perations with the prisoner
had retarded his movement. This difficulty was at last overcome, and,
for a few days past, the plan had been arranged. All that was left to be
done was to appoint the hour. Christopher Shaw and Mary, alone of the
miller's family, were made acquainted with the details. Christopher was
to provide a horse and a suitable disguise for Butler, and these were to
be ready at a tuft of willows that grew upon the edge of the river some
quarter of a mile above the mill, whenever Mary should announce that
John was ready to act. Ramsay's horse was to be brought to the same
spot. The preparatory signals, already mentioned, were all agreed upon
and understood by the parties. Butler was to escape to the roof, and
thence by the boughs of a large oak that grew hard by the miller's
dwelling. A sentinel was usually posted some fifty paces from this tree,
and it was a matter of great perplexity to determine how his vigilance
was to be defeated. This difficulty, John resolved, should be overcome
by a stern measure: the man was to be silenced, if necessary, by a blow.
John Ramsay was to steal upon him in the dark, and if signs of alarm
were given, he was to master the sentinel in such a manner as the
occasion might require, being furnished by Butler with a purse of gold,
if such a form of influence might be necessary.

Such is the outline of the plan by which Butler's disenthralment was to
be attempted.

Mary Musgrove, before she retired to her chamber, sought Christopher
Shaw and made him acquainted with the appointment of the hour, and then
left him to manage his own share of the enterprise. It was now near ten
at night, and Christopher, who had charge of Allen Musgrove's stable, in
order to avoid the suspicion of being seen stirring at a later hour,
immediately set off to saddle the horse. One of the wagon team, well
known in the family by the name of Wall Eye, was selected for this
service, and being speedily accoutred, was conducted to the willows,
where he was tied fast to a tree, to remain until the hour of need. The
young miller soon returned, and it was not long afterwards that the
household and its military companions were wrapt in the silence of
unsuspecting repose.

Butler, at the hour of the customary visit of the watch, had gone to
bed; and, feigning sickness, had been allowed to burn a light in his
room during the night. His chamber door, also, by special favor, was
closed; and the night advanced