194 A JACOBITE EXILE

The Jew was silent for some time, then he said: “He
has got papers at home which would bring me to the
gallows.”

“Pooh!” the other said. “You do not suppose that
when it is found that he does not return, and his heirs
open his coffers, they will take any trouble about what
there may be in the papers there except such as relate to
his money. I will warrant there are papers there which
concern scores of men besides you, for I know that Ben
Soloman likes to work with agents he has got under his
thumb. But even if all the papers should be put into the
hands of the authorities, what would come of it? They
have got their hands full of other matters for the present,
and with the Swedes on their frontier and the whole coun-
try divided into factions, who do you think is going to
trouble to hunt up men for affairs that occurred years ago?
Even if they did, they would not catch you. They have
not got the means of running you down that Ben Soloman
has. I tell you, man, it must be done. ‘There is no other
way out of it.”

“Well, Conrad, if we cannot find this fellow before Ben
Soloman comes I am with you in the business. I have
been working for him on starvation pay for the last three
years, and hate him as much as you can.”

When they reached the hut they cooked a meal, and
then prepared to keep alternate watch.

Charlie slept quietly all night, and in the morning re-
mained in his hiding-place until he heard in the distance
the sound of a horse’s tread. ‘Then he went out and sat
down, leaning against a tree by the side of the path, in an
attitude of exhaustion. Presently he saw Ben Soloman
approaching. He got up feebly and staggered a few paces
to another tree farther from the path. He heard an angry
shout, and then Ben Soloman rode up, and with a torrent
of execrations at the carelessness of the watchers leapt