THE LOVE TOKEN. 321 



or political merits, needs but discipline and good management to trample 

 eventually upon all opposition. Mr. Leslie, the father, is very unpopular 

 in his county, and the influence of his son can, we understand, with 

 difficulty secure his person and property from the vengeance of the ag- 

 grieved inhabitants. Many of the gentry are 011 their way to the metro- 

 polis, and the lady of Earl Mauden is about to resort thither also for 

 protection^ while her noble husband determines to remain and defend 

 his house,, and join with the magistracy in effectual steps to the sup- 

 pression of this threatening, and already too successful insurrection." 



The above statement was true, and the evening after this battle, 

 General Leslie, as he was called, received a letter, the contents of which 

 were 



" GENERAL, This is to inform you, that Lady Mauden sets out by 

 day-break to-morrow for Dublin. Now, seeing as how, his lordship is 

 a strong man against us, I'm thinking, general, 'twould be the way to 

 stop the carriage, and if you gets the wife, why the husband wont be no 

 more much of an enemy to us, but in this matter you knows best your- 

 self, and so, general, I remain, 



" To General Leslie, " Your's to command, 



at the Camp, at hill." " DANIEL HARVEY." 



On the receipt of this note George considered for some time, and 

 having adjusted his plans, he commanded a force of 500 of his best 

 armed and best trained men, to attend him at midnight. Midnight 

 arrived, and Leslie having given instructions in case of his own delay 

 or capture, set out with his 500 chosen men, and in about four hours, 

 after a silent and unmolested march, found himself at the place of his 

 destination. It was a wood on the side of a gentle hill, and through 

 which ran the public road. This first required no small boldness in its 

 occupants, for it was but one mile and a quarter from a town in 

 possession of 3,000 of the king's troops, and watched by a vigilant, and 

 in too many instances, a relentless magistracy. But the boldness of the 

 enterprize was its chief security ; for while detachments of these 3,000 

 men and the different magistrates daily and nightly scoured the more 

 distant neighbourhood, none dreamed for a moment that 500 of the 

 insurgents would have dared attempt concealment almost within their 

 very jaws. But Leslie and his 500 dared it, and for an hour waited in 

 silence and in patience, listening to the tramp of many a party of horse- 

 men passing at a small distance on the road, and sometimes overhearing 

 the shouts and execrations with which he and his, were devoted to 

 death and damnation by the Protestant yeoman and regulars. 



It was now five in the morning and the words " 'tis coming," whispered 

 from one of the scouts, ran through the party ; there was a general 

 movement and Leslie having seen that all was safe on the town side of 

 the road, and behind the hill which covered him, divided his men to 

 either side of the road. His only words were " Remember my orders," 

 they were on their peril to offer not the slightest personal injury to 

 Lady Mauden. As to other directions, they had been also given before. 

 There was a sudden turn in the road, near the place of ambush, but 

 between it and the approaching carriage, which last could not be seen 

 until it had passed that part of the hill where it was cut through for the 

 road ; to this turn every eye was directed. The carriage came on at a 

 rapid rate, escorted by a troop of the Enniskillen cavalry, under the 

 command of Captain T . The turn was gained, Captain T 



