as he found his horse on
a bit of level road, he called to his men, 'Halloo! here's our chance
for a canter!--We'll leave the Lambs to follow us to the
slaughter-house at their own sweet will.' Then, seeing mingled relief
and consternation on the men's faces, he slapped his thighs with a
loud laugh and said: 'Ye silly fellows, have no fear! No Quaker ever
yet tried to escape from gaol, nor ever will. We can trust them to
follow us in our absence as well as if we were here to drive them.
Quakers haven't the wit to seek after their own safety.'

The audacity of the plan tickled the troopers. Following Hodgson's
example, they, one and all, raised their plumed hats and, rising high
in their stirrups, bowed with mock courtesy, as they took leave of
their prisoners.

'Farewell, sweet Lambkins,' called out the Ensign, 'hasten your Quaker
pace and meet us at the slaughter-house at Ingmire Hall as fast as you
can, OR' ... he cocked his pistol at them, and then, dashing it up,
fired a shot into the air. With wild shouting and laughter the whole
troop disappeared round a turn of the road. 'To Sedbergh,' they cried,
'to Sedbergh first! Plenty of time for a carouse, and yet to arrive at
Ingmire Hall as soon as the Lambs!'

Arriving in Sedbergh at a canter they slackened rein at a tavern and
refreshed themselves with a draught of ale and an hour's carouse,
before setting off to meet their prisoners at the Justice's house.

When they arrived at Ingmire Hall, to their dismay, not a Quaker was
in sight. Sending his men off to scour the roads, Ensign Hodgson
himself dismounted with an oath on Justice Otway's doorstep, and went
within to inquire if the Quakers from Drawwell had yet arrived.

'The Quakers, WHOM YOU WERE SENT TO FETCH from Drawwell and for whose
non-appearance you are yourself wholly responsible, HAVE NOT ARRIVED,'
answered the Justice tartly, raising his eyebrows as if to emphasise
his words. All men knew that good Sir John Otway was no friend to
persecution; and gay Lawrence Hodgson was no favourite of his.

With a louder oath than that with which he had entered the house, the
Ensign flung out of it again, and rode off at the head of his men--all
of them discomfited by their vain search, for not a Quaker was to be
seen in the neighbourhood. The 'Lambs' were less docile than had been
supposed. After all, they had successfully managed to avoid the
'slaughter-house'; they must have retreated to Drawwell, if they had
n