328 A JACOBITE EXILE

which you have, no doubt, a score or more, you may con-
sider yourself under arrest not only for the robbery of the
Portsmouth coach three weeks ago but of the North coach
last evening.” : :

The prisoner started. It seemed impossible to him that
that affair should be known yet, still less his connection
with it.

“You know what that means?” Tony went on grimly,
“Tyburn. Now I am going to make you a little safer still.
You have been a hard bird to catch, and we don’t mean to
let you slip through our fingers again.”

So saying he bound his arms closely to his side with a
rope, and then with a shorter piece fastened his ankles
securely together.

“Now I will fetch the cart.” He had been gone but five
minutes when they heard a vehicle stop at the door. ‘The
others lifted the highwayman by his shoulders and feet, car-
ried him out, and laid him in the cart. Tony closed the
door quietly behind them, and then jumped up by the side
of the driver, who at once started the horse at a brisk trot.
‘They crossed Westminster Bridge, and after another ten
minutes’ drive stopped at a small house standing back from
the road, in a garden of its own. :

“We will carry him in, Tony,” Charlie said, “if you will
get the door open.” ‘They carried him in through the door,
at which a woman was standing, into a room, where they
saw to their satisfaction a blazing fire. The prisoner was
laid down on the ground. Leaving him to himself, Charlie
and his friends sat down to the table, which was laid in
readiness. ‘I'wo cold chickens, and ham, and bread had
been placed on it.

“Now, Tony, sit down; you must be as hungry as we
are.”

“Thank you, gentlemen; I am going to have my break-
fast in the kitchen with my wife.”