Page 168 - A Jacobite Exile

advisable that his departure with the envoy for Warsaw should be talked
about. He only joined the party, indeed, after they had ridden out of the

camp. He had laid aside his uniform, and was dressed in clothes which
Major Jervoise had procured for him, from one of the last-joined recruits

who had but just received his uniform. The lieutenant commanding the
escort of twenty troopers rode up to him, as he joined the party.

"Baron Seckers informs me that he has given permission to a young
Scotchman and his servant, travelling to Warsaw, to ride under his

protection. Are you the person in question, sir?"

"It is all right, Lieutenant Eberstein," Charlie said, with a smile. "Don't you

recognize me?"

"Of course--Lieutenant Carstairs. I was at the hunt where you were taken
prisoner; but I did not expect to see you in this garb."

"I am going on duty," Charlie said, "and am dressed according to orders.
Do not address me by my name. I am at present Sandy Anderson, going to

join a relation in Warsaw."

"Ah, ah! Is that so? Going to put your head into the den of the Lion

Augustus. Well, I rather envy you, for it is likely, by all accounts, to be dull
work here for some time. It is hard to be sitting idle, while the Russian guns

are thundering round Narva. Now, I must join the baron again. Where
would you rather ride--after us, or behind the escort?"

"Behind the escort. I think it will be more natural, and I can chat more
freely with my servant. He is a Lithuanian, but speaks Swedish, and I hope

to get some information from him."

The lieutenant rode on, and, as he passed the troopers, he told them that the

two men behind had the baron's permission to ride with them, in order that
they might have protection from the bands of pillagers who were roaming

through the country.