p> + +<p>Malcolm nodded.</p> + +<p>"He will be careful, Jock, never fear. We shall be off again +as soon as we get a chance. I will leave him here while I go down +the town and find whether there is a herd starting for England. +If there is we will go with it; if not, I shall try and get a +passage by sea."</p> + +<p>Malcolm could not hear of any drove of cattle going south. The +troubles had, for the time, entirely put a stop to the trade. +After it was dark he went to Andrew's. His brother's face +expressed both pleasure and dismay at seeing him.</p> + +<p>"Right glad I am to see you have got safely through it all, +Malcolm, but you must be mad to show yourself here again at +present. But how is the boy? We have troubled sorely over him. I +trust that he too has come safely through it?"</p> + +<p>"Safe and sound, Andrew, save that he had a bullet through his +shoulder at Culloden; but he is tight enough again now."</p> + +<p>"And what have you been doing ever since?"</p> + +<p>"Curing his shoulder and fishing;" Malcolm briefly related +their adventures since Culloden.</p> + +<p>"And is he with you here in Glasgow, Malcolm? Surely you are +not mad enough to bring him here, where he is known to scores of +people as one of the rebel officers!"</p> + +<p>"He is here, sure enough," Malcolm said, "and safer than he +has been for some time. It is nearly two months since Culloden, +and people are beginning to think of other things, except in the +Highlands, where those fiends Cumberland and Hawley are burning +and slaying. Ronald is dressed like a drover, and no one is +likely to recognize him. However, he will remain within doors. +And now, brother, I want you to take us a passage in the next +vessel sailing for London. If I go to a shipper he may ask +questions, and like enough it may be necessary to get passes +signed before we can go on board."</p> + +<p>"Certainly it is," Andrew said. "A strict lookout is kept to +prevent the rebel leaders from escaping, and no captain of a ship +is permitted to take a passenger unless he is provided with a +pass, signed by a magistrate, saying that he is a peaceable and +well known person."</p> + +<p>"But just at present we are both peaceable persons, Andrew, +and we can certainly claim to be well known citizens."</p> + +<p>"It is no joking matter, Malcolm, I can tell you," Andrew said +irritably; "but of course I will see what I can do. And now I +will put on my bonnet and come with you and have a chat with +Ronald. It will not do to bring him here tonight, but we must +arrange for him to come and see Janet before he sails. I shall +not tell her anything about it till he is ready to start, for you +know she is very particular, and I am afraid I shall have to say +what is not quite true to get the order. I can sign it myself, +but it must have the signature of the provost too."</p> + +<p>So saying he took his cap and accompanied Malcolm to the +lodging.</p> + +<p>"Stay here a moment, Andrew," Malcolm said when he arrived +within a few yards of the little inn. "I will see that there is +no one drinking within. It wouldna look well to see a decent +bailie of the city going into a liquor shop after dark. It will +be best for me to fetch him out here, for I doubt there's any +room where you could talk without fear of being overheard."</p> + +<p>Ronald, who was sitting with his cap pulled down over his eyes +as if asleep, in a corner of the room, where three or four +drovers were smoking and talking, was called out by Malcolm.</p> + +<p>"I am right glad to see you again," Andrew Anderson said +heartily. "Janet and I have passed an ill time since the battle +was fought. Elspeth has kept up our hopes all along. She said she +was sure that you were alive, quite downright sure; and though +neither Janet nor I have much faith in superstitions, the old +woman's assertions that she should assuredly know it if you were +dead did somehow keep up our spirits. Besides, I had faith in +Malcolm's knowledge of the country, and knew you were both famous +for getting into scrapes and out of them, so I thought that if +neither bullet nor sabre had stretched you on the moor of +Culloden you would manage to win your way out of the trouble +somehow. However, I think you are pretty safe here. The bloody +doings of Cumberland have shocked every Scotchman, and even those +who were strongest against the Stuarts now cry shame, and so +strong is the feeling that were the prince to appear now with a +handful of followers I believe the whole country would rise in +his favour. So deep is the wrath and grief at the red slaughter +among the Highlands there would not be many Scotchmen found who +would betray a fellow Scot into the hands of these butchers. I +will make inquiry tomorrow as to what ships are sailing, and will +get you a passage in the first. There may be some difficulty +about the permit; but if I can't get over it we must smuggle you +on board as sailors. However, I don't think the provost will ask +me any questions when I lay the permit before him for his +signature. He is heart and soul for the king, but, like us all, +he is sick at heart at the news from the North, and would, I +think, shut an eye if he saw a Jacobite making his escape. And +now, lad, I must be going back, for the hour is getting late and +Janet does not know why I am away. Come to us tomorrow evening as +soon as the shop closes. Janet and Elspeth will be delighted to +see you, and we will have a long talk over all that you have gone +through."