“In this matter, then, he will leave no stone unturned to gratify them, and I should strongly advise your band to move away from the neighbourhood, at any rate for a time.  They may plunder whole villages with impunity, but what is regarded as the murder of the richest citizen of Warsaw, a man mixed up in business and politics with half the principal nobles of the land, is a different matter altogether.  Do not think of trying to traverse the country until you are perfectly strong.  It will be a dangerous business at the best, but with your man with you, to bear the brunt of replying to questions, I have every confidence that you will succeed in making your way through.  As to this, I can give no advice, as there is no saying as to the point from which you may start, or the directions in which you may travel.

“Should you, at any time, find yourself in a town in which there are any of my countrymen established in trade, and you will find them nearly everywhere, use my name.  I think it is pretty generally known to Scotchmen in Poland.  You will see I have inclosed a note that will be useful to you.”

The inclosure contained only a few words: 

“I, Allan Ramsay, merchant of Warsaw, do declare the bearer of this note to be my friend, and beg any countrymen of mine, to whom he may present himself, to assist him in every way, and, should he require money, to furnish him with it, I undertaking to make myself responsible for the same, and to pay all monies and other charges that he may incur.”

“The first thing to do,” Charlie said, as he placed the letters in his doublet, “is to let the leader of our band know that other bodies of troops, besides that at the hut, are about to enter the forest.  He may decide that it is necessary to march away at once.”

As soon, indeed, as the outlaw received the tidings, he issued orders for the band to prepare for instant departure.

“A party of five or six men together,” he said to Charlie, “might hide in this forest for years.  But a band of fifty is too large to be long concealed.  To begin with, they must get food, and must either buy it or hunt for it; and in the second, there are a considerable number of men living in the forest, charcoal burners and herders of goats and swine, and any of these, if questioned by the troops, might mention that they had seen a considerable number of men passing.  As it is, we will break up into parties of seven or eight, and appoint a rendezvous where we may meet again.”

The band was speedily mustered, for, with the exception of those who were watching the forest through which the troops at the hut must march to reach them, the whole were close at hand.  A messenger was sent off to call in the scouts.  Then the booty that had been taken during their late excursions was brought out, and emptied on the ground.  It consisted of money and jewellery.  It was divided into equal portions, of which each member took one, the lieutenants of the band two, and the captain three.