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The book tells the story of Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman and the son of Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, a Jacobite supporter. The story begins with Sir Marmaduke being accused of treason and imprisoned, and Charlie and his friend Harry Jervoise rescuing him and escaping to Sweden to join the army of King Charles XII. Charlie becomes an ensign in the Malmoe Regiment and participates in the Battle of Narva, where the Swedes defeat the Russians. He is later captured by the Russians while on a hunting expedition with the king and meets an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who is working for the Russians. Charlie learns about the czar's efforts to modernize his country and develops a rapport with Terence, despite being on opposite sides of the war. After being exchanged for a Russian captain, Charlie returns to the Swedish army and is promoted to captain. He is then sent on a mission to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. Charlie faces various challenges, including capture, escape, and joining a group of bandits, but ultimately completes his mission and returns to the Swedish army. He later participates in the Battle of Clissow and is captured by the Russians again, but is eventually released and returns to Sweden. Charlie and Harry then decide to return to England to clear their families' names and reclaim their estates, which were confiscated due to false accusations of plotting to assassinate King William. They track down the man responsible for the plot, Nicholson, and obtain a confession from him, which reveals the truth behind the false accusations. With this new evidence, they are able to clear their families' names and have their estates restored. Charlie reunites with his family, marries his cousin Ciceley, and becomes a colonel in the British army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough.
The story begins with Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, a Jacobite supporter, who lives in Lancashire with his son Charlie. Sir Marmaduke's cousin, John Dormay, is a Whig and has a grudge against him. John sets a spy on Sir Marmaduke, who discovers the plot and warns Charlie. Charlie, with the help of his friend Harry Jervoise, rescues his father from prison and they escape to Sweden to join the army of King Charles XII. Charlie becomes an ensign in the Malmoe Regiment and participates in the Battle of Narva, where the Swedes defeat the Russians. Later, while on a hunting expedition with the king, Charlie is captured by the Russians and becomes a prisoner of war. He meets an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who is working for the Russians and learns about the czar's efforts to modernize his country.
Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, a Jacobite supporter, is arrested and accused of treason after a spy is found listening in on a secret meeting at his home. The spy, Nicholson, is revealed to be working for John Dormay, a Whig and Sir Marmaduke's cousin by marriage. Sir Marmaduke's son, Charlie, discovers the spy and attacks him, but Nicholson escapes. Sir Marmaduke is taken away by soldiers, and Charlie goes into hiding with the help of Mr. Jervoise, a family friend. They plan to rescue Sir Marmaduke from prison, but Mr. Jervoise advises against it, suggesting that they wait and gather more information before taking action. Meanwhile, Charlie's friend Harry Jervoise joins him in hiding, and they discuss their situation and the accusations against Sir Marmaduke. Mr. Jervoise decides to take Charlie and Harry to Sweden, where he hopes to obtain a commission in the army and start a new life. They embark on a ship bound for Sweden, but the journey is rough, and they suffer from seasickness. Upon arrival, they meet with Mr. Jervoise's acquaintance, Major Jamieson, who helps them obtain commissions in the Swedish army. Charlie and Harry become ensigns in the Malmoe Regiment, and they participate in the Battle of Narva, where the Swedish army defeats the Russians. After the battle, Charlie is sent on a hunting expedition with King Charles XII, but they are ambushed by Russian cavalry, and Charlie is taken prisoner. He is brought to the Russian camp and meets with a Russian general, who is angry that his men were unable to capture King Charles. Charlie is then taken to a cell, where he meets with an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who tends to his wounds and tells him about his own experiences in Russia.
