Page 68 - A Jacobite Exile

place where he had parted from them, when they entered Lancaster. There
he was met by Mr. Jervoise and the lads and, mounting, they started with

the spare horse for Blackburn, choosing that line in preference to the road
through Preston, as there were troops stationed at the latter town.

The next day they rode on to Manchester. They went round, that evening,
to the various inns where the men had put up, and directed them to discover

whether, as was probable, the escort was to arrive that night. If so, they
were to mount at daybreak, and assemble where the road crossed the moor,

three miles north of Chapel le Frith, where they would find Mr. Jervoise
awaiting them.

At nine o'clock that evening the troop rode in and, at daybreak, Mr.
Jervoise and the boys started. Two of the men were already at the spot

indicated, and, half an hour later, the whole of them had arrived.

Mr. Jervoise led them back to a spot that he had selected, where the road

dipped into a deep valley, in which, sheltered from the winds, was a small
wood. Leaving one at the edge, to give warning directly the escort appeared

on the road over the brow, he told the rest to dismount. Most of them were
armed with pistols. All had swords.

"Do you," he said, "who are good shots with your pistols, fire at the men
when I give the word--let the rest aim at the horses. The moment you have

opened fire, dash forward and fall on them. We are already as numerous as
they are, and we ought to be able to dismount or disable four or five of
them, with our first fire. I shall give the order as Sir Marmaduke arrives

opposite me. Probably the officer will be riding. I shall make the officer my
special mark, for it may be that he has orders to shoot the prisoner, if any

rescue is attempted.

"I don't suppose they will be at all prepared for an attack. They were

vigilant, no doubt, for the first two days but, once out of Lancashire, they
will think that there is no longer any fear of an attempt at rescue. Pursue

those that escape for half a mile or so, and then draw rein, and, as soon as
they are out of sight, strike due north across the fells. Keep to the east of