Page 216 - A Jacobite Exile

your ignorance of the language would be fatal to you. If, therefore, you
escaped being killed as a robber by the peasants, you would run the risk of

arrest at the first town or village you entered.

"Translate that to him, Stanislas. He is learning our language fast, but he
cannot understand all that."

"That is just what we were talking about," Charlie said, when Stanislas had
repeated the captain's speech, "and the danger seems too great to be risked.

Think you, that when we get farther to the east, we shall be able to make
our way more easily up into Livonia?"

"Much more easily, because the forest is more extensive there; but not until
the winter is over. The cold will be terrible, and it would be death to sleep

without shelter. Besides, the forests are infested with wolves, who roam
about in packs, and would scent and follow and devour you. But when
spring comes, you can turn your faces to the north, and leave us if you think

fit, and I promise you that no hindrance shall be thrown in your way. I only
ask you not to risk your lives by trying now to pass through Poland alone."

"I think you are right, Ladislas, and I promise you that we will not attempt
to leave you during our journey east. As you say, it would be impossible for

us to travel after winter had once set in. It is now the end of September."

"And it will be November before we reach our destination. We shall not
travel fast. We have no motive for doing so. We have to live by the way,
and to gather a little money to help us through the winter. We may shoot a

bear or an elk sometimes, a few deer, and hares, but we shall want two or
three sacks of flour, and some spirits. For these we must either get money,

or take the goods. The first is the best, for we have no means of dragging
heavy weights with us, and it would not do to infuriate the peasants by
plundering any of them within twenty miles of the place where we mean to

winter. That would set them all against us."

"I tell you frankly, Ladislas, that we shall not be willing to aid in any acts
of robbery. Of course, when one is with an army one has to plunder on a