CHAP. V. JOHN METCALF, ROAD MAKER. 219 



Some of the Dragoon officers, hearing of Jack's escape, 

 sent for him to head-quarters at Holy rood, to question 

 liini about liis ( 1 ;i]>1;iin. One of them took occasion to 

 speak ironically of Thornton's men, and asked Metcalf 

 li<>\\ lie had contrived to escape. " Oh ! " said Jack, " I 

 found it easy to follow the sound of the Dragoons' horses 

 they made such a clatter over the stones when flying 

 from the Highlandmen." Another asked him how he, 

 a blind man, durst venture upon such a service ; to which 

 Metcalf replied, that had he possessed a pair of good eyes, 

 perhaps he would not have come there to risk the loss 

 of them by gunpowder. No more questions were asked, 

 a n< I Jack withdrew ; but he was not satisfied about the 

 disappearance of Captain Thornton, and he determined 

 on going back to Falkirk, within the enemy's lines, to 

 get news of him, and perhaps to rescue him, if that were 

 still possible. 



The rest of the company were very much disheartened 

 at the loss of their officers and so many of their comrades, 

 and wished Metcalf to furnish them with the means of 

 returning home. But he would not hear of such a thing, 

 and strongly encouraged them to remain until, at all 

 events, he had got news of the Captain. He then set 

 out for Prince Charles's camp. On reaching the outposts 

 of the English army, he was urged by the officer in com- 

 mand to lay aside his project, which would certainly cost 

 him his life. But Metcalf was not now to be dissuaded, 

 and he was permitted to proceed, which he did in com- 

 pany with one of the rebel spies, pretending that he 

 wished to be engaged as a musician in the Prince's army. 

 A woman whom they met returning to Edinburgh from 

 the field of Falkirk, laden with plunder, gave Metcalf a 

 token to her husband, who was Lord George Murray's 

 cook, and this secured him an access to the Prince's 

 quarters ; but, notwithstanding a most diligent search, he 

 could hear nothing of his master. Unfortunately for him, 

 a person who had seen him at Harrogate, pointed him out 



