Page 335 - A Jacobite Exile

surely be able to let them know, as soon as they hear the good news.

"I think we shall have a stormy ride tomorrow. The sky looks very wild and
threatening."

"It does, indeed; and the wind has got up very much, in the last hour.''

"Yes, we are going to have a storm, beyond all doubt."

The wind got up hourly, and when, before going to bed, they went to pass
an hour at a tavern, they had difficulty in making their way against it.
Several times in the night they were awoke by the gusts, which shook the

whole house, and they heard the crashing of falling chimney pots above the
din of the gale.

They had arranged to start as soon as it was light, and had, the evening
before, been to a posting inn, and engaged a carriage with four horses for

the journey down to Lancashire.

"There is no starting today, gentlemen," the landlord said, as they went
down to breakfast by candlelight. "I have looked out, and the street is
strewn with chimney pots and tiles. Never do I remember such a gale, and

hour by hour it seems to get worse. Why, it is dangerous to go across the
street."

"Well, we must try," Charlie said, "whatever the weather. It is a matter of
almost life and death."

"Well, gentlemen, you must please yourselves, but I am mistaken if any

horse keeper will let his animals out, on such a day as this."

As soon as they had eaten their breakfasts, they wrapped themselves up in

their cloaks, pressed their hats over their heads, and sallied out. It was not
until they were in the streets that they realized how great was the force of

the gale. Not only were the streets strewn with tiles and fragments of
chimney pots, but there was light enough for them to see that many of the