</p> + +<p>On the following evening Ronald and Malcolm presented +themselves at Andrew's and were received with delight by Elspeth +and Mrs. Anderson. The latter had, while the rebellion appeared +to have a chance of success, been its bitter opponent, and had +spoken often and wrathfully against her husband's brother and +Ronald embarking in such an enterprise; but with its overthrow +all her enmity had expired, and she would have been ready to give +assistance not only to them, but to any other fugitive trying to +escape.</p> + +<p>"I have good news for you," Andrew said, when the first +greetings were over. "A vessel sails in the morning, and I have +taken passages for you in it; and what is more, have brought your +permits. I went to the provost and said to him, 'Provost, I want +you to sign these permits for two friends of mine who are wanting +to go up to London.'</p> + +<p>"'Who are they?' said he.</p> + +<p>"'They are just two drover bodies,' I said. He looked at me +hard.</p> + +<p>"'One question, Andrew. I know how you feel just at present. +You are a loyal man like myself, but we all feel the same. I will +sign your permit for any save one. Give me your word that neither +of these men is Charles Stuart. I care not who they may be +beside, but as a loyal subject of King George I cannot aid his +arch enemy to escape.'</p> + +<p>"'I give you my word, provost,' I said. 'One is --'</p> + +<p>"'I don't want to know who they are,' he interrupted. 'I had +rather not know. It is enough for me that you give me your word +that neither of them is Charles Stuart,' and he took the pen and +signed the permit. 'Between ourselves,' he went on, 'I shall be +glad to hear that the misguided young man is safe across the +water, but as Provost of Glasgow I could lend him no help to +go.'</p> + +<p>"'They say he has got safe away already,' I said.</p> + +<p>"'I think not, Andrew; the coast has been too closely watched +for that. The young man is hiding somewhere among the isles, +among the Clanranalds or Macdonalds. I fear they will have him +yet. I dread every day to get the news; but I hope beyond all +things, that if they do lay hands on him it will be through the +treachery of no Scot.'</p> + +<p>"'I hope not, provost,' I said. 'They haven't got over +throwing it in our teeth that we sold King Charles to Cromwell.' +So we just shook hands and said goodbye, and here is the +permit."</p> + +<p>They spent a long evening talking over the past.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I shall ever see you again, Ronald!" Mrs. +Anderson said, with tears in her eyes, as they rose to say +goodbye.</p> + +<p>"You need nor fear about that, Janet, woman," her husband +said. "Ronald and Malcolm aye fall on their legs, and we shall +see them back again like two bad pennies. Besides," he went on +more seriously, "there will be an end of these savage doings in +the north before long. Loyal men in Scotland are crying out +everywhere against them, and the feeling in England will be just +as strong when the truth is known there, and you will see that +before long there will be a general pardon granted to all except +the leaders. Fortunately Ronald and Malcolm are not likely to be +in the list of exceptions, and before a year is up they will be +able to come back if they will without fear of being tapped on +the shoulder by a king's officer."</p> + +<p>"I shall come back again if I can, you may be sure," Ronald +said. "Of course I do not know yet what my father and mother's +plans may be; but for myself I shall always look upon Scotland as +my home, and come back to it as soon as I have an +opportunity."</p> + +<p>"You do not intend to stay in the French army?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. After the treatment my father has received I +have no inclination to serve France. The chief reason why +Scotchmen have entered her service has been that they were driven +from home, and that they looked to France for aid to place the +Stuarts on the throne again. Now that the time has come, France +has done nothing to aid, and has seen the Stuart cause go down +without striking a blow to assist it. I consider that cause is +lost for ever, and shall never again draw my sword against the +House of Hanover. Nor have I had any reason for loving France. +After living in a free country like Scotland, who could wish to +live in a country where one man's will is all powerful -- where +the people are still no better than serfs -- where the nobles +treat the law as made only for them -- where, as in my father's +case, a man may not even marry according to his own will without +incurring the risk of a life's imprisonment? No, I have had +enough of France; and if ever I get the opportunity I shall +return to Scotland to live."</p> + +<p>The next morning early Ronald and Malcolm embarked on board a +ship. Their permits were closely scrutinized before the vessel +started, and a thorough search was made before she was allowed to +sail. When the officers were satisfied that no fugitives were +concealed on board they returned to shore, and the vessel started +on her voyage for London.