|General Carpenter was not present when the Earl of Derwentwater and
Colonel Mackintosh were brought as hostages to Wills, but Brigadier
Munden, Colonels Pitt, Wynn, and Stanhope were with him at the time.
The severe commander received the hostages very haughtily, and knitted
his dark brows as he regarded them.
Lord Derwentwater comported himself with great dignity, but Colonel
Mackintosh could scarcely restrain his anger, especially when Wills
asked:
“Why have we not a Scotch nobleman? I required Lord Nithsdale or Lord
Kenmure.”
“They declined to come, general,” replied Churchill.
“Methinks, the chief of the Clan Chattan might suffice,” said
Mackintosh. “Had I refused to surrender, not a Highlander would have
laid down his arms.”
“And not one would have escaped,” rejoined Wills. “If you think you
can stand against the king's troops go back to the town, and I will
immediately attack you.”
“If I take you at your word, I presume you will give General Forster a
safe-conduct!” rejoined Mackintosh.
Wills looked fiercely at him, but made no response.
“If Colonel Mackintosh returns, I shall return, general,” said Lord
Derwentwater, “and then the truce will be at an end. Attack us when you
please, we shall be prepared for you.”
“Is this your decision, my lord?” cried Mackintosh, joyfully. “I am glad
of it.”
“Hold!” exclaimed Wills, who did not desire that matters should take
this turn. “Since the arrangement is partly concluded, I will not
disturb it. By to-morrow these feelings of irritation will have calmed
down, and then you will see that I have granted all I could.”
“Nothing has been granted,” said Colonel Mackintosh. “We shall be worse
off to-morrow than we are to-day. Come with me my lord. Let us die
together at Preston.”
“You cannot depart,” said Wills, authoritatively. “Tomorrow you may have
an opportunity of proving your bravery. To-night you must remain here.
Let them be taken to their quarters, colonel,” he added to Churchill. “I
am sorry I cannot offer you better accommodation.”
“Make no apologies, general,” said Lord Derwentwater, haughtily. “We
know with whom we have to deal.”
They were then taken to a farm-house, where Parson Woods and his men
were quartered, and where very inconvenient lodgings were found for
them.
X.--BRIGADIER MACKINTOSH DISSUADES THE EARL OF WINTOUN FROM SALLYING
FORTH.
|No sooner did it become known that a capitulation had been agreed on
than Lord Wintoun went to Brigadier Mackintosh, who so far from having
retired to rest, was greatly on the alert, and entreated him to allow
a strong body of his Highlanders to line the hedges on the Lancaster
avenue, while he made a determined attempt at escape.
“I shall be accompanied by Major Nairn, Captain Philip Lockhart, Captain
Shaftoe, and a dozen others, and we will either effect an escape or sell
our lives dearly.”
“It is too late,” replied the brigadier. “My Highlanders could render
you little assistance. The Lancaster avenue is now guarded by six
squadrons of dragoons in addition to the former guard, so that you will
infallibly be cut to pieces. Besides, hostages have been given, and that
alone ought to deter you from making the attempt.”
“Then we must remain tamely here?” said Lord Wintoun.
“There is no help for it, my lord,” replied the brigadier. “If I had had
my own way, things should never have come to this pass. We ought to have
cut our way out before the arrival of General Carpenter.”
“Have we any chance of escape now, think you?” asked Lord Wintoun.
“Very little, I fear,” replied the brigadier. “But we must be prepared
to take advantage of any unforeseen circumstances to-morrow. It is not
likely that any will occur--but it may be.”