direction in which the troopers had gone, stooped down again to take
up his gun, and then said, "There's providence in this; yes, and
there's providence in my not having my dog with me, for he would not
have remained quiet for so long a time. Who would ever have thought
that James Southwold would have turned a traitor! more than traitor,
for he is now ready to bite the hand that has fed him, to burn the
house that has ever welcomed him. This is a bad world, and I thank
Heaven that I have lived in the woods. But there is no time to lose;"
and the old forester threw his gun over his shoulder, and hastened
away in the direction of his own cottage.

"And so the king has escaped," thought Jacob, as he went along, "and
he may be in the forest! Who knows but he may be at Arnwood, for he
must hardly know where to go for shelter? I must haste and see Miss
Judith immediately. 'Levelers, to horse!' the fellow said. What's a
Leveler?" thought Jacob.

As perhaps my readers may ask the same question, they must know that a
large proportion of the Parliamentary army had at this time assumed
the name of Levelers, in consequence of having taken up the opinion
that every man should be on an equality, and property should be
equally divided. The hatred of these people to any one above them in
rank or property, especially toward those of the king's party, which
mostly consisted of men of rank and property, was unbounded, and they
were merciless and cruel to the highest degree, throwing off much of
that fanatical bearing and language which had before distinguished the
Puritans. Cromwell had great difficulty in eventually putting them
down, which he did at last accomplish by hanging and slaughtering
many. Of this Jacob knew nothing; all he knew was, that Arnwood was to
be burned down that night, and that it would be necessary to remove