Charlie Carstairs, the son of Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, a Jacobite supporter, is rescued by his father's friends, led by Mr. Jervoise, from Lancaster jail, where he was being held on charges of treason. They escape to Sweden, where Mr. Jervoise obtains a commission in the army of King Charles XII, and Charlie and his friend Harry join as officers. They participate in the Battle of Narva, where the Swedes defeat the Russians, and Charlie is captured by the Russians while on a hunting expedition with the king. He is taken prisoner and meets an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who is working for the Russians and learns about the czar's efforts to modernize his country.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, has joined the Swedish army to fight against the Russians. He is part of a Scottish company led by Captain Jervoise, who has become like a father to him. Charlie's father, Sir Marmaduke, is also in exile in Sweden. The Swedish king, Charles the Twelfth, is a young and energetic leader who is determined to drive the Russians back. Charlie and his company are sent on a mission to hunt wolves and bears in the forest, but they are ambushed by a large group of Russian cavalry. Despite being outnumbered, the Swedes fight bravely, and Charlie is knocked unconscious and taken prisoner by the Russians. He is taken to the Russian general's quarters, where he meets a doctor named Terence Kelly, who is Irish and has been working for the Russians. Terence treats Charlie's wound and they have a conversation about their backgrounds and the war. Charlie learns that Terence was forced to leave Ireland after the Battle of the Boyne and has been working for the Russians ever since. Terence is impressed by the Russian czar's efforts to modernize his country and believes that he is a just ruler. Charlie is skeptical, but Terence defends the czar, saying that he is a complex person who is trying to improve his country despite the obstacles in his way.
The story continues with Charlie Carstairs, the son of Sir Marmaduke Carstairs, a Jacobite supporter, who has joined the Swedish army to fight against the Russians. Charlie's father has been accused of treason and is in prison, and Charlie is determined to rescue him. With the help of Mr. Jervoise, a family friend, and a group of young men, they launch a surprise attack on the escort taking Sir Marmaduke to London and successfully rescue him. They then make their way to Southampton, where they board a ship bound for Sweden, hoping to join the army of King Charles XII and escape the reach of the English authorities. On the ship, Charlie and his friends suffer from seasickness, but eventually recover and enjoy the rest of the voyage. Upon arrival in Sweden, they meet with Major Jamieson, a friend of Mr. Jervoise, who helps them obtain commissions in the Swedish army. Charlie and his friends are assigned to the Malmoe Regiment and participate in the Battle of Narva, where the Swedes defeat the Russians. After the battle, Charlie is sent on a hunting expedition with King Charles XII, but they are ambushed by Russian cavalry, and Charlie is taken prisoner. He is brought to the Russian camp and meets with a Russian general, who is angry that his men were unable to capture the king. Charlie is then taken to a cell, where he meets with an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who is working for the Russians and learns about the czar's efforts to modernize his country.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is a prisoner of the Russians after being captured during a hunting expedition with King Charles XII of Sweden. He is taken to the Russian general's quarters, where he meets an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who is working for the Russians. Terence treats Charlie's wound and they engage in a conversation about their backgrounds and the war. Charlie learns that Terence was forced to leave Ireland after the Battle of the Boyne and has been working for the Russians for eight years. Terence defends the Russian czar, Peter, as a just ruler who is trying to modernize his country despite the obstacles in his way. Charlie is skeptical but impressed by Terence's loyalty to the czar. The Russian general is angry that his men were unable to capture King Charles and is furious when he learns that Charlie is an English officer. Charlie is eventually taken to a cell, where he meets Terence again, and they continue their conversation. Terence tells Charlie about his life in Russia and his work as a surgeon, and Charlie shares his story of how he came to be in Sweden. The two men develop a rapport, despite being on opposite sides of the war.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is on a mission to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. He is captured by a group of men and taken to a cellar, where he is interrogated by Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. Charlie pretends to be weak and ill, but eventually escapes with the help of a stick and makes his way to a peasant's hut. He meets a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and joins them. The bandits are being pursued by troops, and they decide to break up into smaller groups to avoid capture. Charlie and his companion, Stanislas, remain with the captain's group and continue their journey. They face various challenges, including attacks by wolves and harsh weather conditions. Along the way, Charlie learns about the history and culture of Poland and its people. As they near the Russian frontier, Charlie begins to think about his return to the Swedish army and his future.