Page 198 - A Jacobite Exile

Chapter 11

: With Brigands.

The man who had spoken to Charlie drew the long knife from the back of
the Jew, wiped it on the grass, and handed it to him.

"That ought to be your property," he said. "It has done you good service."

Not sorry to have a weapon in addition to his cudgel, Charlie placed it in
his belt, and then started with the bandits. He would not have cared to face

the charcoal burner alone; but now that the band regarded him as enrolled
among their number, he felt no uneasiness respecting him.

When they issued from the trees, the Jew was seen standing at the door of
the hut. He at once ran in on seeing them, and came out again, accompanied

by the charcoal burner, who carried his axe on his shoulder. The Jew
started, on catching sight of Charlie among the ranks of the brigands, and

said a word or two to his companion.

"Well, Master Charcoal Burner," the leader of the party said, "how is it that

honest woodmen consort with rogues of the town?"

"I don't know that they do so, willingly," the man said gruffly. "But some of
us, to our cost, have put our heads into nooses, and the rogues of the town
have got hold of the other end of the ropes, and we must just walk as we are

told to."

"Well, that is true enough," the brigand said.

"And you, Jew, what are you doing here?"

"I am like Conrad," he replied, sulkily. "It is not only countrymen who have

their necks in a noose, and I have to do what I am ordered."

"By a bigger rogue than yourself?"