Page 112 - A Jacobite Exile

"I am pleased with you, men. Your appearance does credit to yourselves
and your officers. Scottish troops did grand service under my grandfather,

Gustavus Adolphus, and I would that I had twenty battalions of such
soldiers with me. I am going hunting tomorrow, and I asked Colonel

Schlippenbach for half a company of men who could stand cold and
fatigue. He told me that I could not do better than take them from among
this company, and I see that he could not have made a better choice. But I

will not separate you, and will therefore take you all. You will march in an
hour, and I will see that there is a good supper ready for you, at the end of

your journey."

Colonel Schlippenbach gave Captain Jervoise directions as to the road they

were to follow, and the village, at the edge of the forest, where they were to
halt for the night. He then walked away with the king. Highly pleased with

the praise Charles had given them, the company fell out.

"Get your dinners as soon as you can, men," Captain Jervoise said. "The

king gave us an hour. We must be in readiness to march by that time."

On arriving at the village, which consisted of a few small houses only, they
found two waggons awaiting them, one with tents and the other with a
plentiful supply of provisions, and a barrel of wine. The tents were erected,

and then the men went into the forest, and soon returned with large
quantities of wood, and great fires were speedily lighted. Meat was cut up

and roasted over them, and, regarding the expedition as a holiday, the men
sat down to their supper in high spirits.

After it was eaten there were songs round the fires, and, at nine o'clock, all
turned into their tents, as it was known that the king would arrive at

daylight. Sentries were posted, for there was never any saying when
marauding parties of Russians, who were constantly on the move, might
come along.

Half an hour before daybreak, the men were aroused. Tents were struck and

packed in the waggon, and the men then fell in, and remained until the
king, with three or four of his officers and fifty cavalry, rode up. Fresh