Page 304 - A Jacobite Exile
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engaged in that work, we can get anything out of him. He has either got to
confess or be hanged."
"That is a stroke of good luck, indeed," Harry exclaimed. "It will be rather
difficult to manage, though. The fellows will be sure to be masked; and, if
we were to shoot him instead of one of the others, it would be fatal."
"Yes, that would be awkward. Besides," Charlie said, "even if we did
recognize him and shot his horse, he might jump up behind one of the other
men, or might make off across the country, and we might lose sight of him
before we could get down from the top of the coach to pursue."
"It might be better if we were mounted, instead of being on the coach."
"Better in some ways, Harry; but if they heard two mounted men coming
along beside the coach, they would probably take the alarm and not attack
at all; while, if we were to keep a bit behind, and ride up as soon as we
heard the firing--for they generally shoot one of the horses to bring the
coach to a standstill--they might ride off as soon as they heard the sound of
the horses on the road. Those fellows are splendidly mounted. Their lives
depend upon it, and nothing we should be able to hire would be likely to
have a chance with them."
"Well, we shall have plenty of time to think this over, Charlie. I suppose we
shall carry out our plan tomorrow, as we arranged."
"Certainly. It is as important to find out where he lives in London as it was
before, for if he gets away, we can then look him up there. We may as well
go to bed at once, for I shall start at four, so as to get to town before him,
however early he may be off. But as we know, now, he is going up on
pleasure and not on business, I don't suppose he will be in any hurry in the
morning."
Charlie arrived in town about eight o'clock, and, having breakfasted at the
first tavern he came to, walked along for some distance, to decide upon the
spot where he should take up his position. As Nicholson was going up, as