</p> + +<h1 align="CENTER"><a name="CHAPTER_XX_Happy_Days_"></a>CHAPTER +XX: Happy Days.</h1> + +<p>On arriving in London, after ten days' voyage, Ronald and +Malcolm obtained garments of the ordinary cut. The one attired +himself as an English gentleman, the other in a garb suitable to +a confidential attendant or steward, and after a stay of two or +three days they made their way by coach down to Southampton.</p> + +<p>Here they remained for a week, and then effected a bargain +with the captain of a fishing lugger to set them on shore in +France. As the two countries were at war this could only be done +by landing them at night at some quiet spot on the French coast. +The lugger cruised about a couple of days, and then, choosing a +quiet night when there was a mist on the water, she ran in as +closely as she dared, then the boat was lowered, and Malcolm and +Ronald were rowed to shore and landed a few miles south of +Boulogne.</p> + +<p>When it was light they made their way to a village; here but +few questions were asked them, for many refugees from Scotland +and England were crossing to France. As they had been well +provided with funds by Andrew they posted to Paris, and on +arriving there put up at the inn where they had stopped on the +occasion of their first visit.</p> + +<p>"We must be careful," Malcolm said, "how we stir out until we +know how things stand. The first thing to do is to find out +whether the regiment is still in Paris."</p> + +<p>This they were not long in doing, as their host was able to +inform them at once that it had left the capital several months +before, and on comparing dates they found that its departure had +followed within a day or two that of their own flight from +Paris.</p> + +<p>"It was no doubt meant as a punishment," Ronald said, "on +Colonel Hume for acting as my second in that affair with the +duke. I hope that no further ill befell him."</p> + +<p>His mind was set easy on this score by the news that Colonel +Hume had accompanied his regiment. On asking after Marshal Saxe +they learned that he was away on the frontier, where he had been +carrying on the war with great success, Antwerp, Mons, Namur, and +Charleroi all having been captured.</p> + +<p>The king was in person with the army. This being the case +Ronald saw that it was of no use remaining in Paris, as he was +without friend or protector there, and he dared not rejoin his +regiment until he learned whether the king's anger was as hot as +ever. He therefore started at once with Malcolm and travelled +down to La Grenouille.</p> + +<p>It was a joyful meeting between him and his parents, who were +in the greatest anxiety respecting him, for although he had +written several times, communication was uncertain owing to the +war, the only chance of sending letters being by such French +vessels as arrived at Scottish ports after running the gauntlet +with English cruisers. Some of these had been captured on the way +back, and only two of Ronald's letters had arrived safely. The +last of these had been written a few days after the battle of +Falkirk, and Ronald had then stated that he no longer had any +hope of the final success of the expedition. They had received +the news of the defeat at Culloden, and had since passed nearly +three months of painful suspense, relieved only by the arrival of +Ronald himself. He found his mother looking well and happy; his +father had somewhat recovered from his rheumatism, and looked a +younger man by some years than when he saw him last.</p> + +<p>"He will recover fast now," the countess said; "but he has +worried about you night and day, Ronald. I hope that you will +stay with us for a time. We have seen so little of you yet."</p> + +<p>Ronald learned that a few days after his flight an officer had +appeared at the chateau with the royal order for his arrest, and +it was from him that his parents had first learned the news of +his duel with the Duke of Chateaurouge and its result.</p> + +<p>"I could hardly believe my ears, Ronald," his father said; "to +think that my son, scarce a man yet, should have killed in fair +fight one of the first duellists in France. It seemed almost +incredible. Malcolm told me that you were a first rate swordsman, +but this seemed extraordinary indeed. The officer remained here +for three days, and then, convinced that you had not made in this +direction, left us. A day or two afterwards we received the +letter you wrote us from Nantes, saying that you were starting +for Scotland with the prince. I grumbled sorely over my +rheumatism, I can tell you, which prevented my drawing my sword +once more for the Stuarts; but it was no use my thinking of +it."