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is on a mission for King Charles of Sweden to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. He is dressed as a young Scotchman and travels with the royal envoy's escort. Charlie meets with various traders, including Allan Ramsay, a Scottish merchant, and discusses the king's proposal with them. However, his efforts are hindered by the presence of Saxon troops in the city and the divided loyalties of the nobles. Charlie is eventually attacked and captured by a group of men, who are revealed to be working for Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. He is taken to a cellar and later to a peasant's hut in the forest, where he is guarded by two men. Charlie pretends to be weak and ill, gaining time until he can escape. He eventually overpowers one of his guards and kills Ben Soloman in a struggle. Charlie then joins a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and travels with them through the forest. Along the way, they encounter various dangers, including wolves and harsh weather conditions. Charlie and his companion, Stanislas, become trapped in a tree by a pack of wolves, but they manage to start a fire and keep the wolves at bay until morning. The bandits eventually find them and rescue them from the tree. Charlie continues to travel with the bandits, learning about their way of life and the dangers they face. He also learns about the history and culture of Poland and its people. As they journey deeper into the forest, Charlie and Stanislas become more aware of the risks and challenges they face, including the possibility of being caught by the authorities or attacked by wild animals. Despite these dangers, Charlie remains determined to complete his mission and eventually return to the Swedish army.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is on a mission to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. He is captured by a group of men and taken to a cellar, where he is interrogated by Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. Charlie pretends to be weak and ill, but eventually escapes with the help of a stick and makes his way to a peasant's hut. He meets a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and joins them. The bandits are being pursued by troops, and they decide to break up into smaller groups to avoid capture. Charlie and his companion, Stanislas, remain with the captain's group and continue their journey. Along the way, they face various challenges, including attacks by wolves and harsh weather conditions. Charlie learns about the history and culture of Poland and its people, and he begins to understand the complexities of the conflict between the King of Sweden and Augustus of Saxony. As they near the Russian frontier, Charlie starts to think about his return to the Swedish army and his future.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is a prisoner of the Russians after being captured during a hunting expedition with King Charles XII of Sweden. He is taken to the Russian general's quarters, where he meets an Irish doctor, Terence Kelly, who is working for the Russians. Terence treats Charlie's wound and they engage in a conversation about their backgrounds and the war. Charlie learns that Terence was forced to leave Ireland after the Battle of the Boyne and has been working for the Russians ever since. The Russian general is angry that his men were unable to capture King Charles and is furious when he learns that Charlie is an English officer. Charlie is eventually taken to a cell, where he meets Terence again, and they continue their conversation. Terence tells Charlie about his life in Russia and his work as a surgeon, and Charlie shares his story of how he came to be in Sweden. The two men develop a rapport, despite being on opposite sides of the war. Later, Charlie is exchanged for a Russian captain and returns to the Swedish army, where he is welcomed back by his friends and comrades. He is promoted to captain and meets with King Charles, who informs him that he has a new mission for him - to go to Warsaw and influence the traders there to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. Charlie accepts the mission and travels to Warsaw, where he meets with a Scottish trader, Allan Ramsay, who is an old friend of Colonel Jamieson's. Charlie stays with Ramsay and his family and begins to make contact with other traders in the city, trying to persuade them to support the King of Sweden. However, his mission is complicated by the fact that he is a foreigner and does not speak the language, and he must rely on his servant, Stanislas, to interpret for him. Despite these challenges, Charlie is determined to succeed in his mission and make a good impression on the king.