Page 219 - A Jacobite Exile

heard the last of the business. No doubt, by this time, the count has sent off
a messenger to the nearest town where there are troops, and, for a day or

two, we shall have to march fast and far. It is one thing to plunder villages,
and another to meddle with a rich nobleman."

For the next forty-eight hours they marched by night instead of by day,
keeping always together, and prepared to resist an attack. One morning they

saw, from their hiding place among some high reeds near the river, a body
of about sixty horsemen ride past at a distance. They were evidently

searching for something, for parties could be seen to break off several
times, and to enter woods and copses, the rest halting till they came out
again.

As the band had with them enough food for another three days, they

remained for thirty-six hours in their hiding place, and then, thinking the
search would by that time be discontinued, went on again. The next day
they killed two or three goats from a herd, the boy in charge of them

making off with such speed that, though hotly pursued and fired at several
times, he made his escape. They carried the carcasses to a wood, lit a fire,

and feasted upon them. Then, having cooked the rest of the flesh, they
divided it among the band.

By this time the wine was finished. The next day they again saw horsemen
in the distance, but remained in hiding till they had disappeared in the

afternoon. They then went into a village, but scarcely had they proceeded
up the street when the doors were opened, and from every house men
rushed out armed with flails, clubs, and axes, and fell upon them furiously,

shouting "Death to the robbers!"

They had evidently received warning that a band of plunderers were
approaching, and everything had been prepared for them. The band fought
stoutly, but they were greatly outnumbered, and, as but few of them carried

firearms, they had no great advantage in weapons. Charlie and Stanislas,
finding that their lives were at stake, were forced to take part in the fray,

and both were with the survivors of the band, who at last succeeded in
fighting their way out of the village, leaving half their number behind them,