wered, calmly, "you will gain nothing by so doing!"

"Then tell me what you are about to do, youngster," exclaimed Long Sam,
stepping forth, leading a horse by the bridle.

"I have as much right to take a midnight ride as you have," answered
Jack. "I don't wish to stop you, but if you go your way, I claim a
right to go mine."

"You are crowing loudly, my lad!" said Long Sam, with a curse.

"I have no wish to crow," answered Jack, "but if you have to ride to
save your life, I wish to do the same to save my liberty. If you
attempt to stop me I will give the alarm, and you well know what the
consequences will be. You wish to make a tool of me--you will find that
if you still attempt to do so, you will cut your own fingers."

"You are a sharp lad," answered Long Sam, or Sir George Barclay, for
Jack before long had reason to know that such was the real name of his
late companion. "You have found out a great deal more than I supposed.
However, I believe you honest: and now make the best of your way out of
this city. If you can give notice to any of our friends that they are
in danger, you will be rendering them an important service, which,
perhaps, some day or other they will be able to repay; and if not, you
may rest satisfied that you have performed a kind action."

Saying this, Sir George led his horse through the gateway of the inn,
which was left ajar, probably by pre-arrangement, and disappeared in the
darkness. Jack quickly saddled the steed which had been bestowed on him
by Master Pearson, and took his way northward by the road along which he
had come to Hammersmith. As soon as he was at a distance from any
houses, he clapped spurs to his horse and galloped over the ground at as
fast a rate as the bad state of the roads would allow.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

A RIDE FOR LIBERTY.

While Jack is galloping towards Sherwood Forest, we will give a short
description of the plot which had been designed for the overthrow of
William of Orange and the restoration of James the Second to the throne
of England, and the re-establishment of Romanism throughout the realm.

The adherents of James, who desired to retain him on the throne of
England in spite of his attempts to establish a despotic government, and
to restore the Roman Catholic religion in the country, were called by
their opponents "Jacobites." A large number of them belonged themselves
to the Church of Rome, and, instigated by their priests, many of whom,