A RESCUE 57

be a close one. During the day we will go far up
over the hills, but to-morrow night we will make for
Lancaster. I have warned friends there to expect us, and
it is the last place where they would think of searching
for us.”

“You will take me with you too, father?” Harry ex-
claimed eagerly; while Charlie expressed his gratitude to
Mr. Jervoise for thus determining to risk his own life in
the endeavour to effect the escape of Sir Marmaduke.

“Yes, I intend to take you with me, Harry. ‘They will
pretend, of course, that in spite of our assertions of inno-
cence, our flight is a confession of guilt, and you may be
sure that we shall be condemned in our absence, and 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
Iam 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.”