Page 75 - A Jacobite Exile

Chapter 4

: In Sweden.

After much discussion, the party agreed that it would be best to make for
Southampton. The road thither was less frequented than that leading to

London, and there were fewer towns to be passed, and less chance of
interruption. Mr. Jervoise had brought with him a valise and suit of clothes

for Sir Marmaduke, of sober cut and fashion. They avoided all large towns
and, at the places where they put up, represented themselves as traders
travelling from the Midlands to the southern coast, and they arrived at

Southampton without having excited the smallest suspicion. Indeed,
throughout the journey, they had heard no word of the affray near Chapel le

Frith, and knew, therefore, that the news had not travelled as fast as they
had.

At Southampton, however, they had scarcely put up at an inn when the
landlord said:

"I suppose, gentlemen, they are talking of nothing else, in London, but the
rescue of a desperate Jacobite by his friends. The news only reached here

yesterday."

"It has occasioned a good deal of scare," Mr. Jervoise replied. "I suppose
there is no word of the arrest of the man, or his accomplices? We have
travelled but slowly, and the news may have passed us on the way."

"Not as yet," the landlord replied. "They say that all the northern and

eastern ports are watched, and they make sure of catching him, if he
presents himself there. The general opinion is that he will, for a time, go
into hiding with his friends, in the hills of Cumberland or Westmoreland, or

perhaps on the Yorkshire moors; but they are sure to catch him sooner or
later."

"It is a bad business altogether," Mr. Jervoise said, "and we can only hope
that all guilty persons will in time get the punishment they so well deserve.