he knots."

After lowering himself forty feet, Oswald found that he was standing on
a ledge of rock, three inches wide, at the foot of the wall.

"Now, dear, it will be more difficult," he said. "You must use one of
your hands, to push yourself off from any rugged points. There are not
many of them. I had a look at the rock today, and its face is almost
smooth. I will do the best I can to keep you from it."

In another three minutes, they stood at the foot of the craig. Oswald
shook the rope violently, to let those above know that they were down.
Then he untied the cord that bound him to his cousin, who at once sat
down, sobbing hysterically. Oswald put his hand upon her shoulder.

"Steady, Jessie, steady. You have been brave and quiet, coming down.
The danger is over now, but we have a long walk and a longer ride
before us, and you will need all your strength."

In a very short time, Roger and Janet joined them. As soon as she was
untied, Janet threw her arms round Oswald's neck, and spoke for the
first time.

"Oh, Oswald, from what have you saved us! How brave and good of you to
risk so much!"

"Tut, tut, Janet, as if we should leave you here, in the hands of the
Bairds, without making an effort to free you! Now, come along, dear. Be
very careful how you walk, till we get down to the bottom. It is pretty
steep and, if you were to set a stone rolling, we might have them after
us, in no time. As it is, we shall only have an hour and a half start,
for the sentries will be relieved at midnight. However, by that time we
shall be on horseback, and of course they won't know which road we have
taken."

As soon as they came to level ground, they set off at a run. They were
but a mile from the village when they heard, on the still night air,
distant shouts, followed half a minute later by the winding of a horn;
then, almost immediately, a glimmering light appeared on the highest
turret of the hold, and this rapidly broadened out into a sheet of
flame.

"They have discovered our escape, by some misfortune or other," Oswald
exclaimed, "and they will be after us, before many minutes have passed.
You must run in earnest now, girls."

"Do you run on, Oswald," Janet said, "you and Roger. We will turn and
walk back. They will do us no harm."

Oswald thought of the murder of the girls' mother, and knew that, in
their fury at having been tricked, the Bairds were capable of anything.

"It is not to be thought of," he said.