ough that it was
not likely that he would have found Drew Forbes. A visit to the tavern
club would certainly have resulted in finding that the occupants were
dispersed and the place watched by spies. Then, even if he had found
Drew, wherever he and his friends were hiding, it was not likely that
they would have altered their plans for any information which he could
give them. Everything would have been fixed as they thought best, and
no change would have been made.

Clearer still came the thought that he had no information to give them
further than that the prisoners would probably be brought into London
that evening, which way Captain Murray might know, but he would never
depart from his duty so far as to supply the information that it might
be conveyed to the King's enemies. He was too loyal for that, gladly as
he would strive to save his friend.

It was then with a feeling of relief that Frank sat there by his
mother's bed, holding her hand, and thinking that he could do no more,
while upon the nurse whispering to him that she would be in the next
room if wanted, and leaving him alone, he once more sank upon his knees
to rest his head against the bed, and prayed long and fervently in no
tutored words, but in those which gushed naturally and simply from his
breast, that the lives of those he loved might be spared and the
terrible tribulation of the present times might pass away.

Hour after hour passed, and the nurse came in and out softly from time
to time, nodding to the watcher and smiling her satisfaction at finding
her patient still plunged in a sleep, which, as the day went on, grew
more and more profound.

Then when alone Frank's thoughts went wandering away along the great
north road by which the prisoners must be slowly approaching London, to
find their fate. And at such times his thoughts were busy about his
mother's friends. What were they doing to try and save his father?

Then his thoughts went like a flash to his meeting with Drew the day
before; and his words came full of hope, and sent a feeling of elation
through him. The rebels were not beaten, as Drew had said, and there
was no doubt about their making a brave effort to rescue the prisoners
before they were shut up in gaol.

And in imagination Frank built up what would in all probability be done.
Small parties of the Jacobites would form in different places, and with
arms hidden gradually converge upon some chosen spot which the prisone