Page 233 - A Jacobite Exile

They ran into the road. A sledge, with several figures in it, was coming
along at full speed. It was almost surrounded by wolves, and, as they

looked, two of them sprang at the horses' heads; but two shots again rung
out, and they dropped backwards among their companions, many of whom

threw themselves at once upon their bodies, while the sledge continued on
its headlong course.

"Here! here!" Charlie shouted at the top of his voice, waving his hands to
show the direction which they were to take.

A moment later the sledge dashed past them, and swept up to the fire.

"Seize the blazing brands!" Charlie shouted, as those in the sledge threw
themselves out.

He and Stanislas rolled the two first wolves over with their pistols, and then
joined the others.

The driver had run at once to the horses, and had muffled them, by

throwing his coat over the head of one, and a rug over the head of the other,
and, though snorting and trembling in every limb, they stood quiet until he
had thrown a head rope round each of their necks, and fastened them to the

heaviest of the branches. Then he seized a handful of fallen leaves, which
were exposed by the melting of the snow above them, and threw them into

the fire, whence a dense smoke poured out.

The wolves had again stopped to devour the two animals that had been

shot, and this gave time to the men, by their united efforts, to move a heavy
branch and place it across two others, whose ends lay in the fire, so as to

form with them a sort of triangular breastwork, the face of which, next to
them, was manned by the two travellers, their servants, Charlie, and
Stanislas, with blazing brands.

Charlie and his companion hastily loaded their pistols again. The two

gentlemen had each rifles and a brace of pistols, as had their servants. A
lady and child had been lifted from the sledge, and these crouched down at