Page 309 - A Jacobite Exile

and had kept it up all night, and no one would even have a suspicion he had
been engaged in the affair with the coach. I am sure that is his most likely

plan."

"Then, what would you do?" Harry asked.

"What I should do is this. I will get two sharp active boys. I know of two

who would just do, they have done jobs for us before now. I will give them
the exact description of those two taverns, and send them down the day

before the coach is to be attacked, and tell them that, that night, they are
each to keep watch over one of them, see who goes in, watch till they come
out, and then follow them, for days if necessary, and track them down.

Then they can send word up by the guard of the coach, each day; so that, if
we find our man does not come back here by Saturday morning, we shall

have news that will put us on his track again, before long.

"However, I think he is sure to come back here. You had better point out to

me, this evening, where he lodges, and I shall be able to find out, before
long, whether they are respectable people, or whether they are likely to be

pals of his.

"If they are respectable, I will see them on Friday evening, show them my

badge, and tell them that the man who has been lodging here is a notorious
highwayman, and that I am going to arrest him. To prevent any chance of a

mistake, I will put three or four of my mates round the house, to see that no
one goes out to give him the alarm. I will come down and open the door for
you, at two o'clock in the morning. You can then come up with me into his

bedroom, and as he comes in, I will nab him.

"If, on the other hand, I find the people of the house have a doubtful
reputation in the neighbourhood, we must simply hide in doorways, make a
rush upon him as he goes up to the house, and overpower him there. If one

stands in his doorway, and leaps out on him as he comes up, he won't have
much chance of using a pistol. I will have a cart ready, close by. We will

truss him up tightly, gag him and put him into it, and I will have some place
ready for us to drive him to, if you think that plan is as good as any other."