As he did so, the officers took charge of him, and the door was shut.
Constance's courage then entirely forsook her, and uttering a cry, she sank into a chair. Monica strove to comfort her – but in vain.
"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.
A political arrest at this juncture, when the town was in such an inflamed state, seemed to most persons, whatever their opinions might be, an exceedingly ill-advised step, and the magistrates were much blamed for taking it.
Murmurs were heard, and some manifestations of sympathy with the luckless Jacobite would undoubtedly have been made by the assemblage had they not been kept in awe by the strong body of constables drawn up in front of the inn.
As might be expected, the lower orders predominated in the concourse, but there were some persons of a superior class present, who had been brought thither by curiosity. The crowd momently increased, until the market-place, which was not very spacious, was more than half full, while the disposition to tumult became more apparent as the numbers grew.
At length a large old-fashioned coach was seen to issue from the entrance of the court-yard, and it was at once conjectured that the prisoner was inside the vehicle, from the fact that a constable was seated on the box beside the coachman, while half a dozen officers marched in front, to clear a passage through the throng.
But this could not be accomplished without the liberal use of staves, and the progress of the coach was necessarily slow. Groans, hootings, and angry exclamations arose from the crowd, but these were directed against the constables and not at the prisoner, who could be seen through the windows of the coach. Sir Richard was recognised by some of the nearest spectators, and his name being called out to those further off, it speedily became known to the whole assemblage, and the noise increased.
At this moment Atherton Legh rushed from the door of the inn and shouted in a loud voice, "A rescue! – a rescue!"
The cry thus raised was echoed by a hundred voices, and in another minute all was confusion.
"A rescue! – a rescue!" resounded on all sides. The coachman tried to extricate himself from the throng, but the heads of the horses being seized, he could not move on.
The constables endeavoured to get near the coach, as well to guard the prisoner as to protect the magistrates, who were inside the roomy vehicle with him.
But Atherton, who was remarkably athletic, snatched a truncheon from one of them, and laying about him vigorously with this weapon, and being supported by the crowd, soon forced his way to the door, and was about to pull it open, when the boroughreeve thrust his head through the window, and called out to him to forbear.
"Beware how you violate the law, young man," cried Mr. Fielden, in a firm and authoritative voice, that showed he was not daunted. "You must be aware that in constituting yourself the leader of a riotous mob, and attempting to rescue a prisoner, you are committing a very grave offence. Desist, while there is yet time. You are known to me and my brother magistrates."
"We do not intend you any personal injury, Mr. Fielden – nor do we mean to injure your brother magistrates," rejoined Atherton, resolutely. "But we are determined to liberate Sir Richard Rawcliffe. Set him free, and there will be an end to the disturbance. You must plainly perceive, sir, that resistance would be useless."
While this was going on, the band of desperadoes, already alluded to, had hurried back to the market-place, and now came up flourishing their bludgeons, and shouting, "Down with the Presbyterians!" "Down with the Hanoverians!" And some of them even went so far as to add "Down with King George!"
These shouts were echoed by the greater part of the concourse, which had now become very turbulent and excited.
Mr. Fielden called to the constables to keep back the mob, and move on, but the officers were utterly powerless to obey him. If a riot commenced, there was no saying where it would end; so, addressing a final remonstrance to Atherton, which proved as ineffectual as all he had said before, the boroughreeve withdrew from the window.
Atherton then opened the coach door, and told Sir Richard, who had been anxiously watching the course of events, that he was free.
On this the baronet arose, and bade a polite adieu to the magistrates, who made no attempt to prevent his departure.
As Sir Richard came forth and stood for a short space on the step of the carriage, so that he could be seen by all the assemblage, a deafening and triumphant shout arose.
"I thank you, my good friends, for delivering me," vociferated the baronet. "I have been illegally arrested. I am guilty of no crime. God bless the king!"
"Which king?" cried several voices, amid loud laughter and applause.
"Choose for yourselves!" responded Sir Richard. "You have rendered me a great service; but if you would serve me still more, and also serve the good cause which I represent, you will retire quietly. Bide your time. 'Twill soon come."
This short harangue was greeted by a loud cheer, amid which the baronet descended, and shook hands heartily with Atherton, who was standing near him.
"I owe my deliverance to you," he said; "and be sure I shall ever feel grateful."
Just then a rush was made towards them by the constables, who were, however, kept back by the crowd.
"Meddle not with us, and we won't meddle with you," cried Atherton.
Prudently acting upon the advice, the constables kept quiet.
Every facility for escape was afforded Sir Richard by the concourse. A narrow lane was opened for him, through which he passed, accompanied by Atherton.
Without pausing to consider whither they were going, they hurried on, till they reached Smithy Doer – a narrow street, so designated, and leading from the bottom of the market-place, in the direction of Salford Bridge.
Feeling secure, they then stopped to hold a brief consultation.
"It won't do for me to return to the inn," observed Sir Richard. "Nor is it necessary I should return thither. My daughter and her cousin are in no danger, and I shall easily find some means of communicating with them. They will know I am safe."
"Were I able to do so, I would gladly take a message from you to Miss Rawcliffe, Sir Richard," said Atherton. "But I am now in as much danger as yourself. I am known to the magistrates, and they will certainly send the officers in search of me."
"You shall run no more risk on my account," said Sir Richard. "My daughter is so courageous that she will feel no alarm when she learns I have escaped. You must find a hiding-place till the prince arrives in Manchester, and then all will be right. If I could procure a horse, I would ride on to Preston. I have a couple of hunters in the stables at the Bull's Head,