Page 54 - A Jacobite Exile

"I hope not, indeed; but there is no saying. My father's orders are that I am
to stay at home, if people come and take possession, and send a man off to

you with the news privately, but that, if no one comes, I may myself bring
you over any news there is; so I may be back here this afternoon."

"I shall be looking out for you, Harry. Remember, it will be horribly dull
for me up here, wondering and fretting as to what is going on."

"I know, Charlie; and you shall hear, as soon as I get the smallest scrap of

news. If I were you, I would go for a good walk among the hills. It will be
much better for you than moping here. At any rate, you are not likely to get
any news for some hours to come."

Charlie took the advice, and started among the hills, not returning until the

midday meal was ready. Before he had finished his dinner there was a tap
at the door, and then a young fellow, whom he knew to be employed in Mr.
Jervoise's stables, looked in. Charlie sprang to his feet.

"What's the news?" he asked.

"Master Harry bade me tell you, sir, that a magistrate, and four constables,
and ten soldier men came today, at nine o'clock. He had returned but a

half-hour when they rode up. They had an order for the arrest of Mr.
Jervoise, and have been searching the house, high and low, for papers. No

one is allowed to leave the place, but Master Harry came out to the stables
and gave me his orders, and I did not find much difficulty in slipping out
without their noticing me. Mr. Harry said that he had no news of Mr.

Jervoise, nor any other news, save what I have told you. He bade me return
at once as, later on, he may want to send me again. I was to be most careful

that no one should see me when I got back, and, if I was caught, I was on
no account to say where I had been to."

The farmer insisted upon the young fellow sitting down at the table, and
taking some food, before he started to go back. He required no pressing,

but, as soon as his hunger was satisfied, he started again at a brisk run,
which he kept up as long as Charlie's eye could follow him down the