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is on a mission for King Charles of Sweden to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. He is dressed as a young Scotchman and travels with the royal envoy's escort. Charlie meets with various traders, including Allan Ramsay, a Scottish merchant, and discusses the king's proposal with them. However, his efforts are hindered by the presence of Saxon troops in the city and the divided loyalties of the nobles. Charlie is eventually attacked and captured by a group of men, who are revealed to be working for Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. He is taken to a cellar and later to a peasant's hut in the forest, where he is guarded by two men. Charlie pretends to be weak and ill, gaining time until he can escape. He eventually overpowers one of his guards and kills Ben Soloman in a struggle. Charlie then joins a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and travels with them through the forest. Along the way, they encounter various dangers, including attacks by wolves and harsh weather conditions. Charlie learns about the history and culture of Poland and its people, and he begins to understand the complexities of the conflict between the King of Sweden and Augustus of Saxony. As they near the Russian frontier, Charlie starts to think about his return to the Swedish army and his future.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, is on a mission for King Charles of Sweden to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. He is dressed as a young Scotchman and travels with the royal envoy's escort. However, he is eventually attacked and captured by a group of men working for Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. Charlie pretends to be weak and ill, but eventually escapes with the help of a stick and makes his way to a peasant's hut. He meets a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and joins them. The bandits are being pursued by troops, and they decide to break up into smaller groups to avoid capture. Charlie and his companion, Stanislas, remain with the captain's group and continue their journey. Along the way, they face various challenges, including attacks by wolves and harsh weather conditions. As they near the Russian frontier, Charlie begins to think about his return to the Swedish army and his future. Eventually, Charlie and Stanislas find themselves treed by a pack of wolves, but they manage to start a fire and keep the wolves at bay until morning. The next day, they are rescued by the bandits, who had been searching for them. Charlie and Stanislas are relieved to be safe, but they know that they still have a long and dangerous journey ahead of them.
Charlie Carstairs and his friend Harry Jervoise, both captains in the Swedish army, return to England to clear their families' names and reclaim their estates, which were confiscated due to false accusations of plotting to assassinate King William. They discover that the key to proving their innocence lies with a man named Nicholson, who was involved in the plot and has since become a highwayman. After a long and challenging search, they finally track down Nicholson and obtain a confession from him, which reveals the truth behind the false accusations. With this new evidence, they are able to clear their families' names and have their estates restored. Charlie also reunites with his family and begins a new life, eventually marrying his cousin Ciceley and becoming a colonel in the British army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, has been on a mission for King Charles of Sweden to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. However, he was captured by a group of men and taken to a cellar, where he was interrogated by Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. Charlie escaped and joined a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and traveled with them through the forest. Along the way, they encountered various dangers, including attacks by wolves and harsh weather conditions. Charlie learned about the history and culture of Poland and its people and began to understand the complexities of the conflict between the King of Sweden and Augustus of Saxony. Eventually, Charlie was rescued by Count Staroski and his brother, who were traveling with their wife and child. Charlie was taken to the count's chateau, where he was welcomed and introduced to the count's family. The count, who was opposed to Augustus of Saxony, decided to work with Charlie to bring about the dethronement of Augustus. Charlie later joined the Swedish army and participated in the Battle of Clissow, where he was captured by the Russians. He was taken to the Russian camp and met with Marshal Scheremetof, who questioned him about his mission and the Swedish army. Charlie was eventually released and returned to Sweden, where he was reunited with his friend Harry Jervoise. The two friends decided to return to England to clear their families' names and reclaim their estates, which had been confiscated due to false accusations of plotting to assassinate King William. They discovered that the key to proving their innocence lay with a man named Nicholson, who had been involved in the plot and had since become a highwayman. After a long and challenging search, they finally tracked down Nicholson and obtained a confession from him, which revealed the truth behind the false accusations. With this new evidence, they were able to clear their families' names and have their estates restored. Charlie also reunited with his family and began a new life, eventually marrying his cousin Ciceley and becoming a colonel in the British army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough.
