"I shall go distracted," she cried. "I cannot bear the thought that papa should be imprisoned."
"Make yourself easy on that score, Miss Rawcliffe," said Atherton. "Imprisoned he shall not be. I will undertake to rescue him."
"You!" she exclaimed, gazing at him through her streaming eyes. "If you could save him this indignity, I should be for ever beholden to you. But no!—you must not attempt it. The risk is too great."
"I care not for the risk," cried Atherton. "I will do it. You shall soon learn that your father is free."
And he rushed out of the room.
"A brave young man," cried Monica. "He has all my Jemmy's spirit. I feel sure he will accomplish what he has undertaken."
"I hope no harm will befall him," said Constance.
Shortly afterwards a great disturbance was heard in the market-place, and flying to the windows, they witnessed a very exciting scene.
CHAPTER XII.
THE RESCUE.
The visit of the boroughreeve and constables to the Bull's Head attracted a considerable crowd to the market-place—it being rumoured that the magistrates were about to arrest an important Jacobite gentleman.