248 A JACOBITE EXILE

from bolting. Once away from the trees, however, they
settled down into a fast trot, and the seven miles to Stromoff
were done in less than half an hour. No sooner did the
landlord of the inn learn the name of his guest, than he, his
wife, and sons bustled about in the greatest haste to make
things comfortable for them. Huge fires were lighted in
the guest rooms, and the common room was cleared of the
other customers until the chamber should be sufficiently
warmed for occupation; while in the kitchen preparations
were made for a meal, to which, in half an hour from their
arrival, the party in the sledge sat down. When this was
over, settles were placed round the fire, and Charlie then
gave a full account of his adventures from the time he was
attacked in.the streets of Warsaw.

“So it was you, Captain Carstairs, after whom there was
so keen a search in September. The death of Ben Solo-
man made a great stir, and I can assure you that there are
a great many people who owe you a debt of gratitude. The
man had no sons, and all his property passed to his widow,
whom he had, it seems, treated harshly during his lifetime.
She was from Holland, and wished to return to her people,
so as his means were very large she made the easiest terms
with all those on whose estates her husband had held mort-
gages, in order to wind up her affairs as soon as possible;
thus his death was the subject of wide rejoicings. How-
ever, if you had been caught at the time, I fear it would
have gone hard with you; for the Jews were all very keen
about it—as the man, rascal though he was, was one of the
chief heads of their religion,—and were you to fall into
their hands in any of the towns they would either kill you
or send you to Warsaw.”

“And now, sir, will you tell me what has taken place
since September?”

“Things have moved slowly. Augustus endeavoured after
his defeat on the Dwina to make peace with Charles on