324 A JACOBITE EXILE

“Your king is very wise in so strictly repressing all plun-
dering and violence,” he said. “Only so can a general
maintain an army in an enemy’s country. If the peasantry
have confidence in him, and know that they will get a fair
price for their produce, they will bring it into the market
gladly, in spite of any orders their own government may
issue to the contrary. J am determined that if I again lead
an English army in the field I will follow King Charles’
example; though I shall find it more difficult to enforce my
orders than he does, for he is king as well as general, and
his Swedes are quiet, honest fellows, while my army will be
composed of ne’er-do-wells—of men who prefer to wear the
queen’s uniform to a prison garment, of debtors who wish
to escape their creditors, and of men who find village-life
too quiet for them, and prefer to see the world, even at the
risk of being shot, to honest labour on the farms. It requires
a stern hand to make a disciplined army out of such mate-
rials, but when the time of fighting comes one need wish
for no better.”

Before parting with them the duke inquired farther into
their arrangements for the arrest of the highwayman, and
said he should expect to see them on Saturday, and that if
he heard that all had gone well he would at once take steps
for bringing the matter before a court that would deal with
it. The young men felt restless as the day approached.
They had seen no more of Tony, but they felt complete
confidence in him, and were sure that they would hear if
any difficulties arose; but though throughout Friday they
did not quit their lodging, no message reached them.