212 A JACOBITE EXILE

and to pay all monies and other charges that he may
incur.”

“The first thing to do,” Charlie said, as he placed the
letters in his doublet, “is to let the leader of our band
know that other bodies of troops besides that at the hut
are about to enter the forest. He may decide that it is
necessary to march away at once.”

As soon, indeed, as the outlaw received the tidings, he
issued orders for the band to prepare for instant departure.
“A party of five or six men together,” he said to Charlie,
“might hide in this forest for years. Buta band of fifty
is too large to be long concealed. To begin with, they
must get food, and must either buy it or hunt for it; and
in the second, there are a considerable number of men
living in the forest, charcoal-burners and herders of goats
and swine, and any of these, if questioned by the troops,
might mention that they had seen a considerable number
of men passing. As it is, we will break up into parties of
seven or eight, and appoint a rendezvous where we may
meet again.”

The band was speedily mustered, for with the exception
of those who were watching the forest through which the
troops at the hut must march to reach them, the whole
were close at hand. A messenger was sent off to call in the
scouts. ‘Then the booty that had been taken during their
late excursions was brought out and emptied on the
ground. It consisted of money and jewellery. It was
divided inte equal portions, of which each member took
one, the lieutenants of the band two, and the captain three.
“Vou don’t share this time,” the latter said to Charlie;
“tut next time, of course, you and your comrade will each
have your portion.”

When this was done, the men were told off in parties of
six or seven, and instructions given as to the point of ren-
dezvous. Each band chose its own leader, and in an hour