y, just at the moment they were to set forth, notice was sent to
them that the king was unwell, and could not go abroad that day.
Putting these things together, I am sure that the king has been warned
of our plot, and that those who are in it will ere long be seized. He
probably now only waits till he has learned the names of our party, and
ascertained where each of us are to be found."

"Ellis, you deserve my gratitude!" exclaimed Long Sam. "It is time then
that each of us should seek his safety in flight. I shall be off this
moment; and I will leave the raw youth I have brought with me from the
north to pay the score as best he can. He knows nothing; and if he is
taken up and clapped into prison, he can do me no harm. Will you come
with me? Here's a horse at your service."

"Thank you, Sir George," answered the other man, "I have business to do
which must be done this night, in London, and I hope to get on board
ship before daybreak and be off for France. I will not delay longer
here."

Saying this, Ellis took a hurried departure, uttering but a short
farewell to his companion. Long Sam immediately followed him out of the
room. Jack sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes to be sure that he had not
been dreaming.

"This, then, is the plot in which Mr Harwood has been engaged," he
thought to himself. "I can serve him best by giving him information
that it has been discovered. If I remain long here, I shall probably,
as Long Sam observes is likely, be seized and sent to prison. Instead
of paying the score, I will leave the horses to do that, and take the
one which will most quickly carry me along the road to Sherwood Forest."

Jack, on this, quickly dressed himself in a rough riding-habit, and
packed his other garments into his valise. Having loaded his pistols
and seen to their priming, he stuck them in his belt, and, carrying his
valise under his arm, with his boots in his hand, he silently stole
down-stairs. Without difficulty he found his way into the room where
the conspirators had met; then, putting on his boots, he made his way to
the stables. He dared not strike a light, but, knowing well the
positions of the horses, and the place where the saddles were hung up,
he hoped to find no difficulty in getting off. He quickly opened the
stable-door, and was about to enter, when a deep voice exclaimed,
"Stand, or you're a dead man!"

He felt sure the person who spoke was Long Sam.

"Don't fire," he ans