iscussed how they should ride, and it had been
settled that, at starting, Janet should ride the fourth horse; and that
Jessie should ride behind the others, by turns. If an attack was
threatened, Jessie was to mount behind her sister, and they were to
take their place between Oswald and Roger, while their own man rode
close behind them.

It was just ten o'clock as they rode through Parton. Not a light was to
be seen. The whole place appeared wrapt in sleep. They went through at
a walk, so that, if any heard them, they would suppose that it was a
belated party of the searchers, and would give the matter no further
thought.

After riding for a short distance, they put the horses into a trot.
Four hours later they halted, at the point where the road down the Esk
valley divided, one going to the ferry a few hundred yards farther on,
while the other turned to the left, and followed the bank of the
Liddel.

John had inquired about the ferry, and learned that the ferryboat no
longer plied, as, since the troubles began, there was so little traffic
that it did not pay the ferryman to remain there. As they had already
decided to cross by the ford, four miles higher up, this did not
matter. As none of them was aware of its exact position, they decided
to wait where they were, until daylight.

Searching about, they found a deserted hut, with a shed adjoining it.
The horses were led into this, and the party then gathered in the hut,
and John struck a light, while Oswald and Roger broke up a fallen gate,
and the fire was soon blazing. Although there was not the slightest
chance of anyone travelling the road, at this hour, they hung one of
the thick blankets across the window, thus keeping out the cold air, as
well as preventing the light from being seen. Then the party lay down,
the men taking it by turns to stand guard outside, being relieved every
two hours.

As soon as day dawned they again mounted. It was about four miles' ride
to the point where the road divided, one branch going towards the
river, some seventy or eighty yards away. Here stood a square building
of some size, used as a refuge by travellers who arrived when the
Liddel was swollen, and the ford impracticable.

When the riders had come within a few yards of this building, two men,
hearing the sound of horses' hoofs, came out. As their eye fell upon
the party they gave a shout, ran out into the road, and drew their
swords.

Roger and Oswald rode at them. Pa