Jacobites > Ascanius, or, The young adventurer

ASCANIUS.
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will I go, let the consequence be what it will, for I
had better be killed like a man, than be starved like
a fool:’ he was now forty-eight hours without meat,
r His friend did all in his power to dissuade him
from it, but he would go.
When they got to the hut, the Prince went
: boldly in, without showing any manner of concern,
and found six stout lusty fellows at dinner, upon a
large piece of boiled beef, a sight he had been
5 long a stranger to.
The six men, who were notorious thieves, and
‘ made this hut their abode for privacy and safety,
were not a little amazed, at seeing a strange face
entering there. One of them knew the Prince,
and also that he was skulking ; but he, not think¬
ing it safe to tell the rest of the company who
their guest was, had the presence of mind, upon
seeing the Prince, to cry out, ‘ Ha! Dougal Mac-
cullony, I am glad to see thee!’ The Prince, by
this expression, found he was known, and with
equal steadiness of countenance, thanked him
cheerfully, sat down with them, ate very heartily,
and was very merry.
Ascanius, his friend, and the man who knew
him, walked out after dinner, and consulted what
further was to be done; and being informed of
the state of the country about, and of the military
people, found it absolutely necessary to wait here
for some time, and that the other five men should
be entrusted with the secret; which being done,
they rejoiced that they had it in their power to
serve the Prince: they proved of great service,
and were very faithful. With these trusty Fal-
staffs, and Glenaladale, did the Prince continue,