im taken, Frank, come what may."

"Thank you, Captain Murray," said the boy, laying his hand on his
friend's sleeve. "You have made me happier than I have felt for days."

"And it sounds very disloyal, my boy; but I can't help my heart turning
to my old friend to wish him safe out of the rout."

"Then you think it will be a rout?" panted Frank.

"It must be sooner or later. They may gain a few little advantages by
surprise, or the cowardice of the troops; but those successes can't
last, and when the defeat comes it will be the greater, and mean a
complete end to a mad scheme."

"But the Prince must be with them by this time, sir."

"The Pretender? No; he is still in France without coming forward, and
leaving the misguided men who would place him on the throne to be
slaughtered for aught he seems to care."

Captain Murray proved to be a true prophet, for he had spoken on the
basis of his experience of what properly trained men could do against
troops hastily collected, and badly armed men whose discipline was of
the rudest description.

Sooner even than the captain had anticipated the news came in a despatch
brought from the north of England. The Pretender's forces, under Lords
Derwentwater, Kenmuir, and Nithsdale, were encountered by the King's
troops; and before the two bodies joined battle a summons was sent to
the rebel army calling upon the men to lay down their arms or be
attacked without mercy.

The Pretender's generals tried to treat the summons to surrender with
contempt, laughed at it, and bade their followers to stand fast and the
victory would be theirs. But, in spite of the exhortations of their
officers, the sight of the King's regular troops drawn up in battle
array proved too much for the raw forces. Probably they were wearied
with marching and the many difficulties they had had to encounter.
Their enthusiasm leaked out, life seemed far preferable to death, and
they surrendered at discretion.

There was feasting and rejoicing at Saint James's that night, when the
news came of the bloodless victory; while in one of the apartments
mother and son were shut up alone in the agony of their misery and
despair, for whatever might be the fate of the common people of the
Pretender's army, the action of the King toward all who opposed him was
known to be of merciless severity. The leaders of the rebellion could
expect but one fate--death by the executioner.

"But, mother, mother! oh, don't give w