Page 66 - A Jacobite Exile

hours, they stopped at a lonely farm house, at which Mr. Jervoise and his
friends had held their meeting on the previous day. Here they changed their

clothes for others that had been sent for their use from Lancaster. Mr.
Jervoise was attired as a small trader, and the lads in garb suitable to boys

in the same rank of life. They still, however, retained their swords, and the
pistols in their holsters.

Three miles farther they met their host, as arranged, at some crossroads,
and rode on until within three miles of Lancaster. They then dismounted,

placed their pistols in their belts, and handed their horses to the two men,
who would take them back to the hut in the hills, where they would remain
until required.

It was two o'clock in the morning when they entered Lancaster and, going

up to a small house, standing in a garden in the outskirts of the town, Mr.
Jervoise gave three low knocks in quick succession. The door was opened
almost immediately. No light was shown, and they entered in the dark, but

as soon as the door was closed behind them, a woman came out with a
candle from an inner room.

"I am glad to see you safe, Mr. Jervoise," a man said. "My wife and I were
beginning to be anxious, fearing that you might have fallen into the hands

of your enemies."

"No, all has gone well, Herries; but it is a long ride from the hills here, and
we walked the last three miles, as we wanted to get the horses back again
before daylight. We are deeply grateful to you for giving us shelter."

"I would be ready to do more than that," the man said, "for the sake of the

good cause. My wife's father and mine both fell at Naseby, and we are as
loyal to the Stuarts as they were. You are heartily welcome, sir, and, as we
keep no servant, there will be none to gossip. You can either remain in the

house, in which case none will know of your presence here; or, if you wish
to go abroad in the town, I will accompany you, and will introduce you to

any acquaintance I may meet as a cousin of my wife who, with his two
sons, has come over from Preston to pay us a visit. I don't think that anyone