</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," the countess said; "and I can tell you, Ronald, +that had he been ever so well I should not have let him go. After +being separated from one's husband for sixteen years one is not +going to let him run off to figure as a knight errant at his +pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Your friend Colonel Hume wrote to us," the colonel said with +a smile at his wife's word, "giving us details of the duel, and +speaking of your conduct in the highest terms. He said that at +present the king was furious; but that he hoped in time he would +get over it. Colonel Hume had seen Marshal Saxe, who had promised +on the first opportunity to speak to the king, and to open his +eyes to the character of his late favourite, and to tell him of +the attempts which the duke had made to prevent the royal orders +for our release being carried out, and to remove you by +assassination. Two months ago he wrote again to us from Antwerp, +which had just fallen, saying that Marshal Saxe had bid him tell +us that the king was in a much more favourable disposition, and +that he had taken the opportunity when his majesty was in a good +humour to tell him the whole circumstances of your journey with +the orders for our release, and that in consequence the king had +made other inquiries respecting the late duke, and had +acknowledged that he had been greatly deceived as to his +character. At the same time, as your name had been by the king's +order removed from the list of officers of the Scottish Dragoons +immediately after the duel, he recommended that should you return +to France you should not put yourself in the king's way or appear +at all in public for the present.</p> + +<p>"'The marshal,' Colonel Hume wrote, 'has made your affair a +personal matter, and he, as is his habit in war, will persevere +until he succeeds. His reputation and influence are higher than +ever, and are daily rising; be assured that when the campaign is +over, and he reaps all the honours to which he is entitled, he +will push your claim as before.'"</p> + +<p>In the first week in October the suspense from which they had +suffered as to the fate of Prince Charles was relieved by the +news that on the 29th of September he had safely landed at the +little port of Roscoff near Morlaix. He made his way to Paris, +and Ronald, accompanied by Malcolm, took horse at once and rode +there to pay his respects to the prince, and congratulate him on +his escape. The prince received him with great warmth and +cordiality, and from his own lips Ronald learned the story of his +adventures.</p> + +<p>He had, eight days after Culloden, embarked for the cluster of +islets to which the common name of Long Island is applied. After +wandering from place to place and suffering greatly from hunger, +he gained South Uist, where his wants were relieved by +Clanranald. The English, suspecting or learning that he was +there, landed two thousand men on the island, and commenced an +active search for him. He must have been detected had not Flora +Macdonald -- stepdaughter of a captain in a militia regiment +which formed part of the troops who had landed -- upon being +appealed to by Lady Clanranald, nobly undertaken to save him.</p> + +<p>She obtained from her stepfather a passport to proceed to Skye +with a manservant and a maid. Charles was dressed in female +clothes, and passed as Betty Bourk, while a faithful Highlander, +Neil M'Eachan, acted as her servant. They started at night in an +open boat, and disembarked in Skye. Skye was ever a hostile +country, as its chief, Sir Alexander Macdonald, who had at first +wavered, was now a warm supporter of the Hanoverians, and was +with the Duke of Cumberland. Nevertheless Flora appealed to his +wife, Lady Margaret, a daughter of the Earl of Eglinton, and +informed her that her attendant was Prince Charles in disguise. +Lady Margaret nobly responded to her appeal. Her own house was +full of militia officers, and she intrusted Charles to the charge +of Macdonald of Kingsburgh, her husband's kinsman and factor, who +took the party to his house.</p> + +<p>The next day Charles took leave of Flora Macdonald with warm +expressions of gratitude, and passed over to the Isle of Rasay, +in the disguise of a male servant. Thence he made his way to the +mainland, where on landing he was compelled to lie in concealment +for two days cooped up within a line of sentries. After many +dangers he took refuge in a mountain cave inhabited by seven +robbers, who treated him with the greatest kindness, and supplied +his wants for the three weeks he remained with them. After many +other adventures he joined his faithful adherents Cluny and +Locheil, who were in hiding in a retreat on the side of Mount +Benalder, and here he lived in comparative comfort until he heard +that two French vessels under the direction of Colonel Warren of +Dillon's regiment had anchored in Lochnanuagh.</p> + +<p>Travelling by night he made his way to that place, and +embarked on the 20th of September, attended by Locheil, Colonel +Roy Stuart, and about a hundred other fugitives who had learned +of the arrival of the French vessels. It was almost precisely the +spot at which he had disembarked fourteen months before. A fog +concealed the vessel as she passed through the British fleet +lying to intercept her, and they reached Roscoff after a nine +days' voyage.</p> + +<p>Such was the tale which Prince Charles told to Ronald. He had +after Culloden entirely recovered his high spirits, and had borne +all his fatigues and hardships with the greatest cheerfulness and +good humour, making light of hunger, fatigue, and danger. Ronald +only remained two days in Paris, and then returned home.