Page 88 - A Jacobite Exile

should be many young fellows coming out to join.

"I can go across this evening to the minister of war, who is a personal
friend of mine, and get him to give you permission to raise a company of

Scotchmen for service. I shall, of course, point out to him that you will
enlist them here. I shall show him the advantage of these men being
gathered together, as their ignorance of the language makes them, for some

time, useless as soldiers if enrolled in a Swedish regiment. I shall mention
that I have twenty in my own corps, who are at present positively useless,

and in fact a source of great trouble, owing to their understanding nothing
that is said to them, and shall propose that they be at once handed over to
you. As to the exchange, we can manage that quietly between ourselves.

You would have no difficulty with fresh-landed men, as these will naturally
be delighted at joining a company of their own countrymen."

"Thank you very heartily, Jamieson. This altogether exceeds my hopes, but
I fear that I know nothing of drilling them."

"Two of my men are sergeants, and, having been in the army for some

years, speak Swedish well. They will do the drilling at first. The
manoeuvres are not complicated, and, for a pound or two, they will be glad
to teach you all the orders necessary. I don't know how you are situated as

to money, but I can assure you my purse is at your service."

"Thank you; I am, in that respect, excellently well provided, as is my friend
Sir Marmaduke. We have both made provision for unexpected
contingencies."

"Then, if you will call tomorrow after breakfast, I shall probably have your

commission ready. As a matter of course, you will have the appointment of
your own officers, and will only have to send in their names. Each
company is from a hundred and forty to a hundred and fifty strong, and has

a captain, two lieutenants, and two ensigns."

Mr. Jervoise's news was, on his return to the inn, received with delight by
the two lads; and Sir Marmaduke said: