240 A JACOBITE EXILE

defenders beyond Charlie’s first shout of “Lay this branch
across those two,” and the order of one of the gentlemen
to the coachman to take his place in the sledge, where he
had done his work well, for four wolves lay dead by the
flank of the outside horse. Several of those that had
sprung at the heads of the horses had been shot or cut
down by the master, who had placed himself close to them,
and the horses’ thick mufflings had saved them from any
serious injury.

As soon as the wolves fled the gentleman turned to
Charlie, and flinging down his weapons threw his arms
round his neck.

“You have preserved us from death, sir. You have
saved my wife and child from being torn to pieces. How
can I express my thanks to you?”

“Tt was fortunate that we happened to be here,” Charlie
said, “and that we had this fire handy.”

A cry from the child called off the gentleman’s attention,
and he ran to his wife, who had sunk fainting on the
ground; and Charlie, not a little pleased at this diversion,
turned to Ladislas and his men, who were looking on with
the most intense astonishment at the scene. Charlie leapt
over the branch and grasped Ladislas by the hand.

“You have arrived at the nick of time, Ladislas. An-
other three minutes and it would have been all over with
ust

“Yes, I could see it was a close thing as soon as I caught
sight of you. We have been wondering all night what be-
came of you, and set out as soon as it was light. We fired
a shot occasionally, but we listened in vain for your three
shots.”

“We fired them half an hour after daylight,” Charlie
said; “but as we had then only five charges left between
us, and there were wolves all round, we dared not waste
them.”