</p> + +<p>In October the campaign of Flanders ended with the complete +defeat of Prince Charles of Lorraine at Rancaux, and Marshal Saxe +returned to Paris, where he was received with enthusiasm by the +population. The royal residence of Chambord was granted him for +life, and he was proclaimed marshal general of the king's armies. +A fortnight later Colonel Leslie received a letter from him, +saying that he had received his majesty's command that he with +the countess and his son should present themselves in Paris, and +that he was happy to say that the king's disposition was most +favourable. They set off at once. On their arrival there they +called upon Marshal Saxe, who greeted the colonel as an old +friend, and refused to listen to the warm expression of gratitude +of Leslie and the countess.</p> + +<p>"Say nothing about it, madam," he exclaimed. "Your son won my +heart, and I was only too glad to be of service to him and my old +comrade here. What is the use of a man winning victories if he +cannot lend a helping hand to his friends!"</p> + +<p>The next day they went down to Versailles, where Marshal Saxe +presented them to the king in a private audience. Louis received +them graciously.</p> + +<p>"I fear, countess, that you and your husband have been treated +with some harshness; but our royal ear was deceived by one in +whom we had confidence. Your husband and yourself were wrong in +marrying without the consent and against the will of your father, +and such marriages cannot be permitted; but at the request of +Marshal Saxe, who has done so much for France that I cannot +refuse anything he asks, I have now consented to pardon and +overlook the past, and have ordered my chancellor to prepare an +order reinstating you in all the possessions and estates of the +countess, your mother. I hope that I shall often see you together +with your husband and son, both of whom have done good service as +soldiers of France, at my court; and now that I see you," he said +with a gracious smile, "I cannot but feel how great a loss our +court has suffered by your long absence from it."</p> + +<p>Upon leaving the king's private chamber and entering the great +audience hall Colonel Hume came up and grasped the hand of his +old friend, and was introduced by him to his wife; while many of +the courtiers, who were either connections or friends of the +family of the countess, also gathered round them, for the news +that she was restored to royal favour had spread quickly. The +countess knew how small was the real value of such advances, but +she felt that it was best for her husband and son's sake to +receive them amicably. For a few weeks they remained in Paris, +taking part in the brilliant fetes which celebrated the success +of the French arms, and they then retired to the handsome chateau +which was now the property of the countess.</p> + +<p>Here they lived quietly for two years, making occasional +visits to Paris. At the end of that time Ronald received a letter +from Andrew Anderson, to whom he had written several times since +his return to France. He told him that he had just heard that +Glenlyon and the rest of the property which had been confiscated +after the rising of 1715 was for sale. It had been bestowed upon +a neighbouring chief, who had been active in the Hanoverian +cause. He was now dead without leaving issue, and his wife, an +English lady, was anxious to dispose of the property and return +to England.</p> + +<p>"I do not know whether your father is disposed to buy back his +estates," Andrew wrote, "but I hear that a general amnesty will +very shortly be issued to all who took part in the insurrection, +saving only certain notorious persons. The public are sick of +bloodshed. There have been upwards of eighty trials and +executions, besides the hundreds who were slaughtered in the +Highlands. Besides this, thousands have been transported. But +public opinion is now so strong, and persons of all shades of +politics are so disgusted with the brutal ferocity which has been +shown, that it is certain government will ere long be compelled +to pass an act of amnesty. In the meantime, if it should be your +father's wish to purchase the property, I can buy it in my name. +The priced asked is very low. The income arising from it is +stated to be about four hundred a year, and four thousand pounds +will be accepted for it. I understand that as the late owner took +no part in the insurrection, and joined the Duke of Cumberland +when he came north, the property is in good condition and the +clansmen have escaped the harrying which befell all those who +sided with Charles Stuart."</p> + +<p>Ronald at once laid the letter before his father, who, after +reading it through, passed it, without a word, to the +countess.</p> + +<p>"You would like to return to Scotland?" she asked quietly, +when she read it. "Do not hesitate to tell me, dear, if you +would. It is no matter to me whether we live there or here, so +long as I have you and Ronald with me."</p> + +<p>Colonel Leslie was silent.