Charlie Carstairs, a young Englishman, has been on a mission to influence the traders of Warsaw to support the King of Sweden against Augustus of Saxony. However, he was captured by a group of men and taken to a cellar, where he was interrogated by Ben Soloman, a Jewish trader. Charlie escaped and joined a group of bandits, led by Ladislas Koffski, and traveled with them through the forest. Along the way, they encountered various dangers, including attacks by wolves and harsh weather conditions. Charlie learned about the history and culture of Poland and its people and began to understand the complexities of the conflict between the King of Sweden and Augustus of Saxony. As they neared the Russian frontier, Charlie started to think about his return to the Swedish army and his future. Eventually, Charlie was rescued by Count Staroski and his brother, who were traveling with their wife and child. Charlie was taken to the count's chateau, where he was welcomed and introduced to the count's family. The count decided to work with Charlie to bring about the dethronement of Augustus of Saxony. Charlie later joined the Swedish army and participated in the Battle of Clissow, where he was captured by the Russians. He was taken to the Russian camp and met with Marshal Scheremetof, who questioned him about his mission and the Swedish army. Charlie was eventually released and returned to Sweden, where he was reunited with his friend Harry Jervoise. The two friends decided to return to England to clear their families' names and reclaim their estates, which had been confiscated due to false accusations of plotting to assassinate King William. They discovered that the key to proving their innocence lay with a man named Nicholson, who had been involved in the plot and had since become a highwayman. After a long and challenging search, they finally tracked down Nicholson and obtained a confession from him, which revealed the truth behind the false accusations. With this new evidence, they were able to clear their families' names and have their estates restored. Charlie also reunited with his family and began a new life, eventually marrying his cousin Ciceley and becoming a colonel in the British army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough.
Charlie Carstairs and his friend Harry Jervoise arrive in London and begin their search for Nicholson, a man who had wronged their families. They enlist the help of Tony Peters, a tipstaff, who agrees to assist them in their quest. After weeks of searching, they finally discover Nicholson's whereabouts and learn that he is a highwayman. They devise a plan to capture him and obtain his confession, which would clear their families' names and restore their estates. With Tony's help, they successfully capture Nicholson and obtain his confession, which reveals the truth about the plot against their families. The council, with the Duke of Marlborough's influence, decides to quash the proceedings against Charlie's father and his friends, and restores their estates. Charlie and Harry then travel to Lancashire to inform John Dormay, the man responsible for their families' troubles, that he is to be arrested. However, they arrive to find that he has taken his own life to avoid arrest. Charlie's father returns to England and is reunited with his family, and Charlie and Harry go on to serve in the British army under the Duke of Marlborough. Years later, Charlie marries his cousin Ciceley, and Harry marries the daughter of one of the gentlemen who was exiled with his father.
Charlie Carstairs and his friend Harry Jervoise successfully capture the highwayman Nicholson, who had been involved in a plot to falsely accuse their fathers of treason. Nicholson confesses to his crimes and signs a statement, which is witnessed by Tony Peters and his wife. The young men then take Nicholson to the Duke of Marlborough, who presents their case to the council. The council finds in their favor, and the estates of their fathers are restored. The Duke of Marlborough offers Charlie and Harry positions on his staff, and they accept. Charlie and Harry then travel to Lancashire to inform John Dormay, the man responsible for their families' troubles, that he is to be arrested. However, they arrive to find that he has taken his own life to avoid arrest. Charlie's father returns to England, and Charlie and Harry are welcomed back as heroes. Charlie eventually marries his cousin Ciceley and becomes a colonel in the British army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough.
Charlie Carstairs and Harry Jervoise, two young captains in the Swedish army, return to England to clear their families' names and reclaim their estates, which were confiscated due to false accusations of plotting to assassinate King William. They discover that the key to proving their innocence lies with a man named Nicholson, who was involved in the plot and has since become a highwayman. After a long and challenging search, they finally track down Nicholson and obtain a confession from him, which reveals the truth behind the false accusations. With this new evidence, they are able to clear their families' names and have their estates restored. Charlie also reunites with his family and begins a new life, eventually marrying his cousin Ciceley and becoming a colonel in the British army under the command of the Duke of Marlborough.