Page 277 - A Jacobite Exile

Four or five minutes later Charlie's friend appeared at the door. He was
evidently out of temper. He sprung hastily into the vehicle, as if he had

altogether forgotten that he had asked Charlie to accompany him.

Then, as his eye fell on him, he nodded and said briefly, "Jump in."

A little surprised at the unceremonious address, Charlie sprang into the seat

beside him without hesitation, seeing that his companion was evidently so
much out of temper that he was not thinking of what he was doing at the

moment. The coachman cracked his whip, and the spirited horses went off,
at a rate of speed that threatened danger to persons traversing the narrow
streets of the town. The cracking of the coachman's whip, and an occasional

loud shout and the jangling of the bells, gave, however, sufficient warning
of their approach.

Charlie smiled at the alacrity with which every one sprang out of the way,
and either leapt into doorways or squeezed themselves against the wall. He

was surprised, however, to see that not only did the townspeople show no
resentment, at the reckless pace at which the carriage was driven, but that

the soldiers, officers as well as men, cleared out as quickly, and without
any expression of indignation or anger.

Indeed, most of them, as soon as they gained a place of safety, saluted his
companion.

"These Russians have evidently a higher respect for their doctors than have
the Swedes," he said to himself. "I am sure that not even the chief surgeon

of the army would be treated with anything like the same respect, and,
indeed, no one would recognize him at all, if he were not in uniform."

The doctor seemed to pay no attention to what was passing round him, but
was muttering angrily to himself. It was not until they dashed out into the

open country that he seemed to remember Charlie's presence at his side.

"These people are enough to vex one of the saints, by their stupidity," he
said. "Unless they have some one standing behind them with a whip, they