Captain Gordon, an officer in the Merse troop, commanded by the Honourable Captain Hume, and distinguished for his courage and activity, seemed well pleased at being chosen for the dangerous expedition.
“I will rejoin your lordship at Jedburgh,” he said. “But if I find General Carpenter and his force on the move, you will see me sooner.”
With this he bowed and quitted the room, and almost before the council had broken up he was on the other side of the Tweed.
“Brigadier,” said General Forster, addressing Mackintosh, after some further discussion had taken place; “before we separate I must ask you plainly if you mean to march with us to London?”
“I will answer frankly, general,” replied Mackintosh. “My men will never enter England unless they are certain of their pay.”
“Is that the only difficulty?” said Lord Derwentwater. “I feared from what has been said, that they might be averse to a campaign in England.”
“So they are, my lord,” replied the brigadier. “But possibly their aversion may be overcome by the certainty of good pay.”
“Make them quite easy on that score,” said Lord Derwentwater. “I will provide the money.”
“When my men learn your lordship's generous promise,” said Mackintosh, “I doubt not they will be very grateful.”
“'Tis but a small subsidy to the king,” said Lord Derwentwater. “I would give my whole property to set him on the throne.”