</p> + +<p>"For Ronald's sake," she went on, "perhaps it would be better +so. You are both of opinion that the cause of the Stuarts is lost +for ever, and he is determined that he will never again take part +in any rising. He does not care again to enter the French army, +nor, indeed, is there any reason why Scotchmen should do so, now +that they no longer look for the aid of the King of France to set +the Stuarts on the English throne. I myself have no ties here. My +fifteen years of seclusion have separated me altogether from my +family, and although they are willing enough to be civil now, I +cannot forget that all those years they did nothing towards +procuring our liberty. The king has so far given way that he has +restored me my mother's estates, but it was only because he could +not refuse Marshal Saxe, and he does not like French lands to be +held by strangers; therefore I feel sure, that were I to ask his +permission to sell my estates and to retire with you to Scotland +he would at once grant my request."</p> + +<p>"No, Amelie, it would not be fair to accept your generous +offer."</p> + +<p>"But it would be no sacrifice," she urged. "I have little +reason to love France, and I can assure you I should be just as +happy in your country as in my own."</p> + +<p>"But it would be exile," the colonel said.</p> + +<p>"No more exile than you and Ronald are suffering here. +Besides, I suppose we should get as many comforts in Scotland as +here in France. Of course our estates here will fetch a sum many +times larger than that which would purchase Glenlyon, and we need +not live all our time among the mountains you tell me of, but can +go sometimes to Edinburgh or even to London. Even if you did not +wish it, I should say it would be far better to do so for +Ronald's sake. You have lived so long in France that you may have +become a Frenchman; but it is not so with Ronald."</p> + +<p>It was not until two or three days later that the discussion +came to an end and the countess had her way. Colonel Leslie had +resisted stoutly, but his heart beat at the thought of returning +to the home of his youth and ending his days among the clansmen +who had followed him and his fathers before him. Ronald had taken +no part whatever in the debate, but his mother read in his eyes +the delight which the thought of returning to Scotland occasioned +him. As soon as this was settled they went to Paris, and as the +countess had foreseen, the king was pleased at once to give his +consent to her disposing of her lands on his approval of the +purchaser.</p> + +<p>No difficulty was experienced on this score, as a noble whose +lands adjoined her own offered at once to purchase them. As soon +as this was arranged instructions were sent to Andrew to purchase +not only the Glenlyon property, but the other estates of its late +owner.</p> + +<p>In due time a letter was received from Andrew saying that he +had arranged for the purchase of the whole for the sum of +thirteen thousand pounds, and the money was at once sent over +through a Dutch banking house. Very shortly afterwards, at the +end of 1747, the act of general amnesty was passed, and as +Ronald's name was not among those excluded from its benefits they +at once prepared to return to Scotland. The journey was +facilitated by the fact that shortly after the passing of the +act, peace was concluded between England and France.</p> + +<p>Accompanied by Malcolm, Colonel Leslie, the countess, and +Ronald sailed for Scotland. The colonel and his wife remained in +Edinburgh while Ronald and Malcolm went to Glasgow, where Andrew +had in readiness all the papers transferring the estates +purchased in his name to Colonel Leslie, who shortly afterwards +journeyed north with his wife and son and took possession of his +ancestral home amid the enthusiastic delight of the clansmen, who +had never ceased to regret the absence of him whom they +considered as their rightful chief.</p> + +<p>There is little more to tell. Colonel Leslie lived but a few +years after returning home, and Ronald then succeeded him as +Leslie of Glenlyon. He had before this married the daughter of a +neighbouring gentleman, and passed his time between Glenlyon and +Edinburgh, varied by an occasional visit to London.</p> + +<p>The countess never regretted her native land, but, happy in +the affection of her son and daughter in law and their children, +lived happily with them until nearly the end of the century. +Malcolm remained the faithful and trusty friend of the family; +and his brother and his wife were occasionally persuaded to pay a +visit to Glenlyon, where their kindness to Ronald as a child was +never forgotten. Happily the rising of '45 was the last effort on +behalf of the Stuarts. Scotland accepted the decision as final, +and the union between the two countries became close and +complete. Henceforth Scotchmen went no longer to fight in the +armies of France, but took service in that of their own country, +and more than one of Ronald's grandsons fought stoutly in Spain +under Wellington.</p> + +<p>The End.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Bonnie Prince Charlie, by G. A. Henty + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE *** + +This file should be named bprch10h.htm or bprch10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, bprch11h.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, bprch10ha.txt + +This etext was produced by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org) + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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