Page 113 - A Jacobite Exile

wood had been thrown on the fires, and some of the men told off as cooks.

"That looks cheerful for hungry men," the king said, as he leaped from his
horse.

"I did not know whether your majesty would wish to breakfast at once,"
Captain Jervoise said; "but I thought it well to be prepared."

"We will breakfast by all means. We are all sharp set already. Have your

own men had food yet?"

"No, sir. I thought perhaps they would carry it with them."

"No, no. Let them all have a hearty meal before they move, then they can

hold on as long as may be necessary."

The company fell out again, and, in a quarter of an hour, they and the

troopers breakfasted. A joint of meat was placed, for the use of the king and
the officers who had come with him, and Captain Jervoise and those with

him prepared to take their meal a short distance away, but Charles said:

"Bring that joint here, Captain Jervoise, and we will all take breakfast

together. We are all hunters and comrades."

In a short time, they were all seated round a fire, with their meat on wooden
platters on their knees, and with mugs of wine beside them; Captain
Jervoise, by the king's orders, taking his seat beside him. During the meal,

he asked him many questions as to his reasons for leaving England, and
taking service with him.

"So you have meddled in politics, eh?" the king laughed, when he heard a
brief account of Captain Jervoise's reason for leaving home. "Your quarrels,

in England and Scotland, have added many a thousand good soldiers to the
armies of France and Sweden, and, I may say, of every country in Europe. I

believe there are some of your compatriots, or at any rate Scotchmen, in the
czar's camp. I suppose that, at William's death, these troubles will cease."