Page 65 - A Jacobite Exile

our estates declared confiscated, and bestowed upon some of William's
minions. There will be no place for you here.

"My own plans are laid. As you know, your mother came from the other

side of the border, and a cousin of hers, with whom I am well acquainted,
has gone over to Sweden, and holds a commission in the army that the
young king is raising to withstand Russia and Saxony; for both are thinking

of taking goodly slices of his domains. I could not sit down quietly in exile,
and, being but forty, I am not too old for service, and shall take a

commission if I can obtain it. There are many Scottish Jacobites who,
having fled rather than acknowledge Dutch William as their king, have
taken service in Sweden, where their fathers fought under the great

Gustavus Adolphus; and, even if I cannot myself take service, it may be
that I shall be able to obtain a commission for you. You are nearly sixteen,

and there are many officers no older.

"Should evil befall your father, Charlie, which I earnestly hope will not be

the case, I shall regard you as my son, and shall do the same for you as for
Harry.

"And now, I will to rest, for I have scarce slept the last two nights, and we
must be in the saddle long before daybreak."

The little bedroom, that Charlie had used the two previous nights, was

given up to Mr. Jervoise; while Harry and Charlie slept on some sheep
skins, in front of the kitchen fire. Two hours before daybreak they mounted
and, guided by the farmer, rode to a shepherd's hut far up among the hills.

Late in the afternoon, a boy came up from the farm, with the news that the
place had been searched by a party of troopers. They had ridden away

without discovering that the fugitives had been at the farm, but four of the
party had been left, in case Mr. Jervoise should come there. The farmer,
therefore, warned them against coming back that way, as had been

intended, naming another place where he would meet them.

As soon as the sun was setting they mounted and, accompanied by the
shepherd on a rough pony, started for Lancaster. After riding for three