nder Judge
Jeffreys. As soon as the letters were finished, he asked the Cornet to
give his promised pass to the worthy farmer, as if it were a matter of
no great consequence.

"He shall have it, and I shall be very glad if he succeeds in obtaining
your release," said the Cornet.

At length the farmer proposed that his guests should retire to rest,
observing that his good woman would see them off in the morning, as his
journey being a matter of life and death, he intended to start a couple
of hours before daylight.

To this Cornet Bryce made no objection. "Very wise, as I suppose you
know the road," he observed.

More satisfied than they had been for some hours, Stephen and Andrew
placed their heads on the pillow of the rough pallet which had been
prepared for them; the soldiers stretched themselves on the floor,
except the two wounded men, for whom the good dame made up separate
beds, and again looked carefully to their hurts. They were all four
soon snoring in concert. Andrew had joined them. Stephen kept awake,
considering if there was any possibility of escaping. From what Cornet
Bryce had told him, he knew that there was a risk the moment they
arrived at Bridgewater of their being hung without examination or trial
of any sort, numbers having been so treated by Feversham and Colonel
Kirk. It was far safer, therefore, to escape, if it could be done. The
Cornet himself, though he sat up talking with the farmer for some time,
at length turned into the truckle bed provided for him, and was soon as
fast asleep as his men. Farmer Stubbs was making certain preparations
apparently for his journey, filling his saddle-bags with provisions, his
holsters with a brace of pistols and ammunition. They were thus engaged
as noiselessly as possible when the door opened, and two young men
entered. The old woman put her finger to her lips as they gazed
somewhat astonished at the number of occupants of the common room.
Presently another came in; then the old lady, beckoning to them,
accompanied them outside. On seeing this Stephen's hopes rose. If they
were all staunch men they might overpower their guard without the
slightest difficulty, but then serious consequences might ensue to the
farmer. Probably his house would be burnt down and his property
destroyed, should the troopers suffer any violence. It seems surprising
that Cornet Bryce should so far have neglected his duty as to go to
sleep without placing a watch o